Cyient Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Cyient Ltd., has joined hands with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to launch an ambitious innovation cluster in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was announced in the presence of Shri Nara Lokesh, the Hon’ble Minister for Human Resources Development, IT, Electronics, and Communication.
The initiative aims to transform the innovation landscape of the region by enabling educational institutions to evolve into dynamic centers of creativity, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property generation. The pilot program will focus on higher education institutions in and around Visakhapatnam, fostering stronger links between academia, industry, startups, and investors.
At the heart of the initiative are three key components—iCARE (Innovation Creation and Research for Entrepreneurship) centres, iCAFE (Idea Creation and Auxiliary Facilities for Entrepreneurship) centres, and IPR-TT (Intellectual Property Rights and Technology Transfer) cells. These will be established across participating mentor and mentee institutions to build a robust ecosystem for innovation-led growth.
Dr. BVR Mohan Reddy, Founder Chairman of Cyient and Chief Patron of the Cyient Foundation, emphasized the broader vision behind this collaboration. He noted that the partnership is a major step towards unlocking India’s innovation potential by nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets and strengthening institutional capabilities. The goal, he added, is to build a self-sustaining framework that not only empowers the youth but also catalyzes impactful collaboration between the academic and industrial sectors.
The innovation cluster will also host a range of events and programs—including boot camps, innovation fairs, hackathons, and mentorship initiatives—designed to provide students and faculty with practical exposure and the tools necessary to bring their ideas to life. By investing in skill development and entrepreneurship, the project aspires to create a pipeline of innovative thinkers and future-ready startups rooted in local talent and global aspirations.
This collaborative venture between Cyient Foundation and AICTE marks a significant milestone in regional development, with the potential to position Visakhapatnam as a model hub for innovation and knowledge-driven transformation.
