Tamil Nadu Aims to Become India’s Innovation Capital: Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin at IN2TN Intellectual Property Conference

Chennai : Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inaugurated the first-ever IN2TN Intellectual Property (IP) Conference at the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai on Wednesday, organized by the Department of Information Technology and Digital Services.

Addressing the gathering, Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed his happiness at launching the conference and reiterated that the Dravidian movement has always championed the advancement of technology for the benefit of every segment of society.

He credited Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s visionary policies for laying the foundation for Tamil Nadu’s leadership in the digital revolution. Dr. Karunanidhi, he said, was the first Chief Minister in India to establish a dedicated state IT department, integrate computer education in schools, and create IT parks that transformed the lives of thousands of engineers in the state.

Continuing this vision, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has turned Tamil Nadu into a leading IT powerhouse, the Deputy CM stated. Under the Dravidian Model government, the IT and Digital Services Department has adopted new policies and frameworks to promote innovation and drive growth.

Tamil Nadu: India’s IT & SaaS Hub

Highlighting the state’s progress, Udhayanidhi Stalin noted that Tamil Nadu has emerged as India’s third-largest software exporter. Chennai is now widely regarded as the SaaS capital of India, while major IT companies are expanding rapidly to secondary cities like Coimbatore and Madurai.

Initiatives such as My First Job and enhanced digital inclusion programs have prepared thousands of graduates for the IT sector. Over 2,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots have been set up in Chennai, Tambaram, Avadi, and Coimbatore to improve last-mile digital access.

The Deputy CM emphasized that Tamil Nadu is now building a state-wide innovation ecosystem, supported by the iTNT Hub, which was inaugurated in 2023. “This conference comes at a crucial time as we seek to transform Tamil Nadu into India’s innovation capital,” he said.

Focus on IP Development, Commercialization, and Global Collaboration

Lauding the IT & Digital Services Department for the conference’s theme, “Knowledge is Power: Transforming Tamil Nadu into India’s Innovation Capital”, he said the event would build awareness about intellectual property, encourage commercialization, and create a culture of treating IP as an economic asset.

The conference also featured numerous MoUs between the Tamil Nadu government, global technology firms, academic institutions, and innovation hubs, aiming to strengthen collaborations, accelerate product development, and promote technology transfer.

Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed pride in announcing the first round of funding from the state’s Innovation Foundation Fund, dedicated to supporting deep-tech and emerging-tech startups. “This is not just funding; it is an investment in Tamil Nadu’s future,” he said.

He called on researchers to move beyond publications and focus on converting their innovations into products and startups. To startups, he said, “Your intellectual property is your asset; grow with it.” He also invited investors to take advantage of Tamil Nadu’s robust business environment, which has been consistently ranked the best in Ease of Doing Business.

Building a Future-Ready Innovation Ecosystem

The Deputy CM assured that the Tamil Nadu government is fully committed to strengthening the innovation journey through policy support, infrastructure, investments, and skill development.

“This conference will be remembered as a milestone in Tamil Nadu’s IT history,” he said, adding that the state’s ambition is to be globally recognized as a hub for innovation and technology-driven economic growth.

He concluded by expressing confidence that students, researchers, startups, and investors would work together to shape a future-ready Tamil Nadu, making it a beacon of innovation in India and the world.