IIT Madras: Driving Innovation Through Entrepreneurship
IIT Madras has established a dynamic start-up ecosystem, fostering significant advancements in various fields. This environment is powered by structured support, active faculty involvement, and a robust research and Intellectual Property (IP) foundation.
A Thriving Ecosystem
IIT Madras supports entrepreneurs through several key initiatives. These include the Center for Innovation, which provides a platform for student-led projects; a pre-incubator program; and 16 nationally recognized centers of excellence specializing in areas such as Artificial Intelligence and biotechnology. Key organizations such as the Gopalakrishnan and Deshpande Centers assist researchers in transitioning into entrepreneurship. The IIT Madras Incubation Cell and specialized incubators focus on sectors including rural technology, cyber-physical systems, medical technology, and biotechnology, offering crucial mentorship, funding, and industry connections.
Currently, over 425 start-ups are operating within the incubation cell, with another 120 in pre-incubation. To bridge the gap between research and commercialization, the institute also offers a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship.
Standout Innovations
IIT Madras is home to several notable start-ups that have achieved significant breakthroughs. Agnikul is developing the world’s first 3D-printed rocket. The ePlane Company is creating battery-operated personal drones and recently secured a $1 billion order for medical applications. Solinas is addressing manual scavenging by developing robotic solutions, and Mindgrove is pioneering India’s first chip design start-up. Additionally, companies like Plenome are developing AI and blockchain applications for the healthcare sector.
Start-ups to Watch
Looking ahead, several emerging start-ups from IIT Madras are poised for future success. Inbound Aerospace is developing space-based manufacturing capsules. Automagri is innovating AI-based automation solutions for agriculture, and Ewebstore enables voice-based website creation through a no-code platform. BotForge Labs is also advancing AI foundation models using visual language models for training humanoid robots, expanding the boundaries of robotics and automation.
Professor Prabhu Rajagopal, when discussing the university’s environment, highlighted the importance of structured entrepreneurship, faculty involvement, and a strong IP base as key elements contributing to IIT Madras’s success.
