Mission Utthan, an initiative launched in Mangaluru under the guidance of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India, aims to bridge the gap between academia, industry, and rural development. This initiative, spearheaded by Vishwas US, founder director of Section Infin 8 Foundation, focuses on enhancing the capabilities of Tier 2 and Tier 3 educational institutions, fostering advancements in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The key pillars of Mission Utthan include fostering industry-academia synergy for research and development (R&D) support. This will be achieved through internships, industry faculty exchange programs, and research fellowships to address real-world challenges. The mission also aims to partner with global universities and think tanks to offer sabbaticals, joint degree programs, and knowledge exchange platforms. Additionally, the initiative will establish smart village centres to promote entrepreneurship, frugal innovation, and economic empowerment, alongside leadership programs for women in STEM.
Mission Utthan plans to establish eight incubation centres across the district, collaborating with Canara Engineering College, St Joseph Engineering College, and Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management. These centres will drive entrepreneurship and innovation through advanced technologies provided free of cost by IITs. Partnerships are already in place with organizations such as Mangaluru SEZ, GAIL, and Nitte Deemed to be University to sponsor these centres in rural areas through CSR funding.
The mission was unveiled during the IDFC First Bank Emerge 2025 startup festival, and a logo design competition was announced to engage creative minds in shaping its identity.
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