Shiv Nadar University: Partnering India’s innovation ecosystem

Shiv Nadar University in the National Capital Region (NCR), recognised as an Institution of Eminence by the Government of India, is steadily shaping itself into a key partner in India’s knowledge and innovation landscape. Established by the Shiv Nadar Foundation, one of India’s largest philanthropic initiatives in education, the University is not just a centre of learning but a place where research, enterprise, and social impact come together.

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At the core of this vision lies the Atal Incubation Centre at Shiv Nadar University (AIC-SNU). Set up in 2017 under NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission, AIC-SNU has grown into one of India’s leading incubation centres based within a university setting. Its purpose is simple yet ambitious: to make space for entrepreneurship, stimulate innovation, and help researchers and early-stage entrepreneurs turn ideas into market-ready enterprises.

Building an enabling environment
What makes AIC-SNU stand out is its foundation within a multidisciplinary, research-focused university. Here, innovators have access not only to co-working spaces and labs but also to the knowledge and collaboration of experts across engineering, natural sciences, humanities, management, and social sciences. This unique positioning ensures that startups born at AIC-SNU are grounded in research, strengthened by academic input, and relevant to real-world needs.

The Centre provides a comprehensive support system: mentorship from industry leaders, legal and IP guidance, access to advanced infrastructure, and most importantly, direct connections with investors. The aim is to take innovation out of classrooms and laboratories and place it firmly in the marketplace.

From ideas to impact
In just a few years, AIC-SNU has supported over 150 startups, with 52 ventures active today across sectors such as medtech, agritech, robotics, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence. Many of these startups are solving issues central to India’s growth story – improving farm productivity, expanding access to healthcare, enabling clean energy, and reimagining urban mobility. Several have already crossed annual revenues of ₹15 crore, proving that social relevance and commercial success can go hand in hand.

InvestoPitch: Bridging startups and investors
Among its flagship initiatives, InvestoPitch has become a defining feature of AIC-SNU. It is a platform where selected startups directly engage with investors, receiving not just capital opportunities but also mentorship and strategic insights. For entrepreneurs, it means visibility and access. For investors, it offers a pipeline of high-quality, research-backed ventures ready to scale.

Partnerships with global leaders such as Dassault Systèmes and HCL Technologies further strengthen this ecosystem by connecting startups with international markets and networks. This global perspective ensures that ideas nurtured at AIC-SNU do not remain confined within national boundaries but have the potential to compete on the world stage.

Shaping the future together
“At Shiv Nadar University, we believe research and innovation must go hand in hand. With the Atal Incubation Centre, we are ensuring that knowledge evolves into enterprises capable of driving meaningful change,” says Professor Ananya Mukherjee, Vice Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR.

As India races towards a five trillion-dollar economy led by innovation, Shiv Nadar University is playing its role as an ecosystem partner, while AIC-SNU is enabling startups to grow, attract funding, and create meaningful impact. Together, they are building the enterprises of tomorrow and contributing to the future of India’s knowledge economy.