Startup Policy Forum (SPF) Joins Hands with IIT Madras to Foster Startup Policy Research, Innovation and Data-Driven Advocacy

In a pioneering move set to redefine the intersection of industry, academia and policy research, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Startup Policy Forum (SPF). This collaboration will enable the two institutions to work towards a knowledge partnership to drive data-driven and evidence-driven policy advocacy for the startup

ecosystem.

This landmark partnership leverages IIT Madras’s unparalleled academic, research and innovation expertise alongside SPF’s deep engagement in working on startup policy and regulatory frameworks with startups and policymakers. As India’s leading research and academic institution, IIT Madras has gained a lot of prominence for incubating high-impact startups—such as Ather Energy, Uniphore, MediBuddy, Mindgrove Technologies and InCore Semiconductors.  

As part of this collaboration, SPF will support the Centre for Research on Start-Ups and Risk Financing (CREST), which engages in high-quality research to support the financing of innovation, startups and entrepreneurship. The partnership will specifically collaborate to contribute to and promote IIT Madras’ YNOS, a startup intelligence platform that brings together information and research on various stakeholders and government schemes.

Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean (IC & SR), said,  “This collaboration with SPF aligns with our vision to translate research excellence into meaningful policy contributions. We are excited to co-create knowledge, support founders and industry leaders, and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs through impactful policymaking.”

Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President & CEO, Startup Policy Forum (SPF), “For India to cement its position as a global startup hub, it is imperative to have a robust policy framework and data-driven policymaking. This partnership with IIT Madras is a testament to our commitment to shaping policies that are not just reactive but proactive in addressing the needs of India’s dynamic startup landscape.”

Thillai Rajan, Professor, IIT Madras shared, “IIT Madras has been at the forefront of fostering disruptive startups and pioneering technology research. By joining forces with SPF, we are strengthening the bridge between rigorous academic research and real-world policy impact. This partnership will enable data-driven policymaking that empowers startups and fosters a thriving innovation ecosystem.”

With IIT Madras’s legacy of incubating some of India’s most influential startups and SPF’s strategic role in policy advocacy, this collaboration is set to create a structured, research-backed approach to startup policymaking. This underscores the power of academia-industry partnerships in shaping a more supportive, informed, and globally competitive startup ecosystem.

IIT Madras and SPF will co-host policy discussions, research workshops, and roundtables to drive forward-thinking policies that empower Indian startups and entrepreneurs and promote strategic thought leadership and regulatory innovation.