Guidelines for setting up of Tinkering Laboratories under Atal Innovation Mission – ‘Atal Tinkering Laboratories’

Government of India NITI AAYOG Atal Innovation Mission GUIDELINES FOR SETTING UP OF ATAL TINKERING LABORATORIES (ATL)

Background

The Government of India has set up the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) at NITI Aayog. Realizing the need to create a scientific temper and cultivate the spirit of curiosity and innovation among young minds, AIM proposes to support the establishment of a network of Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL). ATL is a workspace where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands-on do-it-yourself mode and learn innovation skills. The vision is to ‘Cultivate 1 Million children in India as Neoteric1 Innovators’.

Objectives

The objective of this scheme is to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing, etc. Young children will get a chance to work with tools and equipment to understand what, how, and why aspects of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

Features of Scheme

1. ATLs can be established in schools (minimum Grade VI – X) managed by Government, local bodies, or private trusts/society.
2. Minimum of 25% of the ATLs would be set up in schools managed by Government (Central / States)

Funding Support

1. The applicant schools would be provided financial support in the form of Grant-in-aid for a maximum period of 5 years.
2. Key aspects of funding ATLs in schools:
   a) One-time establishment charge of up to Rs. 10.0 lakh would be provided for each ATL in the first year for instruments, equipment like do-it-yourself kits, 3D printers, etc. An illustrative list of equipment and kits is in Annex IV. A checklist of mandatory equipment and other infrastructure would be communicated to selected schools. The schools will procure equipment and kits at their end, however, the AIM will fix their rates. 1 Neoteric means a person who advocates new ideas.
   b) An amount of Rs. 10.0 lakh would be provided for each ATL over a maximum period of 5 years for the operation of ATLs, maintenance of equipment, purchase of consumables, organizing popular science lecture series and other scientific activities, competitions, and payment of honorariums to the faculty and mentors involved.
3. Contributions from philanthropic and other institutions and under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) would be encouraged for financing/upgrading ATLs. Local Industry / Institutions will be encouraged to support the initiative by creating subject/domain-specific exhibits/tinkering laboratory facilities.

Infrastructure

The applicant school would have to provide at least 1,500 sq. ft. of built-up space. Applicant schools from hilly and island states would have to provide at least 1,000 sq. ft. of built-up space. The existing facilities for meeting rooms and video conferencing among others can be used to supplement the laboratory space.

The program of the establishment of ATLs across the country would be handled by a National Coordinator (NC) in AIM Directorate.

Applicant schools intending to establish ATLs may visit http://www.niti.gov.in and submit their application online to the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog. The prescribed application formats are in Annex III. Necessary documents can also be uploaded online.

The applications would be evaluated based on Selection Criteria (Annex II).

Short-listed schools will be invited to participate in an Innovation Contest which will be informed by AIM. Each school will form groups of maximum of 3 students and send one entry for the contest. The entries will be judged on the basis of the following parameters:

1. Novelty of innovation in identified areas
2. Clarity of expression
3. Demonstration
4. Potential impact

Teams of the top 3 entries will be given an opportunity to participate in Intel Science and Engineering Fair.

Selected Schools will be required to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) (Annex V) and Bond (Annex VI) with the AIM Directorate.

The above Scheme and guidelines are subject to periodic review in consultation with stakeholders.

ANNEX I TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. The purpose of this document is to provide information to the interested applicants for the submission of their application form. It is neither an agreement nor an offer made by AIM.
2. All communications related to the scheme including announcements of shortlisted applicants and the final selection of applicants will be published on the NITI Aayog website.
3. AIM does not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy; reliability or completeness of the information in this document and it is not possible to consider the particular needs of each applicant.
4. No applicant shall submit more than one application.
5. The issue of these guidelines does not imply that AIM is bound to select an applicant. AIM reserves the right to accept/reject any or all proposals submitted in response to the document at any stage without assigning any reasons whatsoever.
6. AIM’s decision will be final and no explanation or justification for any aspect of the selection process will be given.
7. Applicants shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of their proposals and their participation in the selection process.
8. Applicants may seek clarification on the guidelines within five days from the date of issue of the guidelines. Any request for clarification must be emailed to md-aim@gov.in.
9. Applicant schools would be required to put in place the requisite physical infrastructure such as laboratory and workshop facilities, and a computer lab with internet within a period of 6 months from the date of release of funds. Other desirable facilities including a meeting room and video conferencing facility to chat with experts in real-time can also be set up by the schools, if possible.
10. ATL would contain educational and learning ‘do it yourself kits and equipment on – science, electronics, robotics, open-source microcontroller boards, sensors, 3D printers, etc. An illustrative list of equipment and kits is described in Annex IV. This list shall be updated regularly. The schools are also free to purchase any other equipment or kit if required.
11. The timings of ATL should be such that it allows students to come after working hours of the host institution (Applicant) to experiment and tinker. During working hours, specific time periods can be defined and included in the curricula of different grades to introduce the concept of tinkering laboratories.
12. Applicant schools would be required to identify and appoint an adequate number of faculty members who would be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the laboratory.
13. ATL would also put in place mentors/volunteers for hand-holding and guidance in either an online or face-to-face environment.
14. ATL should develop networks with industries, academia, research, and civil society for knowledge sharing and mentoring support.
15. The faculty would ensure the safety of the students during the working hours of ATL.
16. In order to foster inventiveness among students, the following activities could be conducted by ATL:
    a) Monthly programs to teach and explain to students about different concepts – ranging from ideation, design, prototyping, and networking to physical computing.
    b) Periodic regional and national level competitions.
    c) Periodic exhibitions / fairs / carnivals.
    d) Workshops on problem-solving, designing, and fabrication of products.
    e) Interactions with relevant stakeholders including industry, academia, and students from other schools and colleges, and universities.
    f) Screening of films and organizing popular STEM and entrepreneurship talks by reputed speakers.
    g) Summer and winter camps.
17. Operation of the ATL would be monitored on a suitable periodic basis by an advisory body comprising of the following suggested members:
    a) Principal of the school – Chairman
    b) Faculty in charge of the ATL – Convenor
    c) Representative from local industry / local community /young innovators / reputed academia / alumni – Three Members
18. The advisory body will be constituted by the applicant school. It will meet at least thrice a year and send its report to AIM Directorate.
19. The applicant school will maintain separate accounts for the grant and contributions received from other sources. The funds released should be kept in a bank account earning interest; the interest earned should be reported to the AIM, NITI Aayog, and the same will be treated as a credit to the organization and will be adjusted towards further installments of the grant if any.
20. The grant being released should be exclusively spent on the specified purpose for which it has been sanctioned within the stipulated time. Any unspent balance out of the amount sanctioned should be refunded to the Government of India by means of an Account’s Payee Demand Draft drawn in favor of Drawing and Disbursing Officer, NITI Aayog, payable at New Delhi.
21. The advisory body of the ATL is required to upload each of
    i) annual implementation report providing information on the activities conducted;
    ii) Utilization Certificate