In February 2012, Abhimanyu presented a proposal to create an 'Open Design School and a National Design Innovation Network' for India, at a workshop on the future of design education and the creation of Design Innovation Centres for India. This meeting was called by the National Innovation Council, Government of India, and chaired by Mr. Sam Pitroda, Adviser to the Prime Minister, Public Information, Infrastructure and Innovations; and moderated by the late R. Gopalakrishnan, Member Secretary, National Innovation Council.
Abhimanyu was subsequently asked to join the National Innovation Council, in July 2012, as Expert Advisor on Design Innovation, to create an operational strategy and an implementation plan document for the creation of 20 new Design Innovation Centres, an Open Design School and a National Design Innovation Network for India.
