Sarkari Yojana
AICTE-IDEA (Idea Development, Evaluation & Application) LAB SCHEME
About AICTE-IDEA (Idea Development, Evaluation & Application) LAB SCHEME
AICTE set up the IDEA (Idea Development, Evaluation & Application) Lab initiative at AICTE-approved institutions to push students toward applying STEM fundamentals through more hands-on experience, learning-by-doing, and product visualisation. Built as a shared facility within the institution, the IDEA Lab is meant to make engineering graduates more imaginative and creative, while giving them grounding in 21st-century skills — critical thinking, problem-solving, design thinking, collaboration, communication, and lifelong learning. It’s designed to let students and faculty “engage, explore, experience, express, and excel,” echoing the Prime Minister’s vision following the release of the National Education Policy 2020.
Purpose:
- The IDEA Lab brings every facility needed to turn an idea into a prototype under one roof. Having this on campus should draw more students and faculty into creative work, training them in creative thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration in ways conventional labs can’t.
- Training focuses on making students imaginative and creative — traits that should stick with them at their future workplaces. The broader aim is to reshape engineering education through such labs in every college, actively exposing all students to the IDEA Lab, running training sessions for interested students, supporting projects, and offering online learning material.
Proposal:
- Since the IDEA Lab represents a long-term push to transform the institution’s education, proposals need a clear vision for the Lab, an implementation plan, a resource-mobilisation plan, faculty strength and enthusiasm, and how facilities will be used and expanded.
- Proposals gain an edge by aligning activities with larger national goals/missions/initiatives, industrial needs, or serving disadvantaged communities, backed by a commitment of resources.
- Shortlisted proposals go through scrutiny by an expert panel before AICTE sanctions the project.
Implementation:
Colleges, educational campuses, universities, and industry partners are expected to contribute financially — matching or exceeding AICTE’s share — to set up an IDEA Lab, which ideally needs:
- 5,000 sq. ft. of space.
- Ideally, round-the-clock access.
- Facilities, tools, and consumables that support turning ideas into prototypes or working solutions.
- Workshops, training sessions, ideation sessions, boot camps, and competitions, plus participation in similar events run by other IDEA Labs/organisers and in national/international events, to keep the Lab productively and extensively used.
- Upkeep of the Lab — keeping it well-furnished, secure, safe to work in, and well-stocked with consumables.
- Sufficient staff and support facilities/amenities to run and maintain the Lab.
- Compliance with AICTE’s IDEA Lab guidelines, other Government of India rules, and the prescribed Code of Conduct (in the Annexures), in both letter and spirit.
Scheme Overview
Central Government
Ministry of Education
University / Institution
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for AICTE-IDEA (Idea Development, Evaluation & Application) LAB SCHEME, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
AICTE-approved engineering colleges/university departments that have existed for…
AICTE-approved engineering colleges/university departments that have existed for at least 10 years, with at least one course carrying live NBA accreditation.
Applicant institutions must commit at least 50% of…
Applicant institutions must commit at least 50% of the funding for the IDEA Lab themselves — additional funding, especially from industry, earns extra weightage.
The institution must provide 3,000 sq
The institution must provide 3,000 sq. ft. of built-up, furnished space to house the Lab.
The institution must supply all support staff, facilities,…
The institution must supply all support staff, facilities, and amenities needed to run and maintain the Lab.
Benefits Provided
AICTE-IDEA (Idea Development, Evaluation & Application) LAB SCHEME provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
Financial Assistance: Each AICTE IDEA Lab carries an estimated project cost of ₹90,00,000/-, covering non-recurring expenditure (for equipment, tools, and consumables) of ₹20,00,000/- and recurring expenditure (for two years of events and activities) of ₹10,00,000/-. AICTE can fund up to 50% of this, i.e., ₹30,00,000/-. Training for Faculty and Students: Faculty and students receive various kinds of training in creative thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and similar skills. Activities an IDEA Lab Must Conduct: The following lists the activities/events an AICTE IDEA Lab must run, along with the required frequency — committing to these minimum numbers is a precondition for project sanction.
Faculty Development Programme (6 days), for 20 faculty…
Faculty Development Programme (6 days), for 20 faculty members: trains faculty on equipment so they can guide students and run events, including for other institutions. Twice a year.
Skilling Programmes (6 days), for 20-30 students
Skilling Programmes (6 days), for 20-30 students: covers areas like electrical/electronics fabrication, embedded systems design, embedded programming, 3D printing, robotics, welding, IoT, machine learning, AI, bio-engineering, biomedical, etc. Once every quarter.
Bootcamps (12 days), for 5-10 faculty
Bootcamps (12 days), for 5-10 faculty: trains faculty (including from other institutions) over a few weeks, continuing at their workplace if needed. Twice a year.
Ideation Workshops (3-5 days), for 30-40 students
Ideation Workshops (3-5 days), for 30-40 students: generates ideas for students to pursue in the IDEA Lab, including field visits. Once every three months.
