The Sagarmala Startup and Innovation Initiative (S2I2) was launched on 19.03.2025 with the objective of establishing an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for the maritime sector in India. Maritime India Foundation (MIF), a society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 and functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) is the designated agency for implementing the S2I2.

Under the S2I2, Maritime Innovation Hubs (MIHs) have been established at IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, and the Indian Maritime University (IMU), Chennai, to support technology development, testing, validation, capacity building, and handhold startups in the development and demonstration of innovative maritime solutions. This framework enables a structured pathway from port-led problem identification to pilot execution and scale-up of startup solutions, strengthening alignment with the priorities of the maritime ecosystem.

The MIF, in collaboration with Chennai Port Authority (ChPA) and National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC, IIT Madras), launched MAR-a-THON 2025—India's first-ever Maritime Hackathon—at IIT Madras on 25.08.2025 under the S2I2.

Following the launch of the Hackathon, the MAR-a-THON, a boot camp 2025 was organised at IIT Madras Research Park on 16^th and 17^th October 2025, bringing together startups, academia, industry leaders, and maritime stakeholders to address pressing maritime challenges. The response to the initiative was overwhelming, with 330 applications received from startups across India for the 51 problem statements across following six thematic areas:

Port Infrastructure
Smart & Integrated Port Operations
Integrated Logistics & Multimodal Connectivity
Green & Sustainable Maritime Sector
Advanced Safety, Security & Regulatory Compliance
Shipbuilding & Lifecycle Management

Following the evaluation by multiple Expert Committees, the event culminated in the selection of 36 startups for 40 projects, each tackling real-world operational challenges with innovative, scalable solutions poised to drive transformation across India’s maritime sector.

As part of the S2I2, Visakhapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh has identified 04 specific problem statements.

Further, 02 startups from Andhra Pradesh have been on-boarded to develop and implement innovative solutions to the problem statements.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

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MI/Indu

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