An MoU has been signed between Government of Assam’s Assam Innovation and Startup Foundation (AISF) and the Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF) for the establishment of Tinkerers’ Labs in select engineering colleges across Assam. The signing of the MoU is seen as an important step towards strengthening experiential learning and fostering a culture of innovation in higher technical education. Aligned with the Government’s vision of equipping students with future-ready skills through hands-on, project-based learning, these labs will function as state-of-the-art, student-managed maker spaces, encouraging creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and problem-solving. Under the MoU, MBF will work with participating institutions to set up advanced fabrication and prototyping facilities, including 3D printers, laser cutters, milling machines, electronics workstations, and allied infrastructure. The labs will operate on a 24×7 access model, managed by trained student teams under the guidance of faculty and technical experts.
This initiative will support structured skilling workshops, curriculum-integrated projects, and solution-oriented prototyping, enabling students to translate ideas into tangible outcomes while also strengthening industry linkages and the innovation ecosystem within engineering institutions. The Tinkerers’ Labs will be established at Jorhat Institute of Science and Technology, Dhemaji, Jorhat, Assam and Golaghat Engineering College, with overall coordination by the Directorate of Technical Education, Assam. With MBF’s proven experience impacting over 1,00,000 students through 18 Tinkerers’ Labs nationwide, AISF will facilitate integration of this initiative within Assam’s broader startup and innovation framework.
Assam Chief Secretary Dr Ravi Kota, who was present during the signing of the MoU, stated that the MoU marks an important beginning and called upon all participating institutions to ensure proactive coordination and effective implementation. Nurturing innovation and practical skills among students are essential for building self-reliance and advancing the national vision of Viksit Bharat, he said. This MoU represents a key milestone in Assam’s efforts to strengthen institutional capacities for innovation and position engineering colleges as hubs of applied learning, creativity, and collaboration, the Chief Secretary added.
