Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai has launched CREATE at MAHE Dubai, a year-round innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for students developing ideas into potential ventures.

The initiative was unveiled at the Manipal Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conclave 2026 in September at the Dubai campus as part of Founders’ Day celebrations honoring MAHE Chancellor Dr. Ramdas M. Pai.

The two-day conclave featured a Problem Identification Challenge, an Entrepreneurship Simulation Competition, an Innovation Hackathon and a Seed Fund Pitch Presentation, with shortlisted teams receiving access to milestone-based seed funding.

CREATE at MAHE Dubai gives students a structured pathway across the academic year, moving through four stages: Ideathon, Innovathon, EntreHack, and Inspirethon. Students start with Ideathon, identifying problems and shaping potential solutions, before progressing to Innovathon, where they assess feasibility, validate ideas with customers, and build out business models.

EntreHack focuses on building prototypes or minimum viable products and preparing pitches.

Inspirethon then supports the most promising projects through incubation, industry engagement, funding, and market launch.

Dr. S. Sudhindra, Pro Vice Chancellor of MAHE Dubai, said the initiative gives students a practical route for developing entrepreneurial skills.

“CREATE at MAHE Dubai gives our students a practical route for turning an idea into a venture,” he said.

Mentorship, prototyping, and incubation support

The university’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) will run the initiative, offering design-thinking workshops, innovation challenges, market-validation sessions, mentoring, prototype development, pitch preparation, investor-readiness activities, and IP support.

An advisory board of school deans, entrepreneur alumni, and industry mentors will guide the center.

The CIE facility includes dedicated spaces for each stage of the journey: a Creativity Zone, Innovation Lab, Mentor and Pitch Zone, and Startup Incubation Zone.

Dr. Praveen Kumar Tamilselvan, Head of CIE at MAHE Dubai, said it would help students evaluate their ideas, understand user needs, and make informed decisions as projects develop.

Supporting the UAE’s innovation ambitions

MAHE Dubai says CREATE aligns with Dubai’s Education Strategy 2033, which emphasizes entrepreneurship and future-ready skills.

It supports the UAE’s ambition to establish itself as a leading innovation, reflected in the National Agenda for Entrepreneurship and SMEs and the National Strategy for Advanced Innovation.