Founded by the Government of India in 1961, IIM-A is one of the leading management institutes in the world. Besides education, the institute is actively involved in research, management development programs, consulting and publishing. In 2001, IIM-A set up the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE).

The mission of CIIE is to contribute to the processes that make the Indian economy globally competitive through indigenous innovations and enterprise. The Centre is taking a lead in fostering industrial development of the nation through technological innovations by focusing on hi-tech and high impact innovations. Its objectives are to incubate innovation-based enterprises and to conduct research on the role of technology & entrepreneurship in enhancing the competitiveness of Indian economy.

Now, IIM-A is partnering with Wadhwani Foundation and 4 other institutes as a part of the National entrepreneurship Network to further enhance the growth of the Indian economy by fostering and supporting entrepreneurial development at the institute.

"IIMA is committed to the field of innovation, knowledge creation, promotion of entrepreneurship and its sustenance. We believe that entrepreneurship is critical for economic development. As India liberalizes its economic policies, entrepreneurial efforts would be critical to exploit the emerging economic opportunities. Unless conscious efforts are made to nurture and enhance such efforts technological development and employment creation opportunities may bypass our economy once again. IIMA wishes to contribute to the growth process as effectively as possible by increasing the scale of entrepreneurial development related activities at the Institute."
- Professor Bakul Dholakia
  Director, IIM Ahmedabad