Tata Steel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IIT Bhubaneswar Research & Entrepreneurship Park (IIT BBSR REP) and India Accelerator (IA) to roll out the TomorrowLAB Accelerator Programme, a six-month initiative aimed at supporting high-potential startups. The programme is set to commence in September 2025.
This collaboration is part of a broader effort under a previous MoU between Tata Steel and IIT BBSR REP, signed in February 2024, to drive innovation and foster closer collaboration between academia and industry. The TomorrowLAB Accelerator is designed to provide early-stage ventures with a focused environment that includes mentorship, technical guidance, funding access, and industry exposure. Startups interested in joining the programme should ideally have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and demonstrate early signs of market adoption.
The initiative will be coordinated from IIT Bhubaneswar, supported by India Accelerator’s extensive network. Startups from across India are expected to participate. Subodh Pandey, Vice President – Technology, R&D, NMB, and Graphene at Tata Steel, said “We have long believed in the power of collaboration between industry and academia to accelerate sustainable innovation. India’s startup ecosystem holds immense promise, and Odisha’s proactive efforts, including programmes like ‘100 Cube’, have been instrumental in creating a vibrant entrepreneurial environment. The TomorrowLAB Accelerator Programme will contribute to building an innovation hub in Eastern India.”
The TomorrowLAB Accelerator will concentrate on four key pillars to support startup growth. Participants will benefit from dedicated mentorship and structured capacity-building workshops aimed at strengthening both business and technical skills. In addition, the programme will provide guidance on commercialisation strategies, access to funding opportunities, and tailored business advisory support to help startups scale effectively.
Startups will also gain valuable exposure through strategic market access and partnership opportunities, leveraging the extensive networks of IIT Bhubaneswar Research & Entrepreneurship Park and India Accelerator. A key feature of the programme is focused engagement with Tata Steel in areas such as water management, waste heat recovery, robotics, and automation—domains aligned with the company’s innovation and sustainability goals. Tata Steel plans to work with selected startups from the cohort beyond the accelerator, providing opportunities for pilot projects to evaluate solutions in real-world conditions.
This programme further strengthens Tata Steel’s involvement in the startup space, particularly under the TomorrowLAB initiative, which has been the company’s flagship platform for engaging with startups across India and globally. Through this initiative, Tata Steel continues to identify and collaborate with promising ventures working on challenges within the steel industry and other related sectors.
With a strong foundation in manufacturing and materials science, and a growing interest in sustainable solutions, the TomorrowLAB Accelerator is positioned to contribute meaningfully to the country’s innovation landscape—especially in the eastern region. Tata Steel is one of the world’s leading steel producers, with a total crude steel production capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum. The company operates across five continents, with a diverse global presence in both production and commercial activities. For FY2025, Tata Steel reported consolidated revenues of approximately $26 billion, underscoring its position as a top-tier player in the global steel industry.
The company has long been recognized for its commitment to sustainability, with ambitious goals to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2045. It is also undergoing a digital transformation, with plants in Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar, and IJmuiden receiving recognition from the World Economic Forum as Global Lighthouse facilities. These plants exemplify Tata Steel’s leadership in advanced digital manufacturing practices and its ongoing efforts to drive innovation and efficiency across its operations.
Tata Steel’s commitment to responsible steel production is reflected in its achievements, including the first ResponsibleSteel™ certification for its Jamshedpur plant, with over 90% of its steel production in India now coming from certified sites. The company has also received numerous accolades, such as the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best-performing integrated steel plant in 2016-17 and the 2024 Steel Sustainability Champion award from worldsteel, underscoring its leadership in both sustainability and performance within the global steel sector.
