NE SCIENCE & TECH BUREAU
CHENNAI, APR 27
Reinforcing its position at the forefront of deep-tech innovation, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has recorded a breakthrough year—incubating 112 startups and filing 431 patents in FY 2025-26, underlining a powerful convergence of research, entrepreneurship and commercialisation.
Big wins for IIT Madras, for the second year in a row, we have accomplished ‘Startup Shatam’, incubating 112 startups in FY 2025–26 through the IITM Incubation Cell—taking its total portfolio to 567 startups.
Adding to this momentum, the Institute filed 431 patents this year,… pic.twitter.com/FDjG9OYn4y
— IIT Madras (@iitmadras) April 27, 2026
Driven by its ambitious ‘Startup Shatam’ mission, the IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC) has now crossed a significant milestone of 567 startups, with a combined valuation of ₹74,100 crore, cementing its stature as India’s leading deep-tech incubation hub.
- 112 startups, 431 patents in fy26 signal relentless innovation engine
- ‘Startup Shatam’ push takes portfolio to 567 ventures valued at ₹74,100 crore
- IPO Moment: Ather Energy leads first public listing from IITM stable
- AI to Aerospace: Next-Gen startups drive ‘IITM for All’ Vision
- World IP Day spotlight: Research-to-impact ecosystem gains global momentum
A defining highlight this year was the IPO of Ather Energy, marking the first public listing from IIT Madras’ startup ecosystem—an inflection point in India’s innovation-to-market journey.
Announcing the achievements during World IP Day celebrations, IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti said:
“These milestones reflect the culture of innovation that has taken deep roots across IIT Madras. The combination of startup creation and strong patent activity demonstrates our commitment to translating research into real impact.”
The institute’s intellectual property engine remains robust, with 352 Indian patents and 79 international patents filed during the year—signalling global ambition backed by domestic strength.
Highlighting the institutional ecosystem, Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean (ICSR), noted:
“IIT Madras has built an end-to-end support system that enables faculty, students, and researchers to navigate the IP journey efficiently.”
Echoing the momentum, Tamaswati Ghosh, CEO of IITMIC, said:
“FY26 has been a year of consolidation, with 112 startups incubated while maintaining a strong focus on quality and deep-tech orientation.”
Adding to this, Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam remarked:
“We remain committed to supporting startups that solve complex challenges through cutting-edge technologies and enabling them to scale globally.”
The newly incubated ventures span AI, robotics, aerospace, climate tech and advanced engineering, with over 60% founded by external entrepreneurs, reflecting IIT Madras’ inclusive ‘IITM for All’ approach.
The institute’s vibrant startup ecosystem includes notable names such as Uniphore, MediBuddy, HyperVerge, Agnikul Cosmos, Planys Technologies, Detect Technologies, GalaxEye and NeoMotion—each shaping India’s deep-tech narrative.
In a celebratory highlight, Prof. V. Kamakoti presented the JC Bose Awards to faculty and students for their exceptional contributions to patent filings and commercialisation over five financial years (2020–21 to 2024–25), recognising the institution’s sustained innovation excellence.
