Adopted Approach

At the beginning, attempts were made to understand the existing local ecosystem for identifying and supporting innovation ecosystem by interacting with local stakeholders in the community: Educational Institutions (Schools, ITIs, Polytechnics, Higher Educational Institutions and Universities), Industry Sectors (Cottage, SMEs, and Large Scales), Entrepreneurs, Innovators and Government/Semi-government agencies.

Based on the approach and practices suggested in AIM and ACIC documentation and references from innovation strategies adopted across the world, a four pronged strategy was followed:

Schools

Middle and Higher Class Schools of CBSE, ICSE, UP Board and Madrasas present in Western Uttar Pradesh have been approached. Regular training on innovation is being organized by the principals and teachers at the school campus on “Innovation and How to identify potential innovators' '. Multiple one day workshops are being organized for the benefit of Principals and School Teachers at ACIC Center, where different instruments are explained and demonstrated in Makers and Fabrication Laboratories. Hands-on training is given during these workshops. Different interventions are being addressed through MoUs with more than 200 schools in the region (List of Schools with MoUs attached in Annexure 7(a)). Local Government Officials like DIOS (Government of U.P.), Regional Head of Vidya Bharti and Regional Head of Madaras are also sought from time to time for interventions in the school systems under their jurisdiction and motivation to principals and teachers of the schools in these systems. Partnerships to develop the local ecosystem for schools are being developed through ATLs established at schools in the region (List of ATLs and status attached in Annexure 7(c)) to take advantage of the available infrastructure of AIM and also minimize the movement of school students. Under these partnerships, workshops and Ideathons are being organized.

Polytechnics/ITIs/HEIs

Polytechnics and ITIs present in Western Uttar Pradesh were approached. Regular trainings on innovation are being organized at the institutional campus of the principals and faculty on “Innovation and How to identify potential innovators' '. Multiple one day workshops are being organized for the benefit of Principals and faculty at ACIC Center, where different instruments were explained and demonstrated in Makers and Fabrication Laboratories. Hands-on training was given during these workshops. Different interventions are being addressed through MoUs with more than 3 of the region (List of ITI’s/Polytechnics with MoUs) Local Government Officials like Joint Director of Technical Education (Government of U.P.) are also sought from time to time for interventions in the school systems under their jurisdiction and motivation to principals and teachers of the schools in these systems.

Local Industry

Meerut’s economic landscape is a tapestry woven with threads of tradition and modernity. It encompasses 14 major manufacturing and 6 service clusters.

S. No.	Manufacturing Cluster	Service Cluster
1	Sport Goods	Construction Advisors and Contractors
2	Scissors	Doctors & Health Clinics
3	Textile Weaving	Education
4	Brass Band	Street Hawking & Food Joints
5	Leather	Tourist Aggregators
6	Textile Printing & Processing	Professionals : Lawyers, Chartered Accountants and Business Professionals
7	Handicrafts
8	Print & Publishing
9	Electronics Switch Gear
10	Gems &Jewellery
11	Food Processing
12	Textiles Power loom
13	Auto Parts
14	Khadi& Textile Weaver
15	Home Lighting

Because of the premium position of the host institution in terms of higher education in technical and management fields for the past 25 years, ACIC MIET Meerut Foundation has access to different industry and service clusters present in Meerut and other districts of Western U.P. through goodwill and alumni network. The host institution has been actively involved in industry studies, skills building and up scaling, testing and consultancy services, some of which are being routed through the ACIC center.

ACIC MIET Meerut has MoUs directly and indirectly with some of the local industries and has been taking and delivering consultancy assignments.

Community Innovators and Entrepreneurs

ACIC MIET Meerut has been developing strategies using multiple methods to scout for innovators and their innovative ideas. ACIC MIET Meerut has been scouting for grass root innovators across the state of U.P. through its developing network of Faculty, teachers, administrators and intellectuals. Through multiple channels of outreach sessions, workshops and Ideathons, ACIC MIET is identifying students from schools, ITIs, polytechnics and colleges in Western U.P., who have ideas and want to develop them into working prototypes.

An ecosystem around ACIC MIET Meerut is developing where automatic references through word-of-mouth and walk-ins of potential innovators are happening.