IIT Kanpur and IIM Bangalore's NSRCEL partner to boost deep tech startups

Two of India's premier academic institutions have joined forces to commercialise emerging technology. IIT Kanpur and NSRCEL, the business incubator at IIM Bangalore, signed an agreement on Wednesday to jointly nurture deep-tech startups and turn complex engineering research into market-ready businesses.

The partnership focuses immediately on defence, aerospace, and dual-use technologies. It will support the first cohort of IIT Kanpur's SCALE Catapult accelerator, combining engineering breakthroughs with business development, industry mentorship, and capital access.

Strengthening national self-reliance

By linking technical laboratories directly with business development networks, the initiative supports national efforts to build self-reliant domestic capabilities in strategic sectors.

Prof Jayandharan Giridhara Rao, Dean of Research and Development at IIT Kanpur, said the institute has a strong pipeline of deep-tech research and that establishing routes to market remains a major priority. He added that the joint effort would build a stronger ecosystem for technology-led ventures coming out of academic institutions.

NSRCEL Chief Executive Officer Rasika Prashant said the initiative aligns directly with national goals for building defence and aerospace capacity. She noted that the framework will help identify and support early-stage founders working on strategic technologies of national importance.

What happens next

Under the framework, both organisations will explore co-incubation, share entrepreneurial practices, and organise joint programs connecting founders with institutional investors and industrial partners. While defence and aerospace form the initial priority, the framework establishes a broader template for future joint acceleration initiatives across emerging technology sectors.