IITM Pune Inaugurates State-of-the-Art Incubation Center

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), officially inaugurated its dedicated Incubation Center for Startups in Weather and Climate today. The landmark event was marked by a one-day national meet titled ‘Weather and Climate Innovation Meet for Startups and Entrepreneurs (WISE-2026)’, signaling a new era of private-sector integration in India’s meteorological services.

The facility was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES. The ceremony was also graced by Guest of Honour Dr. Shailesh Naik (Director NIAS & Former Secretary, MoES), Dr. Suryachandra Rao (Director, IITM), and other distinguished dignitaries. The Incubation Center is a key component of the National Enterprise for Atmospheric Technology (NEAT), an ambitious vertical under MoES’s ‘Mission Mausam,’ designed to foster technology development through public-private partnerships.

Highlighting the critical role of collective action in addressing climate challenges, the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. M. Ravichandran emphasized that the complexity of modern weather patterns—amplified by climate change—requires a shift from traditional research to an inclusive, multi-stakeholder ecosystem. He underscored that the newly launched Mission Mausam is a foundational step toward building a “weather-ready and climate-smart nation,” integrating advanced observations, AI-driven modeling, and localized dissemination to safeguard lives.(UPDATED ON 15TH MAY 2026)