Entrepreneurship with IITK
IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), established the SIDBI Innovation & Incubation Centre (SIIC) to drive innovation, research, and entrepreneurship in technology-driven domains.
The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur, established in 2000, is one of India's leading technology business incubators. It focuses on fostering entrepreneurship, promoting industry-academia collaboration, and creating economic impact. With a strong research and development ecosystem, along with advanced laboratory facilities, SIIC offers 150,000 square feet of incubation space across IIT Kanpur and Noida.
SIIC provides a robust foundation for startups, supported by over 75 experienced mentors. In the past five years, SIIC has incubated 416 startups, of which 171 have become self-sustaining businesses. Its significant contributions to the startup ecosystem earned it the National Award for Technology Business Incubators in 2011, as well as the ISGF Innovation Award in both 2018 and 2023 for Smart Incubation.
SIIC runs government-backed programs such as NIDHI EIR, GENESIS, BIRAC’s BIG, and Operation Dronagiri, driving innovation across multiple sectors. Additionally, it supports defense startups through iDEX (Ministry of Defence) and cybersecurity startups under C3iHub. Nationally, it has led impactful initiatives like Tech for Tribals (MSME Ministry), benefiting over 8,000 individuals, and programs such as Startup Gateway for Garbage-Free Cities (Ministry of Housing Affairs) and TIDE (MeitY), which secured follow-on funding through Genesis. SIIC has also played a crucial role in capacity building through extensive training, knowledge-sharing, and industry engagement, hosting more than 100 webinars, 96 workshops, and 9 hands-on training programs, equipping startups with both technical expertise and business acumen.
To expand its global reach, SIIC hosted the ASEAN-India Startup Festival, bringing together 100 startups from 11 nations, and has represented India at various international events, including DWIH Germany, WBAF South Africa, and ASEAN Startup Festivals in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, thereby creating international opportunities for startups.
Since 2019, SIIC has organized Abhivyakti, its flagship event, which showcases over 300 innovations and has attracted more than 10,000 attendees, including startups, investors, and policymakers. Through fireside chats, panel discussions, and networking sessions, Abhivyakti fosters collaboration and investment. Committed to innovation, scalability, and impact, SIIC continues to propel India’s startup ecosystem forward