Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology inaugurated a climate-tech incubation centre and hosted WISE-2026 under Mission Mausam.
About Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)
- IITM, established in 1962 at Pune, is India’s premier institute for tropical meteorology, climate science and atmospheric research.
- Nodal Body: It functions as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
- Key Roles
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- Monsoon Prediction and Weather Modelling: IITM develops advanced forecasting systems under the Monsoon Mission to improve seasonal and extended-range monsoon predictions.
- Climate Change Research: Houses the Centre for Climate Change Research (CCCR), which develops Earth System Models for climate projections and global warming studies.Extreme Weather Forecasting: Studies cyclones, heatwaves and heavy rainfall events to strengthen disaster preparedness and climate resilience.
- Atmospheric Observation and Cloud Physics: Uses radar, satellite data and field experiments to study aerosols, cloud physics and atmospheric processes.
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About Mission Mausam
- Mission Mausam was launched in 2025, to commemorate the 150th foundation anniversary of the India Meteorological Department.
- Nodal Ministry: Mission Mausam is to be chiefly implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
- Aim: To enhance India’s ability to predict and respond to extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change.
- Its focus will be on improving observations and understanding to deliver highly-accurate and timely weather and climate information across temporal and spatial scales
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About the IITM Climate-Tech Incubation Hub
- IITM launched India’s first dedicated weather and climate startup incubation centre under the National Enterprise for Atmospheric Technology (NEAT).
- Key Features
- Climate-Tech Entrepreneurship: The centre promotes startups developing climate-smart and weather intelligence solutions for critical sectors.
- Access to Scientific Infrastructure: Startups receive access to IITM’s supercomputers, climate models and remote sensing datasets for product development.
- Financial and Institutional Support: The incubation centre provides seed funding, mentorship, workspace and technical validation support.
- Industry and Investor Linkages: IITM connects startups with investors, researchers and policymakers to support commercialization of climate technologies.
- Hyperlocal Forecasting Solutions: The centre encourages AI-driven hyperlocal forecasting tools for agriculture, disaster management and urban resilience.
About ‘WISE-2026’
- WISE-2026, or Weather and Climate Innovation Meet for Startups and Entrepreneurs, was organized by IITM under MoES.
- Key Objectives
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- Bridging Science and Application: It aimed to convert advanced climate science into practical and commercially viable technologies.
- Strengthening Climate Resilience: The programme focused on climate-smart innovations for safeguarding lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.
- Promoting Public-Private Collaboration: It encouraged partnerships among startups, academia, government agencies and industry experts.
- Advancing Mission Mausam: The event supported Mission Mausam’s vision of building a weather-ready and climate-smart nation.
- Participants: It witnessed participation from startups, scientists and institutions such as the India Meteorological Department, the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
- Significance: WISE-2026 highlighted the growing importance of climate-tech innovation for economic resilience, disaster management and sustainable development.
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Conclusion
The IITM incubation centre and WISE-2026 showcase India’s efforts to integrate climate science, innovation and entrepreneurship for resilient development.
16 May 2026
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