Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar hailed Tamil Nadu’s contribution to education, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Addressing the inaugural session of ‘IInvenTiv 2025’ at IIT Madras virtually on Friday, Pradhan said that Tamil Nadu has always been a land of innovation, entrepreneurship, and excellence. The State has given India some of the brightest entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists, and researchers who have made significant contributions to nation-building, he said.

He extended his invitation to the international representatives and sought to strengthen research ties to foster global startup opportunities. As of 2025, India has emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with a combined valuation exceeding $354 million, the minister said.

Echoing a similar view, Majumdar said Tamil Nadu will remain a land of innovation and entrepreneurship and always play a crucial role in the country’s economic growth. Many industry leaders hail from this State and have built enterprises that have shaped India’s progress. Their contributions have been instrumental in making the country a global force in technology and industry.

With a vibrant startup ecosystem, Tamil Nadu’s industrial is a cornerstone of the nation’s ambition to become a global manufacturing and technological leader, he said.

For India to emerge as a global superpower, we must become a startup and product nation. Higher educational institutions are playing a pivotal role in achieving this vision by fostering innovation, nurturing startups, and enabling technology-driven solutions that align with the needs of an Atmanirbar Bharat. The Centre has made substantial investments in research and innovation, he said.

V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Through IInventiv 2025, we are now bringing together a platform in which industry leaders can look at technology transfer, investors can look at avenues for funding and foster future collaboration”. Around 180 exhibits from 39 participating institutions are participating.