Tamil Nadu’s Startup Story Has Just Begun: Centre Calls for Deeper Collaboration to Unlock Untapped Potential

India today is home to over 2 lakh startups. But the message from Union Minister Jitendra Singh was clear: while Tamil Nadu has done remarkably well, its real startup story is still waiting to be written.

Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Research, Industry, Start-up and Entrepreneurship (RISE) Conclave, Singh urged the Tamil Nadu government to work closely with the Centre to unlock what he described as “immense untapped potential” in the state’s innovation ecosystem.

From 350 to 2 Lakh: India’s Startup Leap

To understand the significance of the moment, Singh zoomed out to the national picture.

In 2014, India had barely 350 startups. Today, that number has crossed 2 lakh. The transformation, he said, reflects a systemic shift — policy backing, funding support, and a culture that now celebrates risk-taking and innovation.

But numbers alone do not tell the full story.

Startups across India have collectively created over 21 lakh jobs, becoming one of the most powerful engines of employment generation in the country. And Tamil Nadu has played a notable role in this growth.

Tamil Nadu’s 34,000 Startups — And What’s Missing

Tamil Nadu currently accounts for 34,000 registered startups — a strong showing by any measure.

Yet, Singh stressed that the state has much more room to grow.

“Tamil Nadu has contributed 34,000 registered startups, but there is still significant untapped potential. We need to create an enabling ecosystem, particularly in tier-II and tier-III cities, to accelerate innovation-driven entrepreneurship,” he said.

The emphasis on smaller cities was deliberate. While Chennai and Coimbatore have emerged as growth hubs, Singh called for deeper penetration of startup infrastructure beyond the metros. The future, he suggested, lies in decentralisation — in ensuring innovation doesn’t remain confined to urban clusters.

He encouraged young entrepreneurs to leverage central government initiatives to scale their ventures and integrate with national innovation frameworks.

Symbolism and Signals

The minister also pointed to what he described as the Centre’s broader commitment to Tamil Nadu.

Referencing the installation of the ‘sengol’ in the new Parliament building, Singh called it a mark of respect for Tamil heritage — signalling symbolic and cultural acknowledgement alongside policy collaboration.

He also listed central welfare milestones in the state:

• 40 lakh Ujjwala connections

• 12 lakh houses built with central assistance

• Eight Vande Bharat Express trains currently operational

The message was clear: development, innovation, and infrastructure are interconnected.

Industry–Academia–Government Convergence

The RISE Conclave itself became a platform for institutional collaboration.

During the event, Singh launched a Centre of Excellence established by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in Kanchipuram, signalling deeper industry participation in research and innovation.

In another key development, umbrella Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and multiple academic institutions and incubation centres. The objective: to strengthen the pipeline between research laboratories and industry application.

More than 120 institutions participated in the conclave, underscoring the scale of engagement.

Senior officials including M Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, and N Kalaiselvi, Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), reinforced the government’s commitment to ensuring that innovations emerging from state-funded laboratories seamlessly reach industry and the public.

The recurring theme: research must not remain on paper — it must translate into products, companies, and jobs.

A ₹1 Lakh Crore Push for Deep-Tech

Beyond state-level collaboration, Singh announced a significant national intervention aimed at the future of Indian innovation.

The government has rolled out a ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) fund to accelerate deep-tech entrepreneurship in the private sector. The fund is specifically designed to support ventures at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, a critical stage where innovations move from lab validation to early prototype development.

For deep-tech founders, this stage often represents the most difficult funding gap. The RDI fund aims to bridge exactly that.

ISRO’s Roadmap: 18 Launches, Private Participation, Gaganyaan Timeline

Speaking later to reporters, Singh also addressed India’s space ambitions.

He dismissed reports of cancellations or delays, stating that ISRO’s confidence and credibility remain intact.

For the current year, 18 launches are scheduled, including participation from six private entities, reflecting the growing role of private players in India’s space ecosystem.

On the much-anticipated Gaganyaan mission, Singh clarified that the timeline remains set for 2027. Before that, a critical preliminary robo-flight carrying the female robot Vyommitra is expected to take place before the end of this year.

He also confirmed that the PSLV is slated for a relaunch as early as June or July 2026.

Taking the Message Across India

The Chennai conclave is part of a broader outreach effort. Similar RISE events are being organised in cities including Hyderabad, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu, and Lucknow, with the aim of ensuring that young innovators across regions are aware of enabling schemes and policy support.

The strategy appears straightforward: decentralise awareness, democratise opportunity, and bring government support closer to aspiring founders.

Tamil Nadu already stands among India’s strongest innovation hubs. With 34,000 startups and established industrial depth, it has both legacy and momentum on its side.

But as Singh’s address suggested, the next leap may depend on tighter Centre–state coordination, stronger tier-II and tier-III city integration, and deeper alignment between research institutions and private enterprise.

If India’s startup journey from 350 to over 2 lakh ventures represents one decade of transformation, the next phase may well depend on how effectively states like Tamil Nadu convert potential into scale.

And for now, the message from Chennai is unmistakable: the groundwork has been laid — but the acceleration phase is just beginning.