Viksit Uttar Pradesh 2047: IIT Kanpur start-ups on the path to becoming economic drivers

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has a vision to establish Uttar Pradesh as a major start-up ecosystem in the country. IIT Kanpur, one of the country’s most prestigious technical institutions, is playing a strong role in this direction.

IIT Kanpur is no longer limited to education and research, but is emerging as a strong start-up hub that is shaping the country’s economic future. Currently, 521 start-ups at the Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) here are proving their mettle establishing themselves as powerful economic drivers for the country. They are also working to establish Uttar Pradesh as a new capital of innovation.

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Professor Deepu Philip, in-charge of the Department of Industrial and Management Engineering and the Design Programme and SIIC at IIT Kanpur, says, “The Yogi Adityanath government is doing a lot for start-ups. In the future, the state will become a major centre for start-ups”.

The institute’s start-up ecosystem is receiving direct and strategic support from the Uttar Pradesh government. Thanks to the government’s start-up-friendly policies, easy funding mechanisms, and robust infrastructure, innovation has gained rapid momentum here. The partnership between the government and the institution has made IIT Kanpur a platform where ideas are directly connected to industry and the market.

IIT Kanpur is currently the only incubator centre in the country that not only provides space and resources to start-ups but also acts as its own mentor.

Professor Deepu Philip says “a faculty member is assigned as a mentor to help the start-ups grow. Start-ups are provided with a complete ecosystem, from technical guidance and business modelling to product development, market access, and connections with investors. The reason why start-ups build a strong foundation right from the initial stages.

Significantly, the IIT Kanpur Incubation Centre is specifically promoting start-ups related to manufacturing and production. In line with the ‘Make in India’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) vision, ideas related to hardware, electronics, defence production, Agri-tech, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing are being transformed into large businesses.

Several start-ups are now targeting markets worth thousands of crores of rupees and are playing a crucial role in job creation. Drones manufactured by a drone manufacturing start-up located on the IIT Kanpur campus were used during ‘Operation Sindoor’. Start-ups here also played a significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The IIT Kanpur incubator is not limited to any one state or region. Anyone aspiring to launch a start-up can apply here. Selection is based entirely on the quality of the idea, technical capabilities, and business potential. This is why IIT Kanpur’s start-up network has now spread nationally, but Uttar Pradesh is reaping the greatest benefits,” Professor Deepu Philip explains.