Collaboration between Atal Innovation Mission and Bhashini to eliminate language obstacles in the innovation sector
India is moving closer to its vision of becoming a digitally inclusive innovation hub, as the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog and the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) have signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to drive vernacular innovation across the country.
The partnership between AIM and Bhashini signifies a shared commitment to inclusive innovation and digital empowerment. Amitabh Nag, CEO of Bhashini, stated that the collaboration aims to empower every Indian innovator, regardless of linguistic background, with the tools needed for digital and entrepreneurial revolution.
Following this partnership, several future initiatives are planned to promote vernacular innovation in India. These initiatives aim to bridge language barriers and foster innovation in regional languages by leveraging technology and grassroots innovation ecosystems.
Key planned activities include:
- Development of Vernacular AI Tools and Platforms: Creating AI-driven tools that support regional languages to enable innovators, startups, and students to ideate and build solutions in their native languages.
- Integration of Vernacular Content in Innovation Programs: Incorporating local language resources and vernacular curricula in Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), Atal Incubation Centers (AICs), and other AIM initiatives to encourage participation from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
- Capacity Building and Training: Conducting workshops, hackathons, and innovation challenges in regional languages to upskill innovators and entrepreneurs, particularly from rural and semi-urban areas.
- Promotion of Vernacular Digital Services: Supporting the creation and scaling of digital services and products that cater to regional language users, thus enhancing accessibility and inclusivity.
- Collaborative Research and Development: Joint R&D efforts between AIM and Digital India Bhashini to develop robust language technologies, such as natural language processing (NLP) models and speech recognition systems optimized for Indian languages.
- Supporting Vernacular Innovation Ecosystems: Facilitating partnerships among educational institutions, startups, government agencies, and language experts to build vibrant innovation ecosystems that thrive on vernacular strengths.
The collaboration seeks to embed advanced language technologies into AIM's national innovation ecosystem, making technology and innovation resources accessible in multiple Indian languages, thereby promoting a more inclusive and diversified innovation landscape in the country.
As a first step, educational content developed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy will be translated into multiple Indian languages using Bhashini's AI-driven tools. Existing networks like Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) and Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs) will incorporate Bhashini's technology into skilling, capacity building, and innovation programs at the community level.
Deepak Bagla, Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission, stated that the collaboration supports the goal of fostering inclusive innovation. Bagla explained that integrating language technologies with AIM's initiatives aims to ensure accessibility and opportunity for innovators across India, regardless of language.
This initiative builds on a previous Joint Letter of Intent signed between AIM, NITI Aayog, and WIPO, aiming to simplify access to knowledge for non-English speakers. The partnership is set to benefit grassroots innovators through joint programs leveraging Bhashini's language tools.
Nag emphasized that language should never be a barrier to innovation. Future initiatives may include gamification of learning content, multilingual product development support for startups, and shared access to Bhashini's sandbox environments to test and deploy language-based solutions. A new initiative, Language Inclusive Program for Innovation (LIPI) centres, will also incorporate Bhashini's technology.
The collaboration marks a key milestone in making India's innovation landscape more inclusive, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where language barriers have often hindered access to technology and entrepreneurship opportunities. This partnership is expected to contribute significantly to India's digital revolution and its goal of becoming a leading global innovation hub.
The collaboration between AIM and Bhashini is anticipated to foster innovation in regional languages, as planned activities include the development of AI-driven tools that support local languages and the integration of vernacular content in various innovation programs. This initiative aims to ensure accessibility and opportunity for innovators across India, regardless of language, as emphasized by Deepak Bagla, Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission.
The partnership is expected to make technology and innovation resources accessible in multiple Indian languages, thereby promoting a more inclusive and diversified innovation landscape in the country. This collaborative effort marks a significant step towards making India's innovation landscape more inclusive, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where language barriers have hindered access to technology and entrepreneurship opportunities.
