Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), in collaboration with Guidance Tamil Nadu, has launched a State-level innovation and start-up dashboard called INNOVATION-TN.
The initiative aims to map and showcase Tamil Nadu’s vibrant start-up ecosystem and strengthen industry–academia partnerships in innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment promotion.
About INNOVATION-TN
- Developed by: IIT Madras and Guidance Tamil Nadu (Government’s nodal agency for investment promotion).
- Conceptualised by: Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST), IIT Madras (Institute of Eminence Research Centre).
- Technical Partner: YNOS Venture Engine, an IIT Madras-incubated start-up.
- Formalised through: MoU between Guidance Tamil Nadu, IIT Madras, and YNOS.
Objective of Dashboard
- To provide a real-time overview of Tamil Nadu’s start-up ecosystem.
- To connect stakeholders — investors, industries, financial institutions, incubators, and start-up founders.
- To guide policymakers in identifying sectoral strengths and regional innovation potential across districts.
- To attract national and global investment, especially from the Tamil diaspora and institutional investors.
Key Features
Comprehensive Data Portal:
- Provides detailed data on Tamil Nadu’s start-ups, incubators, accelerators, funding, and innovation hubs.
Investor Linkages:
- Helps investors discover promising start-ups based on sector, geography, and funding stage.
Policy Insights:
- Enables policymakers to design data-driven policies based on district-wise innovation performance.
Start-up Matchmaking Tool:
- Start-ups can identify suitable incubators, investors, and banks, improving success rates and saving time.
Visibility for Global Investors:
- Positions Tamil Nadu as an innovation-driven economy and highlights investment opportunities globally.
Institutional Roles
| Institution | Role / Contribution |
| IIT Madras | Academic oversight, research inputs, ensures robustness and reliability of dashboard data. |
| Guidance Tamil Nadu | Promotes long-term strategic engagement between academia and industry; provides institutional support and visibility. |
| YNOS Venture Engine | Technology development and analytics for the dashboard platform. |
Significance for Tamil Nadu
- Provides strategic innovation mapping across all districts.
- Enhances ease of doing business for start-ups by enabling quick access to funding and mentorship.
- Strengthens linkages between academia, industry, and investors.
- Boosts foreign investment inflow into Tamil Nadu’s innovation ecosystem.
- Reinforces Tamil Nadu’s vision of being a top innovation-led economy in India.
Tamil Nadu’s Start-up Ecosystem (as of August 2025)
| Parameter | Details |
| Total Start-ups | ~19,000 |
| Jobs Created | Over 2.2 lakh |
| Total Investment Attracted | ₹1,20,000 crore+ |
| High-Value Start-ups | 45 start-ups with investments of ₹200 crore or more |
| Incubators / Enabling Organisations | 228 (Highest among Indian states) |
| Industrial Rank | Among top 3 states in India for industrial output |
Background
- The concept of INNOVATION-TN builds upon the Start-up India initiative (2016) — a flagship programme of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
- The dashboard aligns Tamil Nadu’s innovation strategy with national goals of fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable job creation.
About Start-up India Initiative (Launched: 2016)
Objective
- To build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship across India, enabling sustainable economic growth and large-scale job creation.
Core Components
Simplification and Handholding
- Self-certification for compliance.
- Start-up India mobile app and online portal.
Funding Support and Incentives
- Fund of Funds: ₹10,000 crore corpus via SIDBI.
- Credit Guarantee Fund: ₹500 crore per year for 4 years.
- Tax Benefits:
- 3-year profit tax exemption.
- Capital gains tax exemption when reinvested in Fund of Funds.
Industry–Academia Partnership and Incubation
- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and SETU Programme (NITI Aayog).
- Research Parks: Modeled on IIT Madras Research Park.
- Annual Incubator Grand Challenge.
Key Objectives
- Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation-driven growth.
- Simplify regulations and ease business setup.
- Provide financial and tax support for early-stage start-ups.
- Facilitate industry–academia collaboration and incubation infrastructure.
- Generate employment and improve global competitiveness of Indian start-ups.
About IIT Madras
- Established: 1959
- Significance: India’s first IIT set up with foreign collaboration (Germany).
- Recognised as an Institute of Eminence.
- Known for pioneering innovation hubs like IIT Madras Research Park and CREST.