IIT Madras incubates over 100 startups, files 431 patents in innovation push

According to him, IIT Madras students, faculty and researchers also continued to drive innovation output, with 431 patents filed during financial year 2025-26, supported by the Institutes IP ecosystem and commercialisation efforts led by its IP management cell.

The IIT-Madras on Monday announced that it has achieved a milestone in deep-tech entrepreneurship, incubating over 100 startups for the second consecutive year under its 'Startup Shatam' mission. Through its nodal incubator, IITM Incubation Cell (IITMIC), the institute incubated 112 startups in FY 2025–26, building on last year's milestone. In parallel, IIT Madras sustained its innovation momentum, filing 431 patents during the year and reinforcing its leadership in translating research into real-world impact, a release from IIT-Madras said. Professor V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, who had set the goal of '100 startups a year' in 2024 and 'one patent a day' in 2023, made the announcements to students, faculty, researchers and startup founders during world Intellectual Property (IP) day celebrations held on campus. He said the highlight of this year's 'Startup Shatam' milestone is the growing maturity and diversity of startups entering the ecosystem. Over 60 per cent of the startups were founded by external entrepreneurs across the country. According to him, IIT Madras students, faculty and researchers also continued to drive innovation output, with 431 patents filed during financial year 2025-26, supported by the Institutes' IP ecosystem and commercialisation efforts led by its IP management cell. The newly incubated startups span a wide range of critical deep tech sectors, including manufacturing, robotics, automotive, batteries, defense, aerospace, AI, machine learning, quantum technologies, analytics, fintech, healthtech, agritech, biotech, climate technologies, Internet of Things -- IoT, and cyber-physical systems. On the IP front, IIT Madras highlighted strong activity in frontier areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum technologies, semiconductors, 5G/6G, robotics, advanced manufacturing, sustainable energy systems, photonics, blockchain, biomedical imaging, and advanced materials.