IIT Madras launched Tamil Nadu Start-Up & innovation Dashboard called ‘Innovation-TN’, the platform is the first-of-its-kind in India, showcases the innovation prowess of the State and is a one-stop source for information on the Start-up landscape of Tamil Nadu

 

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has partnered with Guidance Tamil Nadu to develop for the first time in India, a State level dashboard for start-ups and innovation.  Called ‘INNOVATION-TN,’ the platform provides a comprehensive overview of the start-up ecosystem of Tamil Nadu and showcases the innovation prowess to different stakeholders such as investors, industries, financial institutions, and start-up founders. Guidance Tamil Nadu is the Government of Tamil Nadu's nodal agency for investment promotion.

 

Innovation is going to play an important role in growth of the Indian economy in the coming decades. Start-ups are known for their innovation and capabilities to use technology to bring new products and services to market. 

Highlighting the importance of this innovation dashboard, Thiru T.R.B. Rajaa, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Investment Promotions and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, said, “The launch of the Tamil Nadu Innovation Platform marks a pivotal step in our journey towards promoting innovation and strengthening our entrepreneurial ecosystem. It reflects our government’s vision to position Tamil Nadu as the national leader in innovation, advanced manufacturing, and inclusive economic growth, ensuring that opportunities are accessible across every district, not just in metropolitan hubs.”

Tamil Nadu, the second largest industrial economy of any State in India, is also the most industrialized in the country. In recent years, the State has become a major hub for start-ups, which has positioned the state as an epicentre of innovation in the country.

As of August 2025, there are close to 19,000 start-ups in Tamil Nadu. Together, these start-ups have created more than 2.2 lakh jobs, and have attracted investment exceeding ₹1,20,000 crores. There are forty-five start-ups, each of which has attracted investment of ₹200 crore or more. The state also has 228 active incubators and start-up enabling organizations, the largest number for any state in the country. 

Expanding on how the dashboard can contribute to the development of the innovation and ecosystem in Tamil Nadu, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, added, “The dashboard will help policymakers to focus on the sectoral strengths of the different districts and develop suitable policy policies and programs. The dashboard also showcases the pool of start-ups to National and Global investors, thereby attracting investments from global Tamil diaspora as well as savvy angel and institutional investors.”

INNOVATION-TN has been conceptualized by the Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST), an Institute of Eminence Research Centre at IIT Madras along with IIT Madras-incubated start-up YNOS Venture Engine and leverages the most comprehensive start-up and investor platform developed by CREST. 

An MoU was signed on 23^rd July 2025 at Chennai between Guidance Tamil Nadu, IIT Madras and YNOS for the development of INNOVATION-TN dashboard. IIT Madras would provide the academic oversight and research inputs to ensure the robustness, reliability and relevance of the Innovation Dashboard. 

Guidance Tamil Nadu would promote long-term strategic engagement between academic and industry and provide institutional support, visibility, and alignment with the State’s innovation priorities. 

Highlighting the features of the dashboard, Prof. A. Thillai Rajan, Faculty, Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras, and Head, CREST, IIT Madras, said, “The dashboard can be a big benefit to entrepreneurs, start-up founders and corporates who have the greatest need for access to information. The platform helps the start-ups to quickly identify the most relevant and appropriate incubators, investors, and banks for their ventures, thereby not only saving significant time and effort but also improving the chances of success. Corporates and large industries would find the dashboard to be a one-stop source to identify suitable start-ups to partner with in their innovation journey.”

Further, Dr. Darez Ahamed, 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 spotlighting sectoral 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 accelerate inclusive and sustainable growth”

Large industries are also keen to partner with start-ups on various open innovation programs and a vibrant start-up ecosystem would help to attract more investments from large corporations in the State.  

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