SIIC is Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre and is located at IIT Kanpur and is a leader in nurturing start-ups that drive meaningful change, is supported by IIT Kanpur’s resources and expertise.

VU Dynamics

Founded in 2022, VU Dynamics is redefining the potential of aerial platforms for both defense and civilian applications, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

With a foundation built on extensive R&D at IIT Kanpur, VU Dynamics specializes in developing sophisticated aerial platforms, simulation modules, and advanced surveillance and monitoring systems.

Their Kamikaze UAVs have a range of 100 km and are designed to provide front-line support for tactical military operations.

These indigenous innovations are meeting critical defense needs, while other surveillance UAVs offer solutions for civilian applications, including digital terrain models (DTMs), digital elevation models (DEMs), and subsurface mapping, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

xTerra Robotics

xTerra Robotics is at the forefront of robotics technology in India, focusing on complex challenges in robot locomotion across challenging 3D environments.

Mr. Aditya Pratap Singh Rajawat, CEO of XTerra Robotics, along with Professor Shakti S Gupta, Director and Co-founder, and Co-founders Mr. Nimesh Khandelwal, Mr. Avinash Bhaskar, and Mr. Amritanshu Manu, presented the company’s innovative advancements and conducted a live demonstration of the Svan robot in action, showcasing its robustness and adaptability.

Dr. Chitranjan Singh, the founder of Ananant Systems, presented the progress made in creating indigenously designed and manufactured solutions to meet the nation’s semiconductor demands, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

With a focus on chip design and semiconductor products, Ananant Systems is currently developing a scalable, software-defined modem designed for base station deployments in 5G and 6G.

Impact

Prof. Deepu Philip, Professor-in-Charge of SIIC at IIT Kanpur, praised the impact of these start-ups.

He said the start-ups incubated at SIIC are developing cutting-edge technologies that address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

From defense applications to automation in hazardous industries and the essential infrastructure for next-generation connectivity, these ventures embody the spirit of innovation and emphasise IIT Kanpur’s commitment to fostering impactful solutions for the benefit of the country and society at large, he said.

We envision a continued robust and impactful startup ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh, contributing to the Atma Nirbhar Bharat mission, said Prof Deepu.

About SIIC at IIT Kanpur

Established in 2000, the Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur is one of the oldest technology business incubators.

Currently, it hosts 100 incubated startups focusing on next-generation technology and products. In 2018, the leadership brought the incubator’s operations under the Foundation for Research & Innovation in Science & Technology (FIRST), a Section-8 company promoted by IITK.

The incubation ecosystem, which has been thriving for over two decades, continues to support startups at every stage of their journey from idea to business.

Renowned for its excellence in science and engineering education, IITK has made significant contributions to research and development over the decades.

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As part of Thales’s CSR and solidarity efforts in India, Thales supported this transformative eco-innovation and entrepreneurship challenge, say sources from IIT Madras.

The CZC challenge aims to accelerate groundbreaking solutions to address climate change and foster sustainability, say sources from IIT Madras.

In line with Thales’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, Thales supported the programme for a second consecutive year, for its fourth edition, showcasing its commitment to building a safer, greener, and more inclusive world.

Final teams

The final 25 teams were shortlisted from the initial list of 500 teams.

These teams embarked on a rigorous six-month journey from April to develop sustainable prototypes across various sectors, including energy, materials, agriculture, air, and water, say sources from IIT Madras.

These teams were invited to IIT Madras to showcase their innovations at the CZC 4.0 Grand Expo, held from 26–28 October 2024, say sources from IIT Madras.

Mentoring

They were mentored on business aspects by Sustainability Mafia, a non-profit community of sustainability entrepreneurs.

The CZC initiative encourages deep-technology and circular economy solutions to combat pressing environmental issues. To date, the CZC has supported around 100 prototypes, say sources from IIT Madras.

Support

Mr. Ashish Saraf, VP and Country Director for India, Thales said their organization is proud to have supported IIT Madras’ Carbon Zero Challenge.

This is an initiative that not only stimulates transformative eco-innovation but also resonates closely with our vision of advancing sustainable solutions for the future, he said.

Our collaboration on CZC with IIT Madras has been to empower young innovators across India to address critical environmental challenges and pave the way for development of impactful, resource-efficient technologies, in line with our long-term commitment towards nurturing a cleaner, greener world, he said.

We congratulate all the participants and look forward to the continued progress of these exceptional teams in shaping a sustainable tomorrow, he said.

Focus

Prof. Indumathi Nambi, Coordinator, Carbon Zero Challenge Coordinator, IIT Madras, said, with a focus on fostering eco-startups addressing global challenges like climate change, pollution, and circular economy, CZC 4.0 attracted over 2,000 participants from 775 universities and 430 startups across India.

Thirty successful startups have emerged from CZC’s previous cohorts, with another 35 advancing toward commercialization, said Prof Indumathi of IIT Madras.

Participating teams received up to ₹500K in funding and mentorship to develop their prototypes, she said.

Prof Indumathi further said with the success of CZC 4.0, IIT Madras and its partners continue to translate academic research and technology into commercial ventures, addressing some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges through carbon-neutral technologies.

Teams

The top six teams and the team with special mention recognised for their contributions to sustainable technology are:

1. Gudlyf Mobility Pvt Ltd – H2ARWASTE: Developing hydrogen storage cylinders using agricultural waste.

2. EESAN – CBG for Sustainability: Enabling cleaner bio-methane for homes and small businesses.

3. Electropulse Innovations – Wastewater Treatment: Using high-voltage pulse generators for efficient wastewater management.

4. Thaal Chemy Innovations Pvt Ltd – Sustainable Packaging: Producing nano-cellulose from agricultural residues.

5. ReWinT – End-of-Life Turbine Blades: Transforming wind turbine blades using eco-friendly chemical and thermal processes.

6. Chrissron Biomass Solutions – Plant-Based Resin: Manufacturing sustainable resin from plant waste.

The Carbon Zero Challenge represents an unparalleled opportunity for the brightest minds to converge, channel their creativity, and contribute meaningfully towards shaping a sustainable future for our planet.

Together, we can ignite the spirit of entrepreneurship, protect our environment, and move closer to achieving a carbon-neutral world.

Also Read – IIT Kanpur showcases great cutting-edge start-ups