S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), at Sanghamitra organised by Rotary District 2324, in Chennai on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
Bijoy Ghosh

IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP) is undoubtedly the finest research facility attached to any institute anywhere in India, not just anywhere in India but it’s even a global achievement. It is an idea that needs to be replicated not just elsewhere in Tamil Nadu but elsewhere in the country as well, said S Krishnan, Secretary Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

“I have heard from many visitors from overseas and otherwise who are quite amazed by the kind of work that’s been done there and the way it has been done at the park,” he said addressing at Sanghamittra, a two-day event District Conference 2025 organised by Rotary District 3234 on Saturday.

Apart from the land, Ashok Jhunjhunwala, the guiding force behind the IITMRP, made sure he got nothing really from the government. He borrowed money from banks and other financial institutions to set up the entire facility. Government assistance of various kinds came in later to assist projects at the park. For instance, MeitY runs an incubation centre in the park, he said.

On innovation and entrepreneurship, Krishnan said Increasingly, the country needs more people who can contribute to the growth of the nation by being creative and innovative and become entrepreneurs. They can contribute to establishing new businesses, growth of new businesses, creation of jobs and of wealth. That is the critical role innovators play, he said.