#TataSteel #TomorrowLAB #StartupEcosystem #Innovation #Sustainability #IITBhubaneswar #IndiaAccelerator #Robotics #WasteHeatRecovery #WaterManagement #MakeInIndia
Chandigarh – Tata Steel, one of India’s leading steel manufacturers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the IIT Bhubaneswar Research & Entrepreneurship Park (IIT BBSR REP) and India Accelerator (IA) to launch the TomorrowLAB Accelerator Programme, a six-month initiative designed to empower emerging startups. The programme, signed on August 13, 2025, will go live in September and is set to focus on challenges in water management, waste heat recovery, and robotics & automation.
This accelerator initiative is envisioned as a crucial step in Tata Steel’s ongoing collaboration with IIT Bhubaneswar to foster innovation and sustainability. It also builds on the company’s commitment to strengthen the startup ecosystem, particularly in Odisha and Eastern India, by enabling young innovators to convert their entrepreneurial ideas into scalable, impactful businesses.
Bridging Academia, Industry, and Startups
The TomorrowLAB Accelerator Programme has been conceptualized as one of the core initiatives under the MoU signed between Tata Steel and IIT BBSR REP in February 2024. Its primary goal is to bridge the gap between academia and industry, providing startups with access to valuable mentorship, technical resources, industry expertise, and market connections.
The programme will target startups that have developed a minimum viable product (MVP) and have demonstrated early market traction. Such startups will be given structured support to refine their business models, scale operations, and access commercial opportunities.
Startups across India will be eligible to participate, with IIT Bhubaneswar serving as the central hub of activities, supported by India Accelerator’s ecosystem.
Key Objectives of the Programme
The TomorrowLAB Accelerator Programme will provide startups with a unique mix of academic collaboration, corporate support, and industry mentoring. Its key objectives include:
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Mentorship & Technical Assistance: Providing domain-specific guidance, technical support, and capacity-building workshops to strengthen startup capabilities.
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Access to Funding & Advisory: Connecting startups to funding opportunities, business advisory services, and commercialisation pathways.
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Strategic Partnerships & Market Access: Leveraging the networks of IIT BBSR REP and India Accelerator to help startups establish critical partnerships and expand market access.
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Industry Pilots: Offering startups the chance to pilot their solutions with Tata Steel and other relevant industry partners.
This structured engagement will also strengthen Tata Steel’s role within the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Odisha and beyond, while simultaneously contributing to the company’s broader sustainability and innovation goals.
A Focus on Sustainability and Advanced Technologies
The programme has been strategically aligned with Tata Steel’s sustainability agenda and its focus on addressing pressing industrial challenges. The initial themes of water conservation, waste heat recovery, and robotics & automation have been identified as critical focus areas:
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Water: Developing innovative technologies to enhance water efficiency, recycling, and sustainable usage in industrial processes.
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Waste Heat Recovery: Creating solutions to harness waste heat from industrial operations, converting it into usable energy, and reducing carbon footprints.
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Robotics & Automation: Building advanced automation systems to improve operational efficiency, worker safety, and process reliability in steelmaking and related industries.
By focusing on these themes, Tata Steel aims to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies while promoting environmental sustainability.
Leadership Insights
Speaking on the launch of the programme, Subodh Pandey, Vice President – Technology, R&D, NMB and Graphene, Tata Steel, said:
“Tata Steel has been working with industry and academia partners for several years to accelerate our sustainability agenda. We see huge potential within India’s startup ecosystem, where young innovators are working to build solutions for some of the most difficult business challenges. Odisha is playing a significant role in boosting the startup ecosystem with initiatives such as ‘100 Cube’. The TomorrowLAB Accelerator Programme is yet another step in the same direction and holds great potential to become the innovation hub of Eastern India.”
His remarks highlight Tata Steel’s long-term commitment to fostering innovation-driven collaborations that benefit both the industry and the broader ecosystem.
Strengthening Startup Engagement
The launch of the TomorrowLAB Accelerator marks a continuation of Tata Steel’s proactive engagement with startups, both in India and internationally. Under its flagship TomorrowLAB programme, Tata Steel has already collaborated with a wide range of startups to tackle challenges across the steel value chain, including material science innovations, energy efficiency, and digital transformation.
Through this new accelerator, Tata Steel intends to identify startups with scalable solutions in relevant fields, support them through structured mentorship, and engage selected startups for pilot projects after the programme’s completion. This structured pathway ensures that promising solutions are tested in real-world industrial settings, creating tangible impact.
India Accelerator and IIT Bhubaneswar’s Role
India Accelerator (IA) brings to the table its strong track record of nurturing early-stage startups through mentorship, funding networks, and business advisory services. As a co-partner, IA will provide participants with access to investors, corporate connections, and expertise in scaling operations.
Meanwhile, IIT Bhubaneswar REP will act as the physical and intellectual hub of the programme, offering a robust environment for research-driven entrepreneurship. By combining its academic expertise with Tata Steel’s industry challenges and IA’s accelerator experience, the programme is designed to be both practical and innovation-centric.
Conclusion
The launch of the TomorrowLAB Accelerator Programme reflects Tata Steel’s vision of becoming a catalyst for innovation in India’s startup ecosystem. By working closely with IIT Bhubaneswar and India Accelerator, Tata Steel is not only supporting emerging startups but also ensuring that the solutions developed contribute to the company’s sustainability goals and to the broader industrial landscape.
As India continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for innovation, initiatives like the TomorrowLAB Accelerator will play a crucial role in bridging academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. With its focus on water, waste heat recovery, and robotics & automation, the programme has the potential to generate impactful solutions that could transform industries while promoting sustainable growth.
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