AIIA startup programme highlights MSME opportunities for Ayurveda ventures
New Delhi: The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) organised an AIIA startup programme to mark National Startup Day 2026, focusing on MSME opportunities for Ayurveda-based startups and early-stage entrepreneurs.
The awareness programme was held at the AIIA campus in New Delhi through its incubation centre, the Incubation Centre for Ayurveda Innovation and Entrepreneurship (AIIA–iCAINE). The event was organised in collaboration with the MSME–Development and Facilitation Office of the Government of India.
Policymakers, academic leaders, startup enablers, and aspiring entrepreneurs attended the programme. They discussed ways to strengthen the MSME and startup ecosystem, with emphasis on Ayurveda and integrative health innovations. The sessions covered government support schemes, innovation frameworks, intellectual property protection, certification standards, and financial mechanisms for startups.
The programme began with a welcome address by Dr. Arun Kumar, who highlighted the need for innovation-led entrepreneurship in Ayurveda. Shri Sunil Kumar, Deputy Director, MSME, outlined key MSME initiatives and government schemes relevant to Ayurveda-based enterprises. Prof. Manjusha Rajagopala shared the academic perspective on promoting entrepreneurship within Ayurveda institutions.
AIIA startup programme focuses on policy, funding and innovation support
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. R.K. Bharti, Joint Director, MSME, stressed the importance of a strong policy-backed ecosystem to promote startups and MSMEs. He said traditional medicine and wellness sectors required targeted institutional support to scale innovation.
The technical sessions featured expert talks on critical startup enablers. Ms. Sangeeta Nagar, former senior scientist at DPIIT, explained the role of Intellectual Property Rights in protecting innovations. Meanwhile, Ms. Jyoti Neeraj, Senior Manager at SIDBI, detailed financial support mechanisms and funding options available for startups and MSMEs.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Shri Sujith Eranezhath, CEO of AIIA–iCAINE, and Shri Naveen Kumar, Assistant Director, MSME. Speakers reiterated that the AIIA startup programme aligned with national priorities on entrepreneurship, MSME growth, and sustainable healthcare.
AIIA–iCAINE, recognised as a Host Institute by the Ministry of MSME, reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing an innovation-driven startup ecosystem rooted in Ayurveda. Officials said the centre would continue supporting innovators in transforming ideas into scalable and impactful enterprises.
