IIM Calcutta Signs MoU with AIMK to Strengthen Collaboration

IIM Calcutta Innovation Park and Army Institute of Management Kolkata sign an MoU to strengthen entrepreneurship, incubation and startup development in West Bengal through mentorship, industry collaboration and innovation initiatives.

IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Army Institute of Management Kolkata (AIMK) to strengthen entrepreneurship, innovation and startup development in West Bengal. The partnership aims to combine academic expertise with incubation support to create a stronger ecosystem for emerging entrepreneurs.

Under the agreement, IIMCIP and AIMK will work together to promote entrepreneurship through incubation programmes, capacity-building initiatives, industry engagement and opportunities for aspiring founders. The collaboration will also focus on creating an environment that supports startup creation and innovation-led enterprise development.

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A key component of the partnership is the proposed establishment of a DST NIDHI Maker Bhavan at the AIMK campus, subject to approval from the Department of Science and Technology (DST). AIMK plans to provide approximately 3,500-5,000 square feet of space for the facility. The proposed centre will include a fabrication laboratory, startup co-working spaces and meeting rooms under the NIDHI PRAYAS 2.0 scheme.

The partnership will extend beyond physical infrastructure. Both institutions will collaborate on co-incubation programmes, mentor clinics, long-term startup cohorts, startup scouting and innovation challenges. The institutions will also facilitate industry interactions, collaborative research and development, and faculty development initiatives.

AIMK will identify promising startups and innovators and support engagement with academic institutions, industry bodies, government agencies and investors. IIMCIP, meanwhile, will provide technical and strategic support through incubation programmes, expert mentorship, market-connect networks and potential funding opportunities. A dedicated team will also support the proposed satellite centre.

Ajay Jain, Chairman of the IIM Calcutta Innovation Park Board, says the partnership combines AIMK’s academic capabilities with IIMCIP’s incubation expertise to build a vibrant startup ecosystem in West Bengal.

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Dr. Samip Baruah, Principal and Officiating Director of AIMK, says the collaboration will provide students and aspiring entrepreneurs with access to a leading startup ecosystem and create opportunities for experiential learning and enterprise creation.

The MoU marks a step toward strengthening entrepreneurship education and supporting innovation-driven startups in the state.