Centre for Research on Start-Ups and Risk Financing (CREST)

An Institute of Eminence-Research Centre at Indian Institute of Technology Madras

2-Day In-Person Workshop for Incubators in Tamil Nadu

Two Day Workshop on "Scale Up Incubator Program" for Incubators in Tamil Nadu

Organized by CREST at IIT Madras  (March 4 and 5, 2025)

Program Brief

As part of Phase 1 of the Scale-up Incubator Initiative by StartupTN, CREST organized a focused 2-day in-person workshop for incubators across Tamil Nadu. The workshop aimed to build capacity among incubator managers, policymakers, and stakeholders, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, financial management, operational excellence, and strategic growth.

A total of 10 speaker sessions were conducted, featuring industry leaders and domain experts who provided valuable insights on scaling incubators, fostering corporate collaborations, and ensuring financial sustainability. The sessions were designed to strengthen incubators by offering practical knowledge on key aspects such as government engagement, corporate partnerships, financial management, intellectual property, and incubation sustainability—equipping participants with the strategies needed for long-term success.

The event also included a field visit to the IITM Incubation Cell, offering participants a firsthand experience of how a leading incubation ecosystem functions, thereby reinforcing the learnings from the workshop through practical exposure.

Objectives

  • Strengthen financial and operational sustainability of incubators

  • Foster corporate engagement and open innovation

  • Promote technology transfer and IP monetization strategies

  • Enable peer learning, collaboration, and regional networking

Key Features

  • In-Person Format: Designed to maximize participation, engagement, and peer interaction

  • Two-Day Duration: Structured for optimal effectiveness and practical value

  • Venue: IIT Madras or IITM Research Park, based on availability

  • Expert Faculty: Sessions led by experienced professionals from reputed organizations

  • Certification: Participants received certificates from IITM CODE

Program Structure

  • Four Sessions per Day: Two in the forenoon, two in the afternoon

  • Bilingual Delivery: Sessions conducted in Tamil and English for inclusivity

  • Networking Opportunities: Breaks and lunches enabled peer interaction

  • Topics Covered:

    • Corporate engagement with incubators

    • Financial management and sustainability

    • Technology transfer and IP monetization

Outcomes

  • Brought together key stakeholders from the incubation ecosystem across Tamil Nadu

  • Facilitated valuable knowledge-sharing and peer networking among incubator leaders

  • Delivered expert-led interactive sessions on critical topics such as financial sustainability, corporate engagement, and IP monetization

  • Enabled practical exposure through a field visit to the IITM Incubation Cell

  • Equipped participants with actionable strategies to improve incubator operations and long-term impact

  • Strengthened understanding of best practices in incubation management and ecosystem development

  • Laid the foundation for the next phase of the program, where shortlisted incubators will receive:

    • Continued mentorship

    • Access to funding opportunities

    • Tailored support for scaling and growth