Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (iTNT Hub)

Tamil Nadu Technology Hub, or iTNT Hub, was set up in 2022 by the Government of Tamil Nadu through its IT and Digital Services Department. From its base in Chennai, it operates as the state's platform for emerging and deep technology innovation, linking startups with academic institutions, research organisations and industry partners so that advanced technologies can be developed and deployed within Tamil Nadu. It is India's first state-level initiative built specifically around an emerging technology ecosystem.

The hub concentrates on domains that generalist incubators are not equipped to handle — deep tech, advanced manufacturing, space technology and cybersecurity — where startups contend with long development cycles, heavy capital needs and complex regulation. Its work complements that of Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission (StartupTN): iTNT Hub takes on technology-intensive ventures, while StartupTN addresses the wider ecosystem. The dedicated platform is intended to keep deep-tech ventures in Tamil Nadu that might otherwise move to Bengaluru or other established technology hubs.

iTNT Hub's programmes give startups technical mentorship, industry partnerships, government procurement opportunities and research collaboration. It runs technology-specific challenges and hackathons to surface promising ventures, and connects startups with Tamil Nadu's engineering colleges and research institutions to open routes for technology transfer and commercialisation. It also works to draw international technology companies and research organisations to set up in the state. Among the ventures it has supported is Chimertech Pvt Ltd. Deep technology startups based in or entering Tamil Nadu are the primary beneficiaries, along with researchers and academics at the state's engineering colleges and universities seeking to commercialise their work through startups, and international technology companies considering Tamil Nadu for R&D operations.