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ACIC-PUSHAtal Community Innovation Centre

Atal Community Innovation CentrePondicherry University Step-up Hub (ACIC-PUSH)

From Community Ideas to Impactful Innovations

ACIC-PUSH connects community needs, grassroots ideas, academic knowledge and technology to help innovators move from problem identification and design thinking to experimentation, prototype/MVP development, entrepreneurship, incubation and measurable impact.

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Innovation for People | Ideas for a Better Tomorrow

Illustration of a community innovation network: people gathered around a shared problem, connected to a prototype board and a university building.

The Innovation Journey

  1. Community Need

  2. Ideation

  3. Design Thinking

  4. Advanced Tinkering

  5. Prototype / MVP

  6. Validation

  7. Pre-Incubation

  8. Incubation

  9. Market / Deployment & Impact

Our Strategic Pillars

Building an inclusive and sustainable innovation ecosystem for a better tomorrow.

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  • Community & Grassroots Innovation

    Local problems. Global possibilities.

  • Design Thinking & Advanced Tinkering

    From ideas to experimentation.

  • Pre-Incubation & Entrepreneurship

    Nurturing early-stage innovators.

  • Prototype / MVP & Technology Development

    Ideas into tangible solutions.

  • Mentorship, Market & Finance Linkages

    Connecting innovators to opportunities.

  • Inclusive, Sustainable & SDG-Aligned Impact

    Innovation for people and planet.

Community Innovation for a Stronger Society

We work with communities, rural and underserved regions, students and local innovators to identify real-world challenges and co-create solutions through design thinking, advanced tinkering and frugal innovation.

Explore Community Innovation
Illustration of a community consultation: residents and facilitators mapping a local problem together.

Real innovation begins with listening.

Programmes & Services

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From awareness to scale — comprehensive support for innovators at every stage.

Startups & Innovators

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Meet our innovators, explore solutions and be part of a growing ecosystem.

Illustration of an early-stage team presenting a prototype and a growth chart.

Innovative minds. Real-world solutions.

Startup and innovator profiles will be published here as cohorts are onboarded.

Explore Startups

Our Impact

Tracking progress towards a more innovative, inclusive and sustainable future.

View Impact Dashboard
Communities Reached
To be updated
Innovators Supported
To be updated
Startups Incubated
To be updated
Prototypes / MVPs
To be updated
Funding Mobilised
To be updated
Jobs Created
To be updated
IP / Technologies
To be updated
SDG Contributions
To be updated

Our Ecosystem Partners

Collaborating for greater impact.

Partner With Us
  • Pondicherry University logo
  • NITI Aayog and Atal Innovation Mission logo

Partner categories

  • Pondicherry University
  • Government departments and agencies
  • Industry
  • CSR organisations
  • Banks and financial institutions
  • and 4 more — see all

Let’s Build a Brighter, More Innovative Tomorrow

Join us in creating solutions that matter — for communities, for society, for a better future.

Submit an IdeaPartner With Us