DST-GDC I-NCUBATE PROGRAM
A Gamechanger for Deep-Tech Startups
“Celebrating Entrepreneurship – From Lab to Market”
Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,
IIT Madras
The Changing Deep-tech Startup Ecosystem in India
India’s Deep-Tech India is witnessing a quiet yet powerful deep-tech revolution,
driven by advances in AI, quantum technologies, robotics,
Revolution
semiconductors, advanced materials, and biotechnology.
Unlike typical digital ventures, deep-tech startups tackle
complex, real-world challenges with solutions born from years
of R&D, interdisciplinary collaboration, and patient capital.
These ventures are not just building apps; they are engineering
atoms, algorithms, and machines that underpin breakthroughs
in healthcare, climate tech, manufacturing, and national security.
A Convergence of With progressive policies, world-class institutions, and a surge in
academia-based entrepreneurship, India is gaining momentum
Science, Policy and in deep technologies. The National Education Policy 2020 and the
Entrepreneurship Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act 2023 emphasise
R&D as central to India’s growth. Innovation, science, and
technology form one of the five pillars of Viksit Bharat 2047.
India’s deep-tech startup ecosystem has grown by 50% over the
past five years, and now has more than 3,000 ventures. Programs
like iDEX, NIDHI-PRAYAS, and the upcoming National Deep Tech
Startup Policy are laying a strong foundation. A new mindset is
emerging, which is—focused on inventing India-first solutions in
defence, space, genomics, and sustainability.
DST and GDC: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has played a
prominent role in this transformation and revolution of deep-tech
Driving Innovation startups sweeping across India. The Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande
Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (GDC) at IIT Madras has
collaborated with over 100 academic and research institutions
across India to promote entrepreneurial thinking and have
worked with nearly 500 startups. Together, DST and GDC have
collaborated to launch the DST-GDC I-NCUBATE program, which
aims to train STEM researchers aspiring to develop deep-tech
startups.
Participants describe the DST-GDC I-NCUBATE experience as
“hugely transformative”. The program equips scientists and
researchers with entrepreneurial skills and commercialisation
pathways, which are essential for translating research into
impact.
The Seminar: Ideas. This half-day seminar convenes leaders from government,
academia, industry, and investment to discuss how India can
Insights. Impact. lead the next global technology wave.
Highlights include:
Insights from policymakers and venture leaders
A panel with startup pioneers and ecosystem enablers
A showcase of select startups from the DST-GDC I-NCUBATE
Program
Demos and exhibits of deep-tech innovations
Join us to explore how deep-tech ventures are shaping India’s future -from labs to
markets, and from ideas to impact.
Program Agenda
09:30 AM - 10:00 AM 10:00 AM - 10:05 AM
Registration Welcome address
Prof. Krishnan Balasubramanian,
Institute Professor,
IIT Madras Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
10:05 AM - 10:15 AM
IIT Madras: Nurturing Innovation & Startups
Prof. V. Kamakoti,
Director, IIT Madras
10:15 AM - 10:20 AM 10:20 AM - 11:30 AM
DST-GDC I-NCUBATE: Deep-Tech Game Changer Transformative Journeys: Startup Spotlights
Mr. KV Anand, Presenations by graduates of the
Chief Innovation Officer, GDC DST-GDC I-NCUBATE PROGRAM
11:30 AM - 11:40 AM
Inauguration of Idea to Impact: Startup Exhibition by the Chief Guest
11:40 AM - 12:00 PM Coffee & Networking
12:00 PM - 12:15 PM 12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
Address by the Guest of Honour Keynote Address by the Chief Guest
Mr. Praveen Roy, Mr. Ramesh Mangaleswaran,
Scientist-G & Head - Technology. Translation & (Hon.) Adjunct Professor of Practice,
Innovation Division, Department of Science & Technology, Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship, IIT Bombay &
