(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Nov 21 (KNN) The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, on Wednesday formalised a strategic partnership with CFA Institute India Pvt. Ltd. through the signing of a Joint Statement of Intent (SOI) in New Delhi.

The collaboration aims to advance financial literacy, ethical decision-making, and governance standards across India's rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem.

The partnership will provide structured support to Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs), and early-stage startups.

It will introduce capacity-building programmes, specialised financial education modules, and global best practices aligned with India's long-term objective of developing responsible and future-ready innovators.

Senior leaders from AIM and CFA Institute, including Deepak Bagla, Margaret Franklin, and Arati Porwal, participated in discussions preceding the signing of the SOI.

AIM Mission Director Deepak Bagla said the partnership represents a significant milestone in strengthening the foundations of India's innovation ecosystem.

“This collaboration will help mobilise India's innovation ecosystem from the grassroots to the global stage through ATLs, AICs, ACICs, and vernacular innovation initiatives. CFA Institute's expertise in financial ethics, governance, and global professional standards will greatly enhance our efforts to build a responsible, financially aware, and future-ready innovation ecosystem,” he said.

Margaret Franklin, President & CEO, CFA Institute, emphasised the growing importance of financial and governance competencies.

“As India's entrepreneurial ecosystem expands, strong financial capabilities and high standards of governance become increasingly essential. Through this collaboration, we aim to bring global expertise to support AIM's mission of nurturing responsible innovators across India,” she noted.

Under the partnership, school innovators under ATLs will gain access to structured modules on financial literacy and ethics.

AIM-supported incubators and startups will benefit from expert-led training, knowledge reports, and specialised advisory inputs designed to strengthen financial sustainability frameworks.

CFA charterholders will also support incubator review processes and may be considered for advisory and governing roles within AICs and ACICs, enhancing transparency and governance standards.

The collaboration will enable the infusion of global expertise, codes, and standards from CFA Institute's international network.

A series of masterclasses, outreach programmes, and knowledge sessions will be held across India to empower students, entrepreneurs, incubator managers, and stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.

(KNN Bureau)

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