National Institute of Technology Raipur on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the ₹88.76-crore Smt. Mithilesh Agrawal Centre of Excellence for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering and Technology (MACIEET), marking a significant step towards strengthening Chhattisgarh's innovation, research and startup ecosystem.

The centre is being established through a joint initiative of the Motilal Oswal Foundation, the Government of Chhattisgarh and NIT Raipur, with funding shared in the ratio of 80:10:10. The Motilal Oswal Foundation will contribute ₹71.008 crore, while the State Government and NIT Raipur will contribute ₹8.876 crore each. The project will be implemented through the NIT Raipur Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NITRRFIE), a Section 8 company of the institute.

Named after Smt. Mithilesh Agrawal, mother of Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited Chairman and Co-founder Shri Raamdeo Agrawal, the centre is envisioned as a comprehensive hub for advanced technology, skill development, research, incubation and entrepreneurship. Shri Raamdeo Agrawal hails from Nagpura village near Raipur.

The foundation stone ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Shri Raamdeo Agrawal, Chairman and Co-founder of Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited, Dr. Suresh Haware, Chairman of the Board of Governors of NIT Raipur, and Dr. N. V. Ramana Rao, Director of NIT Raipur. Registrar Ashok K. Gupta, Dr. Sameer Bajpai, Head of the Career Development Centre, Dr. Anuj K. Shukla, Faculty-in-Charge of NITRRFIE, Dhamtari District Magistrate Shri Avinash Mishra, and other faculty members, officials, alumni, students and distinguished guests were also present.

Designed by INI Design Studio around the concept of a 'Learning Street', the centre will be a ground-plus-six-storey building spread across a built-up area of approximately 12,307 square metres. The L-shaped structure will feature a landscaped courtyard, an open-air amphitheatre, a double-skin façade for climate control and rooftop solar panels. The design also incorporates existing trees on the site, with a focus on sustainability and an environment-friendly campus.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said MACIEET would provide the youth of Chhattisgarh with access to world-class laboratories, mentoring and incubation facilities within the State. He said the State Government was proud to be associated with the initiative, which would help transform young people's ideas into enterprises and employment opportunities, while advancing the vision of Viksit Chhattisgarh and Viksit Bharat.

A major attraction of the facility will be its seven advanced laboratories dedicated to emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Data Analytics and Computing, Robotics and Automation, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, Internet of Things, Blockchain and Cyber Security, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, and Cleantech and Sustainability. The Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning laboratory will have the capacity to accommodate around 100 learners at a time. The laboratories will be supported by classrooms and smart classrooms with seating capacities ranging from 50 to 100 participants for specialised training, certification and faculty development programmes.

The centre will also house a 563-square-metre incubation and co-working facility managed by NITRRFIE. It will provide plug-and-play workstations, dedicated startup cabins, conference facilities and meeting rooms to support mentoring, investor interactions, industry collaboration and business development.

In addition, the facility will include a banquet-cum-dining hall with a capacity of 500 people, a double-height exhibition area, a startup product showcase and an open-air amphitheatre. These facilities will provide a platform for hackathons, product demonstrations, investor meetings and startup conclaves. Separate dormitories for men and women, guest rooms and suites will accommodate trainees, mentors and visiting experts, enabling residential boot camps and intensive incubation programmes. A café, canteen, central kitchen and bank branch will further strengthen the campus infrastructure.

The laboratories and associated facilities will be accessible to students and faculty members across Chhattisgarh, incubated startups, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), industries and participants of State Government skill development programmes. Startups will receive dedicated workspace, mentoring from faculty members and industry experts, access to advanced laboratories for prototyping, assistance with intellectual property and regulatory requirements, and linkages with investors, banks and government schemes. Special outreach initiatives are also envisaged for aspiring entrepreneurs from the State's aspirational and tribal districts.

Shri Raamdeo Agrawal said the centre, named after his mother, was a humble tribute to the soil of Chhattisgarh that had shaped his journey. He emphasised that every successful enterprise begins with a bold idea and the determination to pursue it. The centre, he said, would provide young innovators with the infrastructure, resources and mentorship needed to build the enterprises of the future.

Dr. Suresh Haware said collaboration among academia, industry and the Government was essential to taking innovation from laboratories to the marketplace. He expressed confidence that MACIEET would strengthen NIT Raipur's role in translating research into market-ready products and nurturing students as future job creators.

Dr. N. V. Ramana Rao reaffirmed the institute's commitment to academic excellence, research, innovation and entrepreneurship. He said MACIEET would provide a strong institutional platform for students, researchers, faculty members and aspiring entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into viable technologies, products and enterprises. He also expressed gratitude to the Motilal Oswal Foundation and the Government of Chhattisgarh for their support.

In his welcome address, Dr. Sameer Bajpai, Head of the Career Development Centre, said the centre would play an important role in transforming students into job creators and promoting innovation-led startups. Shri Avinash Mishra also appreciated Shri Raamdeo Agrawal's entrepreneurial journey and said the initiative would encourage students to pursue entrepreneurship, promote innovation and generate new employment opportunities in Chhattisgarh.

During the programme, the Chief Minister also interacted with young entrepreneurs and students associated with the institute's incubation centre, NITRRFIE. The entrepreneurs presented their innovative ideas and shared their startup journeys. Appreciating their efforts, the Chief Minister encouraged them to continue pursuing excellence and work towards achieving their entrepreneurial goals with determination.

The ceremony concluded with a renewed commitment to developing a robust innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Chhattisgarh, where young talent can access advanced infrastructure, institutional support and industry mentorship to turn innovative ideas into successful enterprises.

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