Chennai, July 15, 2026: Indian Maritime University (IMU) today formally onboarded the first batch of four maritime start-ups at the Maritime Innovation Hub (MIH) established at its headquarters under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ S2I2 programme. The initiative aims to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and start-up development in the maritime sector.

The programme was graced by Dr. Malini V. Shankar, Vice Chancellor, IMU, and Dr. Rajoo Balaji, Pro Vice Chancellor, IMU, in the presence of Prof. K. Murali., Chairman, AIM-HI. Dr YVVSN Murthy, Centre Director, representatives from the MIF PMU, academia and the start-up ecosystem also participated in the event. During the ceremony, the selected start-ups were formally inducted into the incubation programme. Onboarding documents, including the Letter of Undertaking (LoU) and Sanction Letter, were executed between IMU and the Start-up. Seed funding cheques were also presented to the incubated start-ups.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Malini V. Shankar stated that Maritime Innovation Hub would serve as a dedicated incubation centre for nurturing indigenous maritime technologies and innovative solutions in areas such as green shipping, smart ports, logistics, ocean technology and maritime safety, thereby contributing to India’s vision of becoming a global maritime leader.

During the programme, Dr. Rajoo Balaji, Pro Vice Chancellor, IMU, highlighted about the University’s continued commitment to advancing maritime excellence through innovation, entrepreneurship, and stronger industry-academia collaboration. We are glad to make planet greener by blue innovation and IMU’s green initiative for blue start-ups.

Viswanathan, Managing Director, Maritime India Foundation, highlighted the growing significance of maritime start-ups in driving technological advancement, enhancing global competitiveness, and supporting sustainable economic growth. He noted that collaborative platforms such as IMU I-SEAS would play a pivotal role in creating the next generation of maritime entrepreneurs.

The event marked a significant milestone in IMU’s efforts to create a robust maritime innovation ecosystem by connecting academia, industry and emerging entrepreneurs, while supporting the development of technology-driven solutions for the growth of India’s maritime sector.