Kolkata, 25 February 2026: In a significant boost to innovation-driven technical education, a state-of-the-art AICTE-IDEA Lab (Idea Development, Evaluation and Application Lab) was inaugurated at Guru Nanak Institute of Technology (GNIT), a JIS Group educational initiative, marking a major step towards fostering experiential learning and startup-focused innovation in eastern India.
The lab was formally inaugurated by Sardar Taranjit Singh, Managing Director, JIS Group; Sardar Haranjit Singh, Joint Managing Director, JIS Group; and Sardar Simarpreet Singh, Director, JIS Group. The ceremony was graced by Prof. Tapas Chakraborty, Vice Chancellor of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT), and Prof. Swarup Kumar Mitra, Principal of GNIT, along with senior academicians, faculty members, students, and industry representatives.
Cutting-Edge Infrastructure for End-to-End Product Development
The newly established AICTE-IDEA Lab at GNIT boasts modern, industry-aligned infrastructure designed to support the entire product development lifecycle—from ideation and conceptualisation to prototyping and validation. The facility is equipped with advanced tools such as a CNC router, laser cutting machine, 3D scanner, 3D printer, vinyl cutter, and high-performance computing systems. Dedicated collaborative workspaces further enable interdisciplinary teamwork and real-world problem-solving in a safe, professional environment.
The lab aims to serve as a dynamic innovation hub where students from diverse disciplines can engage in hands-on learning, design thinking, and startup-oriented experimentation.
Aligned with National Vision
Envisioned as an innovation ecosystem, the AICTE-IDEA Lab seeks to nurture creativity, entrepreneurial mindset, and problem-solving capabilities among students. The initiative aligns with national missions such as Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, encouraging students to translate ideas into viable prototypes and scalable solutions through experiential and interdisciplinary learning.
Addressing the gathering, Sardar Taranjit Singh said, “The inauguration of the AICTE-IDEA Lab at GNIT marks an important milestone in our commitment to nurturing an innovation-driven academic ecosystem. By providing students with access to advanced infrastructure and experiential learning opportunities, we aim to empower them to transform ideas into impactful solutions and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s vision of self-reliance and technological advancement.”
Strengthening Industry–Academia Collaboration
The launch of the AICTE-IDEA Lab reinforces GNIT and the JIS Group’s strategic focus on strengthening industry–academia collaboration, promoting research-led innovation, and preparing students to become future-ready engineers, innovators, and job creators.
With this initiative, GNIT further cements its position as a forward-looking institution committed to building a robust culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Kolkata’s higher education landscape.
