Goa is emerging as a creative hub where technology meets imagination, grounded in community, collaboration and purpose-driven innovation. This evolving identity aligns with the vision of the Startup and IT Promotion Cell, Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), under the leadership of IT Minister Rohan A. Khaunte, whose efforts are driving Goa’s transformation into an innovation-led state.
Reflecting this vision at the grassroots, Maker’s Asylum has been welcoming young people from across the world to Goa for its immersive & hands-on learning experiences & programs since 2021. 753 young people, from 15 countries, 150 schools and 50 cities across India have had the taste of the maker culture and immersed themselves in creativity and innovation through their space in Goa. This summer Maker’s Asylum hosted five dynamic immersions of its flagship program, Innovation School, at its campus in Moira.
The program has welcomed 77 young makers (aged 13–18), representing 5 countries, 30+ schools and 15 cities across India and beyond. Over the course of the last two months, these students grouped into 24 teams, engaged in design thinking and rapid prototyping to address real-world challenges.
From drones for emergency healthcare delivery to AI-powered wearables and assistive tech devices for the differently-abled, the teams built 24 working prototypes, demonstrating both technical skills and interdisciplinary learning.
Participants over the years have received mentorship from the likes of experts such as Ramesh Raskar, Associate Director MIT Media Lab, Jaideep Prabhu – Vice Dean Judge School of Business Cambridge, Niti Parikh – Director Learning Spaces & Makerlabs at Cornell Tech and many other from IIT Bombay, NID Ahmedabad, and leading startups, supported by Maker’s Asylum’s in-house curriculum and technical team.
“When we moved to Goa in 2020, we discovered that beyond its natural beauty, Goa is emerging as a vibrant hub for creativity, hands-on learning, and technological innovation. Known for attracting artists, makers, and changemakers, Goa has become the perfect home for Maker’s Asylum. Through our space in Moira, we’ve welcomed young minds from across India to dive into experiential learning — from carpentry, 3D printing, electronics, and AI, to robotics, drones, and laser cutting. It’s about empowering the next generation to build, create, and innovate in an environment that fuels both imagination and impact,” stated Vaibhav Chhabra, Founder, Maker’s Asylum.
Maker’s Asylum reflects Goa’s growing identity as a Creative Capital for meaningful tech and hands-on education. Its ethos resonates with the state’s upcoming Centre of Excellence for 3D Printing, which will bring together startups, healthcare professionals, students, government departments, and industries to collaborate and co-create.
By nurturing a maker mindset and providing access to tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and robotics, programs like this are laying the foundation for a future-ready innovation ecosystem in Goa.
