School of Arts and Sciences enters the entrepreneurial stage

MCC-MRF Innovation Park at the Christian Academy of Madras. MRF has donated Rs 30 billion from the MRF Foundation and established the park. |Photo source: Bijoy Ghosh

In addition to the College of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences in Tamil Nadu has become a hotbed of entrepreneurial activities. As innovation and startup culture spread, universities are improving their incubation cells and establishing partnerships with key players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. As a result, more and more students are pursuing arts and science courses that are moving beyond traditional careers and venture into the world of entrepreneurs, bringing new ideas and vitality to startups.

At Madras Christian College (MCC), seeds of incubated cells were sown in 2020. In 2022, the launch support program was launched. The incubation cells have been helping students with funding up to Rs 10,000. The professor also received a R&D grant.

Become a big adventure

The few startups incubated by MCC have become big adventures. For example, a company called Vividobots raised up to Rs 250 crore and established a separate R&D division in Ambattur. Another startup called Allytriz Technologies is considered one of the top 100 promising startups in 2024 – 25 years.

The incubation center of Stella Maris College was established in 2023 with MRF funding. Its purpose is to support teachers and students’ startup ideas and to work with peers, mentors and industry experts to train them to develop their ideas into sustainable and profitable adventures. According to Stella Mary and Bernadine Joseph of Dean, the incubation center’s main purpose in the innovation and incubation pool in 2024 is to promote entrepreneurship. The college has signed a memorandum of understanding with the TN-Rise Women Entrepreneurship Council, part of the Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project, to support entrepreneurial efforts of students and faculty. TN-Rise will provide incubation support, business development guidance and skills building training.

Looking for funds

In 2025, MOP Vaishnav Women’s Academy is looking for funding from external partners and angel investors. The college has a division called the Institutional Innovation Committee (IIC), which aims to promote entrepreneurship among faculty and students. It also seeks to inspire entrepreneurial spirit among students through workshops, conception meetings, group discussions, guest presentations, B-plane competitions, alumni meeting negotiations, seminars, seminars and visits to incubation centers of other institutions. At Ethiraj College, there are 10 new startup programs (led by students and 2 by mentors) that are active. Universities in Tier-2 and 3-level towns in Tamil Nadu are also embracing the startup wave.

Over the years, the School of Engineering has successfully nurtured startups, providing them with resources, guidance and support to thrive in a competitive environment. Many of these adventures attract a lot of money and government support. BS Abdur Rahman Crescent School of Science and Technology’s Crescent Innovation and Incubation Committee (CIIC) has been nurturing and supporting startups on campus. Since its inception in 2019, it has supported more than 210 startups. So far this year, it has accommodated about 9 startups. Now, it will focus on simplifying regulatory processes and providing dedicated mentoring programs equipped with startups with advanced entrepreneurial skills and help attract experienced industry mentors. “Another key initiative is to enhance market access by organizing demonstration days, network events, and pilot projects with enterprise partners to ensure startups can effectively scale their innovations. To connect with international markets, especially for the soft drop in our startup products, we have launched a global hybrid accelerator program,” a CIIC ICEIC spokesperson said.

Level II cities are not behind. Since its inception, more than 80 startups have been incubated in the Engineering Technology Business Incubator (TCE TBI), which was established in 2014 with the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Ministry of Science and Technology.

In the 2024-25 years, the institution has incubated 25 startups and 12 student startups are in the reserve stage. Several startups incubated by TCE TBI have successfully expanded. Sebin Sunny P., CEO of TCE TBI, said: “Thiagarajar Telekom SolutionsPvt. Ltd. evolved from a start-up for students-teachers to a provider of antenna design and manufacturing solutions for DRDO and ISRO, as well as an ISRO program in India. Mini-Baker Machine Manufacturer in Tamil Nadu.

challenge

Meanwhile, universities with hatched cells highlight some challenges. The School of Arts and Sciences notes that women’s programs are often not taken seriously because people think women won’t pursue their ideas outside of graduation. Students at the University of Engineering say there is limited access to advanced testing and certification facilities. Some students expressed concern that the cost of prototypes and production was high, and that unless the institution was very large, the company’s homes provided limited support.