Tuticorin to get a new regional hub of StartupTN for space tech and logistics ventures: MSME Minister

By Admin

29 Apr, 2025

In a significant push toward decentralizing and diversifying Tamil Nadu’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) is set to become the latest regional hub for StartupTN, with a dedicated focus on space tech, port, and logistics start-ups. This announcement was made by Tamil Nadu’s MSME Minister T.M. Anbarasan at The Hindu Tamil Nadu Startup Summit 2025 held in Chennai.

Driving Innovation at the Regional Level

Tamil Nadu has been aggressively supporting its start-up ecosystem through StartupTN, the State’s nodal agency for entrepreneurship and innovation. With existing hubs in Chennai, Madurai, Erode, Tirunelveli, Salem, Hosur, Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Coimbatore, and Villupuram, the addition of Tuticorin marks a strategic move to harness the city’s port infrastructure and position it as a launchpad for space tech and logistics ventures.

“This fiscal year, a new regional hub will be set up in Thoothukudi with a dedicated focus,” the Minister announced, highlighting the growing relevance of industry-specific start-up clusters.

Financial Commitment and Village Start-up Scheme

Minister Anbarasan emphasized the government’s ongoing financial commitment to supporting emerging enterprises. “In the last four years, almost ₹70 crore has been invested across 205 start-ups through various State-funded entrepreneurship development programmes,” he shared. “An additional ₹20 crore has been allocated for start-ups in the current fiscal year.”

He also unveiled an ambitious new initiative—‘One Start-up in Every Village’—aimed at fostering grassroots innovation. “The State will select 100 villages and nurture one start-up in each, creating a new wave of rural entrepreneurs,” he added.

Professionalisation of StartupTN

StartupTN was brought under a more professional framework under the leadership of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who appointed a dedicated CEO to drive the mission. The initiative aims to build a robust entrepreneurial support system across diverse sectors of the economy.

Multi-Sectoral Success of Tamil Nadu

Atul Anand, Additional Chief Secretary of the MSME Department, noted the multi-sectoral success of Tamil Nadu’s start-up scene. From software services and medical tourism to agriculture, drone technology, AI, and deep tech, Tamil Nadu’s start-up environment reflects diversity and depth. “This rich mix makes Tamil Nadu a unique hub in the national start-up ecosystem,” he said.

The summit brought together various stakeholders including government officials, industry leaders, academic experts, and start-up founders. Key speakers included AR Unnikrishnan, Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu State Council and MD of Saint-Gobain India (Glass Group); C Muthamizhchelvan, Vice-Chancellor of SRM Institute of Science and Technology; and Sivarajah Ramanathan, CEO of StartupTN.

Looking Ahead

The upcoming Global Start-up Summit, to be hosted by Tamil Nadu, is set to gain further momentum with the launch of its official logo and website by the Deputy Chief Minister on Friday. The event is expected to showcase Tamil Nadu’s positioning as a national leader in innovation and entrepreneurial growth.

With focused regional development, grassroots schemes, and a dynamic ecosystem, Tamil Nadu is setting a benchmark for other states to follow. The rise of Tuticorin as a strategic hub signals the State’s intent to drive innovation not just in urban centers, but also in emerging industrial and coastal regions.