Awareness Workshops for Industry (2 days), for 5-10…
Awareness Workshops for Industry (2 days), for 5-10 industry participants: publicises the IDEA Lab to industry, encouraging them to use its facilities. Once every three months.
Internships (2-6 months), for 15-20 students
Internships (2-6 months), for 15-20 students: hands-on training as part of coursework during summer/winter breaks, preferably tied to industry problems. As per the curriculum.
Professional Skilling Programmes (12 days), for 5-10 ITI…
Professional Skilling Programmes (12 days), for 5-10 ITI or class 10/12 students: covers welding, 3D printing, mechanical fabrication, etc. Once every quarter.
School Teachers Awareness Programme (6 days), for teachers…
School Teachers Awareness Programme (6 days), for teachers of nearby schools: demonstrations and hands-on exposure to the Lab's facilities. Twice a year, during school vacations.
Projects by school students identified by schools (10-15…
Projects by school students identified by schools (10-15 students): lets school students take up projects. Once a year, as convenient.
Open Day for school students (1 day), for…
Open Day for school students (1 day), for 25-30 students in classes XI-XII nominated by schools: exposes them to the Lab's facilities to spark interest (held on Science Day/Technology Day/Teachers Day/Engineers Day). Once a year, as convenient.
Participation in annual technical exhibitions (nationwide IDEA labs)
Participation in annual technical exhibitions (nationwide IDEA labs): showcasing activities/products/prototypes at events like Tech Fest, Mind Spark, etc., run by renowned institutions/industries. Once a year.
Newsletter (nationwide IDEA labs)
Newsletter (nationwide IDEA labs): shares updates on other labs' activities, technology issues, and interesting developments. Monthly/bi-monthly.
Webpage (all stakeholders)
Webpage (all stakeholders): gives the IDEA Lab a web presence to showcase itself to stakeholders and other Labs. Updated weekly/bi-weekly.
Annual conference/symposium of all IDEA Labs (all IDEA…
Annual conference/symposium of all IDEA Labs (all IDEA Labs, DIY labs, or similar labs, nationally and internationally): promotes interaction, showcases lab activities, and fosters national/international collaboration. Once a year.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
Equipment quotations (all quotations combined into a single…
Equipment quotations (all quotations combined into a single PDF).
Industrial Contribution Commitment Letter (PDF format only)
Industrial Contribution Commitment Letter (PDF format only).
Institute Contribution Commitment Letter (PDF format only)
Institute Contribution Commitment Letter (PDF format only).
Endorsement from the Head of Institute (PDF format…
Endorsement from the Head of Institute (PDF format only).
How to Apply
Online Application
Applicants can apply for AICTE-IDEA (Idea Development, Evaluation & Application) LAB SCHEME through the online application process outlined below.
Registration Process:
Go to https://idealnet.aicte-india.org/ and click 'Log In', then…
Go to https://idealnet.aicte-india.org/ and click 'Log In', then 'Register'.
Click Get Details — the Institute's Name, Address,…
Click Get Details — the Institute's Name, Address, and Email auto-populate. Enter your Institute's Permanent ID.
Fill in all mandatory details
Fill in all mandatory details.
Set a password and click 'Register'
Set a password and click 'Register'.
Once registered, you'll get an activation email at…
Once registered, you'll get an activation email at the address used during registration.
Click 'Verify Email' in that message to activate…
Click 'Verify Email' in that message to activate your account. Post-Registration Process:
After activation, log in at https://idealnet.aicte-india.org/login using your…
After activation, log in at https://idealnet.aicte-india.org/login using your email and password.
Open the side menu and work through these…
Open the side menu and work through these tabs, filling in the required data and clicking 'Save' after each: Institute Details; HOI & Faculty Coordinator Details; Build-Up Area Details; Credentials of Institute/Department; Credentials of Chief Mentor (HOI); Credentials of Faculty Coordinator; Credentials of Faculty Co-coordinator; Proposal for the Project.
Go to the 'Non-Recurring Expenditure' tab
Go to the 'Non-Recurring Expenditure' tab.
It has four parts
It has four parts: Part-I (Equipment), Part-II (Consumables), Part-III (Tools), and Part-IV (Optional Equipment/Consumable/Tool).
Fill in the data and click 'Save'
Fill in the data and click 'Save'.
Go to the 'Non-Recurring Expenditure' tab again via…
Go to the 'Non-Recurring Expenditure' tab again via the side menu.
It has two parts
It has two parts: Part-I and Part-II.
Fill in the data and click 'Save'
Fill in the data and click 'Save'.
Go to the “Contribution to Budget” tab via…
Go to the “Contribution to Budget” tab via the side menu.
Upload the files and click 'Save'
Upload the files and click 'Save'.
Go to the “Preview & Submit” tab via…
Go to the “Preview & Submit” tab via the side menu.
Review everything, tick the declaration, and click 'Submit'…
Review everything, tick the declaration, and click 'Submit' — details can't be edited once submitted.
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.