Government of India Senior Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company
12:45 PM - 01:30 PM
Panel Discussion: Building the Deep-tech Nation: "Talent, Technology & Trust"
Mr. Vishesh Rajaram, Mr. Kunal Upadhyay, Prof. Satyanarayanan R. Moderator:
CEO, Speciale Invest Co-founder, Chakravarthy, Dr. Raghuttama Rao,
IIMA Ventures Professor, Dept. of Aerospace Engg, CEO, GDC
& Head – NCCRD, IIT Madras
01:30 PM - 01:35 PM
Closing Comments
Mr. M Subramanian,
CMO, GDC
01:35 PM - 02:30 PM Lunch
02:30 PM Onwards
Visit to the Startup Exhibition
Idea to Impact: Startup Exhibition (in IC & SR Foyer)
Speakers’ Profiles
Leading Voices and Deep Perspectives
Meet the changemakers shaping India’s deep-tech landscape. From entrepreneurial faculty
and startup founders to investors, policymakers, and incubation leaders — our speakers repre-
sent the breadth and depth of India’s innovation ecosystem
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Mr. Praveen Roy, Mr. Ramesh Mangaleswaran,
Director, IIT Madras Scientist-G & Head - Technology. (Hon.) Adjunct Professor of Practice,
Translation & Innovation Division, Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship,
Portfolio
Department of Science & Technology, IIT Bombay & Senior Partner Emeritus,
Government of India McKinsey & Company
Portfolio Portfolio
Prof. Satyanarayanan R.
Mr. Vishesh Rajaram, Mr. Kunal Upadhyay,
Chakravarthy
CEO, Speciale Invest Co-founder, IIMA Ventures
Professor, Dept. of Aerospace Engg,
& Head – NCCRD, IIT Madras Portfolio Portfolio
Portfolio
Prof. Krishnan Balasubramanian, Dr. Raghuttama Rao, Mr. KV Anand,
Institute Professor, IIT Madras Dept. of CEO, GDC Chief Innovation Officer,
Mechanical Engineering GDC
Portfolio
Portfolio Portfolio
Mr. M Subramanian,
CMO, GDC
Portfolio
GDC’s Impact*
66 Cohorts 426 Faculty
GDC’s IMPACT
515 26% women
Teams Trained entrepreneurs
1625 118
researchers STEM Colleges
&
entrepreneurs
Program Partners: DST & GDC
The Department of Science & Technology (DST), under the
Ministry of Technology, Government of India, is entrusted with
promoting new areas of Science & Technology and plays the role
of a nodal department for organising, coordinating and promoting
S&T activities in the country. As part of its Mission, DST leads in
the creation of S&T infrastructure and manpower, supports basic
science research along with S&T-led innovation and startups,
technology development, and seeds futuristic areas of S&T by
devising suitable programs, schemes and technology missions
to address socio-economic challenges of the country.
National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations
(NIDHI) is an umbrella programme conceived and developed
by the Technology Translation and Innovation (TTI) Division,
Department of Science & Technology, Government of India,
for nurturing ideas and innovations (knowledge-based and
technology-driven) into successful startups.
Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre for Innovation and
Entrepreneurship (GDC) was established at IIT Madras in 2017
as a philanthropic initiative with the core objective of fostering
innovation in STEM universities across India by facilitating the
transformation of scientific research from laboratories to the
marketplace through deep tech startups. GDC seeks to bridge
the gap between India’s world-class STEM research and the
marketplace, empowering the next wave of deep-tech startups.
Over the past eight years, GDC has forged impactful collaborations
with over 100 leading STEM institutions and incubators, fostering
an ecosystem that has nurtured over 470 startups. Of these, more
than 200 have successfully commercialized their innovations,
with several attracting external funding exceeding Rs. 500
crores. Furthermore, over 100 startups are on the cusp of scaling
their solutions to address some of India’s most pressing socio-
economic challenges.
Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre
for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,
S7, II Floor, Sudha & Shankar Innovation Hub
IIT Madras, Chennai - 600 036
044 2257 8432
[Link]