The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has partnered with the Startup Policy Forum (SPF) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote research and data-driven policy advocacy for the startup ecosystem. This collaboration aims to merge IIT Madras’s academic and research capabilities with SPF’s deep experience in startup policy and regulatory frameworks, offering significant benefits to startups and policymakers.
IIT Madras, a prominent institution known for incubating high-impact startups such as Ather Energy and Uniphore, will work alongside SPF to provide evidence-based insights into the startup ecosystem. As part of the partnership, SPF will support the Centre for Research on Start-Ups and Risk Financing (CREST), which focuses on financing innovation and entrepreneurship, while contributing to IIT Madras’ YNOS platform, a resource that consolidates startup information and government schemes.
Professor Manu Santhanam, Dean (IC & SR) at IIT Madras, shared, “Our collaboration with SPF aims to turn academic excellence into actionable policy contributions, helping to support founders and foster the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO of SPF, emphasized, “For India to establish itself as a global startup hub, it’s essential to have a proactive, data-driven policy framework. This partnership with IIT Madras is a step toward shaping forward-thinking policies that address the evolving needs of India’s startup landscape.”
Thillai Rajan, Professor at IIT Madras, added, “This collaboration enhances the link between academic research and real-world policy, driving data-backed policymaking that will empower startups and build a thriving innovation ecosystem.”
Through this collaboration, IIT Madras and SPF will co-host discussions, workshops, and events that aim to shape policies that better support Indian startups. SPF’s membership includes some of India’s leading startups like Razorpay, CRED, and Swiggy, with a mission to advance policy advocacy, promote the ecosystem globally, and help new-age companies scale. This partnership highlights the value of academia-industry collaborations in creating an informed, robust, and globally competitive startup environment in India.
