Visakhapatnam gets Ratan Tata Innovation Hub to boost startups

The Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH) was inaugurated in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, marking a significant push to strengthen the State’s startup ecosystem and accelerate technological growth. The launch coincided with the statewide rollout of innovation hubs by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Minister for HRD, IT, Electronics & Communications Nara Lokesh from Amaravati.

The inauguration, held at The Deck, a facility set up by the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA), brought together political leaders, industry representatives, and academics, underlining the collaborative intent of the initiative.

Industry and academic stalwarts, including Tata Teja (GMR), Dr. Suresh (Divis Labs), M. Ravindranath (AM/NS), Dr. Dhananjaya (Andhra University), Dr. Raja Pappu (GITAM) and Dr. Vijay (IIPE), highlighted the hub’s role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Collector M. N. Harendhira Prasad, IAS, Joint Collector K. Mayur Ashok, and VMRDA Commissioner K.S. Vishwanathan stressed the need for coordinated efforts to realise the hub’s objectives.

A key highlight was the signing of MoUs with eight ecosystem partners — TiE Vizag, DeepTech Naipunya Foundation (DTNF), TiHAN IIT Hyderabad, Alcove Partners LLP, ITAAP, Atlas Concilio Pvt. Ltd., Laya Green Ventures Pvt. Ltd., and CII-Young Indians (Yi) Vizag Chapter. These partnerships aim to provide startups with mentorship, legal guidance, research support, and market access, aligning with the government’s vision of “one family, one entrepreneur.”

Speaking to the media, TDP State president and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivas Rao described the inauguration as a “defining moment” for Andhra Pradesh, praising Chief Minister Naidu’s vision in positioning Amaravati and Visakhapatnam as hubs of innovation. He also lauded Ratan Tata for inspiring a generation of young entrepreneurs.