IIT Madras incubation cell, VITAP TBI Foundation sign MoU

IIT Madras Incubation Cell and VITAP Technology Business Incubator Foundation (VTBIF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on nurturing and accelerating deep-tech startups. This partnership marks a strategic step in expanding the entrepreneurial landscape across Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The MoU was signed in the presence of representatives from VITA-Dr S  V Kota Reddy (vice chancellor, VIT-AP University), B Nagarjuna (Director, VTBIF), Dr Ameet Chavan (Director, VIT-AP IIEC); and key representatives from IITMIC - Prof S Mohanasankar (professor-in-charge and director), Dr Tamaswati Ghosh (chief executive officer) and Jaya Umadikar (chief incubation officer).

IITMIC is the nodal incubator of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) and India’s premier hub for deep-tech entrepreneurship. With a portfolio of over 450 startups founded by students, faculty, alumni of IIT-Madras and external entrepreneurs from pan-India, IITMIC supports ventures across diverse sectors—including advanced manufacturing, robotics, automotive/EVs, space tech, defence, AI, healthtech, quantum technologies, IoT/cyber-physical systems, biotech/pharma, energy, water & sanitation, agritech, fintech. Collectively, IITMIC start-ups command a combined valuation of over USD 6 billion, based on investments raised from VCs.

This incubation-level partnership builds on the broader academic collaboration between VIT-AP University and IIT Madras, formalised earlier in 2025 through the MoU focused on advancing research and innovation in Deep Tech. The academic alliance is geared towards driving joint research in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, IoT, Electric Vehicles, and Advanced IC Design, including initiatives under the ISEA Cybersecurity project.

Entrepreneurship Courses offered in collaboration with the Wadhwani Foundation, engaging over 700 student teams in venture creation;

Engineering Clinics, where early-year engineering students build 600+ prototypes each semester with institutional seed funding; V-LAUNCH Seed Fund, upto Rs 10 lakh fund encouraging faculty-led innovation to develop prototypes tackling real-world challenges.

Through this incubator-level collaboration, IITMIC and VTBIF aim to further accelerate the launch and scaling of deep-tech ventures emerging from academic research and student prototyping/venture ideation activities. Startups currently incubated at VIT-AP will have the opportunity to explore co-incubation or acceleration at IITMIC and benefit from access to the larger IIT-Madras deep-tech community. Joint initiatives such as startup showcases, thematic bootcamps, technical brainstorming sessions, and entrepreneurship training programs are also planned to promote cross-learning and a spirit of innovation across both states.

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