IIT Madras Introduces Innovation-TN to Boost and Showcase Tamil Nadu’s Start-up Ecosystem

IIT Madras has launched 'Innovation-TN', a one-stop destination for Tamil Nadu's startup ecosystem and innovation. See details here.

IIT Madras Launches Innovation

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras in collaboration with Guidance Tamil Nadu has launched Innovation-TN, a state-level dashboard for startups and innovation. The platform highlights Tamil Nadu's startup ecosystem and showcases the state's innovation potential to stakeholders including investors, industries, financial institutions and entrepreneurs.

Conceptualised by the IIT Madras-based Institute of Eminence Research Centre, Centre for Research on Startups and Risk Finance (CREST) and YNOS Venture Engine (an IIT Madras-incubated startup), Innovation-TN leverages CREST's advanced startup and investor platform, which is considered the most comprehensive platform of its kind in India.

Highlighting the significance of this innovation dashboard, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, Thiru T.R.B. Raja said, “The launch of the Tamil Nadu Innovation Platform is a significant step in our journey towards promoting innovation and strengthening our entrepreneurial ecosystem. It reflects our Government’s vision to establish Tamil Nadu as a national leader in innovation, advanced manufacturing and inclusive economic growth, ensuring that opportunities are accessible in every district, not just in metropolitan centres.”

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras said, “This dashboard will help policymakers focus on regional strengths of different districts and develop appropriate policies and programmes. This dashboard also showcases the cluster of start-ups to national and global investors, thereby attracting investments from the global Tamil diaspora as well as skilled angel and institutional investors.”

Highlighting the features of the dashboard, Prof. A. Thillai Rajan, Faculty Member, Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras and Head, CREST, IIT Madras said, “This dashboard can be very beneficial for entrepreneurs, start-up founders and corporates who need information at the most convenient time. This platform helps start-ups to quickly identify the most suitable and relevant incubators, investors and banks for their ventures, thereby not only saving time and effort but also increasing the chances of success. Corporates and large industries will find this dashboard a one-stop source to identify suitable start-ups to partner with in their innovation journey.”

Further, Dr. Darez Ahmed, MD & CEO, Guidance Tamil Nadu, said, “The Tamil Nadu Innovation Platform is a catalyst for collaboration between industries, startups, R&D firms, and academic institutions across the state. By highlighting regional strengths in each district, we are enabling corporates to integrate into thriving local ecosystems, investors to identify promising opportunities, and policymakers to design targeted interventions that promote inclusive and sustainable growth.”