Online Registration for Atal Incubation Centres (AICs)

Step 1: Please go to http://niti.gov.in/content/atal-incubation-centres-aics and download the

Guidelines for setting up Atal Incubation Centres under Atal Innovation Mission. Please read the
guidelines carefully before applying.
Step 2: Please go to the http://aimapp2.aim.gov.in/aic. The home page will open after clicking on
the link.
Step 3: Please sign-up using your email address and the name of institution (if any).
Step 4: After successfully signing up, the password will be sent to the email address provided. Please
check your spam folders as well for the email. Any request for change in password should be sent to
Atal Innovation Mission.
Step 5: You can now login with your email and the password received through email.
Step 6: After login, you will be directed to the home page of the application. Select the tab Atal
Incubation Centre which is placed at the top to begin the application.
Step 7: Fill the mandatory details.
Step 8: Complete and submit your application. No changes can be made after submission.
Step 9: To view your application after submission, login at the same link with your registered email
address and password provided. Select the tab of Established Incubation Centre placed at the top to
begin the application to view or print the application submitted. The page will also display a unique id
code which should be used for any future correspondence.

Instructions

1. The application form is divided into 6 sections. After filling in the first page of the
application form, save the application before proceeding further. Additionally, you can
save the form at any point of time. However, you need to fill the complete information in one
section to proceed to the next one.
2. Please read all the questions carefully before submitting. Please note that no edits will be allowed
after the final submission of the form.
3. If any field is not applicable to you, please write NA or enter 0 (zero) for a numeric field.
4. You can view and print the form after the final submission.
5. You can email us at md-aim@gov.in for any queries that are not answered here.
Mention AIC2 in the subject line. We will respond as soon as possible.
 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is an incubation centre?

Incubator or incubation centres help start-ups in their journey to become successful and scalable
enterprises. They solve some of the problems commonly associated with running a startup by
providing workspace, seed funding, mentoring, networking, training and a host of other
resources that are required for the startup to survive and scale. The sole purpose of a startup
incubator is to help entrepreneurs grow their business.

2. What is the difference between an incubator and an accelerator?

An incubator supports the start up from the idea stage to becoming a successful enterprise
whereas an accelerator helps to scale the existing enterprise. An accelerator is an event (of
perhaps 3-6 months period), while an incubator is an institution that supports startups usually
between 12 and 30 months.

3. What is the difference between ATL and AIC?

ATLs are being established at the school level whereas AICs are targeted for higher educational
instructions, research labs and private entities that can assist startups in becoming viable
businesses.

4. Who is eligible to apply for the AIC?

Entities such as such as higher educational institutions, R&D institutes, corporate sector,
alternative investment funds registered with SEBI, business accelerators, group of individuals,
and individuals are eligible to apply.

5. What are the minimum space requirements?

The applicant would have to provide at least 10,000 sq. ft. of ready-to-use, built-up space, for
the exclusive use of the AIC. The space can be spread out across different locations in a campus
area.

6. Can virtual incubators receive AIM grants?

No, AIM grants are not available for virtual incubators. There is a minimum requirement of
10,000 sq. ft of space. The virtual incubator may be in addition to the physical incubator.

7. Does all the required space, 10000 sq ft, need to be in one big hall?
The incubator needs to be in one premises or campus, but may be spread on several floors of a
building, or not more than 2-3 buildings within a campus. Successful incubators have some large
spaces where various startups, new teams and co-founders interact informally, exchange ideas,
and develop new ones. These interactions form the crux of an innovation ecosystem, and are the
reason why AIM guidelines require a large space for AIC applicants. Incubators need to be
open, welcoming places where young founders and innovators can work around the clock, if
they want, to develop new innovative enterprises.
This program is not meant to support virtual incubators.

8. Is construction or acquisition of land allowed under the scheme?

No, the AIM grant cannot be used for acquisition of land or construction of facilities. The space
must already be built and available with the applicant for exclusive use of the incubator.
9. How much grant would be given by Atal Innovation Mission?
The grant-in-aid can be up to Rs.10 crores over a period of 5 years for setting up of AICs, to be
disbursed as per the discretion of the competent authorities.

10. How do we apply?

Applicants need to fill out the online application form and submit the required documents. Here
is the link: http://aimapp2.aim.gov.in/aic/

11. Can we submit the form offline?

The application has to be made online only and will not be accepted in offline mode.

12. Which are the documents to be submitted along with the application?
The following documents are required to be submitted:
a. Letter of intent from the partners, if any
b. Registration Certificate of the Institution (Not applicable in case of individuals)
c. Business Plan including Budget Plan
d. Letter of Declaration

13. Can we collaborate with others for setting up the AIC?

Applications from multiple collaborating entities or consortia to establish an Atal Incubation
Centre are encouraged. However the entity that is providing the space should make the
application, and the rest of the consortium partners can be mentioned as partners in the
application form.

14. What are the different sectors where government is setting up incubation centres?
The AIC can be established in sectors/areas of national importance and social relevance such as
manufacturing, transport, energy, health, education, agriculture, water etc.

15. What is the contribution required for funding from the private entities?
Academic and R&D institutions would be provided grant-in-aid of up to 100% of the total
eligible project costs subject to a maximum of Rs.10 crore. Private entities will need to arrange
matching funding for the AIM grant, which is 50% of the total project cost.

16. Can rental value be included as a part of the project cost?

The rental value can be included in the total project cost only for non-academic/ private
applicants which have taken space on lease.

17. In which mode can the AIC be set up?

The selected applicant will have to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)-either a Section 8
or for-profit entity company.

18. What part of the total grant can be spent on sector specific laboratory and seed fund?
The total grant-in-aid that can be spent towards laboratory (ies) relevant to sectors identified as
focus areas in the application, and a seed fund (if any), combined should not exceed Rs. 4.5
crores.

19. When is the last date for submitting the online application form?
The last date to submit the online application form is 11:59 PM, 31st August 2017 IST.
20. When and where can we expect the results?
All communications related to the scheme will be published on the NITI Aayog website
http://www.niti.gov.in

21. What is the selection process?

The selection process will include different stages including screening of applications, interviews
and site visits. The tentative selection criteria is provided in the guidelines itself.

22. Can Incubation Centres accept funding under CSR?

Technology business incubators are currently one of the allowable expenses for CSR spending
by the corporates.

23. Can specialized training programs developed by the applicant for the entrepreneurs be
included in the AIC along with regular training programs?
Yes, it is acceptable to include developed specialized training programs for entrepreneurs
along with regular training programs in AIC.

24. We are an Incubation Centre established some time back. Can we apply?
If you are an existing incubation centre, please provide a strong rationale for applying for the
grant-in-aid in the business plan. Do you intend to start another incubation centre or are you
planning to scale up the existing one? Why do you need government support to do that?

25. Does AIM support individual or research related projects?

AIM only provides financial support to establish business/startup incubators.

26. How do we decide on the revenue model?

The sources and amount of potential revenue should be proposed by the applicant. The
proposal should convey through the business plan and the budget plan, how the AIC will
become sustainable in the next 3-5 years time.

27. For queries not covered above, whom can we contact?

You can email us at md-aim@gov.in for any queries. Please mention AIC2 in the subject line.