The Atal Community Innovation Centre – Pondicherry University Step-Up Hub (ACIC-PUSH) building was inaugurated yesterday by Prof. P. Prakash Babu, Vice-Chancellor, Pondicherry University. The ceremony was attended by statutory officers, Deans, Heads of Departments, Board Members of ACIC-PUSH, faculty members, research scholars, students, and staff.
The event commenced with a warm welcome address by Prof. B. Charumathi, Director, ACIC-PUSH and Project Leader of ACIC Project, who outlined the vision, mission, and community-driven innovation goals of the centre. She acknowledged the vital support of the funding partner and thanked the University administration for enabling the successful establishment of the centre.
In his inaugural address, the Vice-Chancellor emphasised that “Innovation must be rooted in societal needs. ACIC-PUSH is a bridge between academic research and real-world application, empowering young minds to solve grassroots challenges. Pondicherry University is committed to nurturing a culture of entrepreneurship and inclusive development through this centre.” He urged students and innovators to utilise the facility to create sustainable, scalable solutions with national and global relevance.
The Vice-Chancellor’s speech highlighted the role of ACIC-PUSH in fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and the community, as well as its potential to serve as a hub for startups, technology transfer, and social entrepreneurship.
Dr. P. Natarajan, Dean, School of Management, offered his felicitations and commended the ACIC-PUSH initiative as a timely and strategic step in strengthening the University’s innovation ecosystem. Dr. C. Sivasankar, Director, ACIC-PUSH expressed gratitude to all attendees and contributors for making the event a success.