Chennai, Tuesday, May 5, 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has strengthened its position as one of India’s leading deep-tech innovation hubs, incubating 112 startups and filing 431 patents in the financial year 2025–26, marking a major leap in its innovation ecosystem.
The institute’s entrepreneurship engine, the IIT Madras Incubation Cell, has now crossed a major milestone under its “Startup Shatam” mission, surpassing 500 startups and reaching a total of 567 ventures, collectively valued at a massive ₹74,100 crore.
A standout achievement this year was the public listing of Ather Energy, making it the first IPO to emerge from the IIT Madras startup ecosystem, signalling a new phase where campus-born ideas are entering the stock market.
Announcing the results during World IP Day celebrations, IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti said the numbers reflect a deeper shift in the institute’s culture.
“These milestones show how innovation has taken strong roots at IIT Madras. The combination of startup growth and patent creation proves our commitment to turning research into real-world impact,” he said.
The institute filed 352 Indian patents and 79 international patents during the year, reinforcing its growing intellectual property footprint.
Dean (ICSR) Prof. Manu Santhanam highlighted that IIT Madras has built a complete support system for innovation. “From idea to patent filing, the ecosystem is designed to help researchers and students move smoothly through the IP journey,” he said.
Deep-tech focus and quality push by IIT Madras
IITMIC CEO Dr. Tamaswati Ghosh noted that FY26 was not just about scale but also about strengthening quality.
“With 112 startups incubated this year, the focus has remained firmly on deep-tech and high-impact innovation,” she said.
Faculty-in-charge Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam added that the institute continues to support startups tackling complex global challenges through advanced technologies, enabling them to scale beyond India.
The newly incubated ventures span high-impact sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, aerospace, and climate technology. Notably, more than 60% of these startups are led by external entrepreneurs, reinforcing IIT Madras’s “IITM for All” approach to inclusive innovation.
Several startups from the ecosystem have already made national and global impact, including Ather Energy, Uniphore, MediBuddy, HyperVerge, Agnikul Cosmos, Planys Technologies, Detect Technologies, GalaxEye, and NeoMotion.
Recognition for innovation excellence
During the event, Prof. Kamakoti also presented JC Bose awards to faculty and students who excelled in patent filings and commercialisation efforts over the past five years (2020–21 to 2024–25), acknowledging sustained contributions to research-driven entrepreneurship.
