IIT Madras has incubated 112 startups, filed 431 patents in one year, continues innovation push

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has once again crossed a major milestone in innovation, incubating more than 100 startups for the second year in a row under its ‘startup shatam’ initiative.

Through its incubator, IITM incubation cell (IITMIC), the institute supported 112 startups in the financial year 2025–26. At the same time, it kept up a strong pace in research output, filing 431 patents during the year.

The announcements were made during the World IP Day celebrations held on campus on April 24, where students, researchers, faculty and startup founders came together to mark the occasion.

IIT Madras startup shatam milestone reflects steady growth in entrepreneurship

This is the second consecutive year that IIT Madras has crossed the 100-startup mark, a target it had set just a couple of years ago. The institute’s incubation ecosystem has grown rapidly, with the total number of startups supported so far reaching 567.

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What stands out is not just the number, but the scale. These startups are now collectively valued at over Rs 74,100 crore, and the portfolio includes two unicorns along with several acquisitions. One of the biggest moments this year was Ather Energy’s IPO, the first from an IIT Madras-incubated company.

IIT Madras sustains strong patent filings, keeps ‘one patent a day’ pace

Alongside startup activity, IIT Madras has continued to build on its research strength. The institute filed 431 patents in FY 2025–26, maintaining what it describes as a steady “one patent a day” pace.

V. Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras, said the numbers reflect a deeper shift within the campus. “These milestones reflect the culture of innovation that has taken deep roots across IIT Madras. Our faculty, students, researchers, alumni and external entrepreneurs are creating technologies and enterprises that can serve India and the world,” he said.

He added, “The combination of startup creation and strong patent activity demonstrates our commitment to translating research into real impact.”

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IIT Madras startup ecosystem sees wider participation and deeper impact

Another noticeable trend this year is the growing diversity of founders. More than 60% of the startups incubated were led by external entrepreneurs from across the country, pointing to IIT Madras’ expanding reach beyond its own campus.

The startups span a wide range of sectors, from AI and robotics to climate tech, aerospace and fintech, showing a clear tilt towards deep-tech innovation. There is also a visible shift towards more mature ventures, including funded startups and repeat founders.

Tamaswati Ghosh, CEO of IITM Incubation Cell, said, “FY25 was a landmark year with 103 startups incubated, setting a new benchmark for the IIT-Madras ecosystem. FY26 has been a year of consolidation, with over 1,200 applications received from across India and 112 startups incubated while maintaining a strong focus on quality and deep-tech orientation.”

“We are also seeing increasing maturity in startups entering IITMIC - more revenue-generating companies, funded ventures and serial entrepreneurs - reflecting a shift towards a more commercially mature and outcome-driven incubation ecosystem. With growing investor & industry interests, we will continue to build towards the next wave of high-impact companies, including future unicorns and IPO-bound startups,” She added further.

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IIT Madras strengthens support system for patents and commercialisation

Behind the steady rise in patent filings is a structured support system within the institute. Through its office of industrial consultancy and sponsored research (ICSR), IIT Madras has put in place processes to help researchers take ideas from concept to protected innovation.

Manu Santhanam, dean (ICSR), explained, “IIT Madras has built an end-to-end support system that enables faculty, students and researchers to navigate the IP journey efficiently, from early-stage disclosures and prior-art evaluation to drafting, prosecution and long-term portfolio management.”

He also pointed out that efforts around technology transfer and commercialisation have picked up in recent years, helping move innovations out of the lab and into real-world use.

IIT Madras highlights innovation culture during World IP Day celebrations

The World IP Day event on campus included talks, panel discussions and awards recognising contributions to innovation. Faculty and students were honoured for their work in patent filings and technology development through the JC Bose Awards.

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Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, faculty-in-charge of the IIT Madras Incubation Cell, said, “Our focus on nurturing deep-tech startups is driving real-world impact. This milestone reflects the strength of our ecosystem and the collaborative efforts across IIT Madras.”

He added that the institute will continue to support startups working on complex, high-impact problems and help them scale both in India and globally. With strong momentum in both startups and patents, IIT Madras is steadily reinforcing its position as a leading centre for innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.