- The Startup Policy Forum (SPF), an industry alliance comprising India’s leading high-growth startups, will collaborate with the Centre for Research on Start-Ups and Risk Financing (CREST) at IIT Madras.
- The partnership aims to advance policy research and facilitate knowledge exchange to support the development of progressive regulatory and policy frameworks.
- IIT Madras continues to be a pioneer in entrepreneurial and technological innovation, having incubated successful startups such as Ather Energy, Uniphore, Mindgrove Technologies, InCore Semiconductors, and MediBuddy.
National, 27 February 2025: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Startup Policy Forum (SPF) to advance data-driven policy research and advocacy for India’s startup ecosystem. This collaboration aims to bridge industry, academia, and policy research, fostering an evidence-based approach to startup regulations and innovation policies.
Bringing together IIT Madras’s academic and research expertise with SPF’s extensive experience in startup policy and regulatory frameworks, the partnership seeks to drive impactful policy development. IIT Madras has played a key role in incubating high-growth startups such as Ather Energy, Uniphore, MediBuddy, Mindgrove Technologies, and InCore Semiconductors.
As part of this initiative, SPF will support the Centre for Research on Start-Ups and Risk Financing (CREST), which focuses on research in startup financing, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The collaboration will also contribute to IIT Madras’ startup intelligence platform, YNOS, which aggregates data and insights on startup stakeholders and government schemes.
Leaders Comment on the Collaboration
Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean (IC & SR), IIT Madras, stated:
“This partnership aligns with our commitment to translating research into meaningful policy contributions. By collaborating with SPF, we aim to empower founders, industry leaders, and policymakers through research-driven insights that shape the future of India’s startup ecosystem.”
Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO, Startup Policy Forum, remarked:
“For India to solidify its position as a global startup powerhouse, a strong, data-driven policy framework is essential. This partnership with IIT Madras reinforces our commitment to proactive and informed policymaking that supports the evolving needs of entrepreneurs.”
Prof. Thillai Rajan, IIT Madras, added:
“IIT Madras has been instrumental in fostering disruptive startups and pioneering technology research. By collaborating with SPF, we strengthen the link between academic research and policy impact, enabling startups to thrive in an innovation-driven ecosystem.”
With IIT Madras’ legacy in technology-driven entrepreneurship and SPF’s strategic role in policy advocacy, this partnership will contribute to the creation of structured, research-backed policies that support India’s startup landscape.
Going forward, IIT Madras and SPF will co-host policy discussions, research workshops, and roundtables to advance thought leadership, regulatory innovation, and startup-friendly policy frameworks.
