Hon’ble Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan Brainstorms with Industry Leaders to Nurture Startup Innovation in Emerging & Deep Tech Sectors
Tamil Nadu Technology Hub functioning under the Information Technology & Digital Services (IT&DS) Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, hosted the iTNT Industry Conclave in Chennai on Friday (September 6). Hon’ble Minister for IT&DS, Tamil Nadu, Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan was the chief guest of the conclave that highlighted the role of Corporates in nurturing innovation in the Emerging & Deep Tech space.
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| (Left - Right) Ms. Vanitha Venugopal, CEO of iTNT Hub; Hon’ble Minister for IT&DS, Tamil Nadu, Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan; Thiru. Kumar Jayant, I.A.S., Additional Chief Secretary to Government, IT&DS Department |
“Innovate in Tamil Nadu (IN2TN) is our new mantra. It is more than just a slogan; it is a strategic call to action. It encapsulates our commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the State,” Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said. Innovation and startups are pivotal to realizing our Hon’ble Chief Minister’s ambitious vision of propelling Tamil Nadu towards a trillion-dollar economy.
To support this journey, that State is in the process of drafting the Tamil Nadu Deep Tech Policy – the first of its kind in the country, he added. Stating that industries can play a crucial role in shaping the future of innovation in Tamil Nadu, he urged industries to industry partners to deepen their engagement with iTNT Hub through strategic partnerships and CSR contributions.
The hon’ble minister also gave away cheques for cash prizes to the tune of Rs. 4.5 Lakh to the winners of the top three places of the iTNT “Unlock The Future Innovation Challenge”. The challenge attracted more than 500 teams of startups, innovators and aspirants from the emerging and deep tech space across the State. The applications were scrutinised by a panel of subject matter and industry experts and the top 10 teams pitched before an expert jury after a series of training sessions.
Healthcare startup Vyuhaa Med Data won the prize for their solution on AI & IoT for Real-time Data Analysis and Decision Making. Sustainability startup Daijo won the prize for their solution on Resource Consumption Reduction, while Climate Tech startup Climatequant Tech emerged winner for their Supply Chain Transparency & Efficiency solution. “We have chalked out a strategy to take these winning solutions into deep tech enterprises,” said Additional Chief Secretary - IT&DS Department, Thiru. Kumar Jayant, I.A.S.
Earlier that evening, a curtain-raiser roundtable on the “Tamil Nadu Deep Tech Policy” was chaired by Thiru. Kumar Jayant, I.A.S., Additional Chief Secretary to Government, IT&DS Department, and co-chaired by Ms. Vanitha Venugopal, CEO of iTNT Hub. Industry and subject matter experts from the deep tech sectors participated in the discussion for the policy that was announced by the Hon’ble Minister for IT&DS at the Demand for Grants session in the assembly in June.
About iTNT Hub
Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (iTNT Hub) was established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India; and Information Technology and Digital Services Department, Government of Tamil Nadu; along with industry support. The Hub was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru. M.K. Stalin in May 2023, and is functioning from the 3rd Floor of Sir C V Raman Science Block, Anna University Campus, Kotturpuram, Chennai. iTNT Hub is building a first-of-its-kind Deep Tech Innovation Network by leveraging the combined strengths of the Startups, Innovators, Researchers, Incubators, Academia, Government, and International Partners to propel transformative global innovation.
The Hub’s sectors in focus include Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Space Tech, Robotics Healthcare, Cyber Security, Creative Tech, and High Value SaaS. In addition to incubating, accelerating and facilitating Startups, and co-incubating those incubated by Deep Tech incubators across Tamil Nadu, iTNT Hub is also taking strides to accelerate innovation and investment in the target sectors. In his budget demand session, the Hon’ble Minister for IT&DS Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan announced that the Government of Tamil Nadu will soon release a Tamil Nadu DeepTech Policy. iTNT Hub will be anchoring this policy which is the first to be announced by any State in India.
To support this journey, that State is in the process of drafting the Tamil Nadu Deep Tech Policy – the first of its kind in the country, he added. Stating that industries can play a crucial role in shaping the future of innovation in Tamil Nadu, he urged industries to industry partners to deepen their engagement with iTNT Hub through strategic partnerships and CSR contributions.
The hon’ble minister also gave away cheques for cash prizes to the tune of Rs. 4.5 Lakh to the winners of the top three places of the iTNT “Unlock The Future Innovation Challenge”. The challenge attracted more than 500 teams of startups, innovators and aspirants from the emerging and deep tech space across the State. The applications were scrutinised by a panel of subject matter and industry experts and the top 10 teams pitched before an expert jury after a series of training sessions.
Healthcare startup Vyuhaa Med Data won the prize for their solution on AI & IoT for Real-time Data Analysis and Decision Making. Sustainability startup Daijo won the prize for their solution on Resource Consumption Reduction, while Climate Tech startup Climatequant Tech emerged winner for their Supply Chain Transparency & Efficiency solution. “We have chalked out a strategy to take these winning solutions into deep tech enterprises,” said Additional Chief Secretary - IT&DS Department, Thiru. Kumar Jayant, I.A.S.
Earlier that evening, a curtain-raiser roundtable on the “Tamil Nadu Deep Tech Policy” was chaired by Thiru. Kumar Jayant, I.A.S., Additional Chief Secretary to Government, IT&DS Department, and co-chaired by Ms. Vanitha Venugopal, CEO of iTNT Hub. Industry and subject matter experts from the deep tech sectors participated in the discussion for the policy that was announced by the Hon’ble Minister for IT&DS at the Demand for Grants session in the assembly in June.
About iTNT Hub
Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (iTNT Hub) was established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India; and Information Technology and Digital Services Department, Government of Tamil Nadu; along with industry support. The Hub was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru. M.K. Stalin in May 2023, and is functioning from the 3rd Floor of Sir C V Raman Science Block, Anna University Campus, Kotturpuram, Chennai. iTNT Hub is building a first-of-its-kind Deep Tech Innovation Network by leveraging the combined strengths of the Startups, Innovators, Researchers, Incubators, Academia, Government, and International Partners to propel transformative global innovation.
The Hub’s sectors in focus include Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Space Tech, Robotics Healthcare, Cyber Security, Creative Tech, and High Value SaaS. In addition to incubating, accelerating and facilitating Startups, and co-incubating those incubated by Deep Tech incubators across Tamil Nadu, iTNT Hub is also taking strides to accelerate innovation and investment in the target sectors. In his budget demand session, the Hon’ble Minister for IT&DS Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan announced that the Government of Tamil Nadu will soon release a Tamil Nadu DeepTech Policy. iTNT Hub will be anchoring this policy which is the first to be announced by any State in India.
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