Marking its first large-scale co-creation partnership in India, Arduino—the Italian open-source hardware and software platform, launched the Arduino Innovation & Learning Hub (AILH) at the Manav Rachna Campus, Faridabad in collaboration with MREI. The hub is designed to transform how students, educators, and startups engage with technology—from classrooms to real-world innovation.
The Hub was inaugurated in the presence of Guneet Bedi, Global Vice President & General Manager, Arduino; Dr. Amit Bhalla, Vice President, MREI; and Dr. Umesh Dutta, CEO, Manav Rachna Innovation & Incubation Foundation, alongside other senior leaders from Arduino and MREI on Aug 29. The programme featured keynote addresses, an interactive media session, the book launch of Arduino Uno R4 एक WiFi, the unveiling of Manav Rachna’s Vande IoT platform, and a guided walkthrough of the facility showcasing live demonstrations and student-led innovations.
At its core, the AILH is equipped with state-of-the-art Arduino hardware kits, microcontrollers, sensors, robotics systems, and IoT development platforms. These advanced resources will enable hands-on learning and prototyping across domains like AI, IoT, robotics, healthcare, and deep-tech engineering. The Hub will not only serve as a Centre of Excellence at Manav Rachna but will also anchor a broader national network of Arduino Inspiration Labs (for K–12 learners), Invention Labs (for higher education and applied research), and Innovation Labs (for industry and career-tech professionals).
Highlighting the broader impact, Dr. Amit Bhalla added: “This partnership is not only about technology, it’s about empowerment. With the goal of certifying 10,000 teachers in the first year, hosting national Olympiads and hackathons, and supporting hundreds of student startups, we are aligning education with industry needs. The AILH will make world-class machines, tools, and mentors accessible to learners, ensuring that India’s youth are ready for the opportunities of Industry 5.0 and beyond.”
The initiative is further aligned with national skilling and education missions, with collaboration pathways involving NSDC, NITI Aayog, State Education Boards, and Innovation-driven Government programs. Beyond certification, the Hub will support research projects, incubation in hardware and EdTech, and cultivate a globally connected mentor network for Indian students and startups.
With its emphasis on hands-on technology access, educator training at scale, and a structured innovation pipeline, the Arduino Innovation & Learning Hub at Manav Rachna promises to be a transformative force in shaping India’s future-ready workforce and positioning the country as a global hub for STEAM innovation.
This multi-tier ecosystem ensures that learners can progress from curiosity to industrial-grade innovation within a unified framework. Schools will benefit from guided STEAM discovery, universities will drive applied research and prototyping, and industries will leverage advanced innovation labs for product design and technology transfer. Together, these labs will act as incubators for startups, training grounds for educators, and accelerators for India’s next generation of innovators.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Umesh Dutta said: “AILH is designed as a springboard for India’s next wave of maker-innovators. The facility is loaded with Arduino’s global-standard hardware and platforms that allow students and educators to experiment, prototype, and build solutions in real time. By coupling this with structured educator certification and startup incubation, we are creating a pipeline that takes innovation from idea to industry.”
Emphasizing Arduino’s commitment, Guneet Bedi said, “India’s maker community is one of the fastest growing in the world. Through this partnership with Manav Rachna, we are building a three-tier ecosystem where the same microcontrollers and platforms used in industries globally are made accessible to school students, college innovators, and entrepreneurs here in India. This democratization of technology will accelerate India’s role in global innovation.”
