The course “Innovation and Entrepreneurship – A Multi-disciplinary Approach” is designed to foster entrepreneurial thinking and innovation across disciplines, aiming to cultivate an entrepreneurial culture at the departmental, institutional, and national levels. The teachers are Prof. T. Pradeep, Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal, Prof. Thillai Rajan, Mr. Krishnan Narayanan (former president, IIT Madras Alumni Association), and guest lecturers from industry, academia, and government. By emphasizing the application of science and technology to solve relevant problems, the course prepares students to identify opportunities, utilize resources effectively, and create value through innovation. Participants will learn to articulate their ideas, transform them into robust business plans, and develop strategies to take them to the market. The curriculum includes lectures, assignments, discussions, and practical experiences with business idea development. Notably, the course features interactions with successful entrepreneurs and industry leaders, providing real-world insights into creating and growing businesses. The evaluation comprises quizzes, presentations, and group discussions, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of entrepreneurship. Limited to 500 students per semester, this course offers an exclusive learning environment supported by a rich array of resources and expert insights. Understanding the concepts is expected to kindle an entrepreneurial interest in them.
By the end of the course, the learners will be able to:
Identify problems worth solving with the inputs of science and technology.
Find and channelize resources to enable innovation.
Create and enhance value from innovation.
Write a clear, concise, and compelling business plan.
Develop suitable methods of marketing themselves and their ideas.
Profile of the Instructor(s)
Prof. Thalappil Pradeep
Prof. Thalappil Pradeep is an Institute Professor at IITM. He has trained over 300 students to do research and thousands of others through classroom teaching. He is the author of 7 books, 550 papers, and 120 patents. He has built seven start-up companies. His technologies on clean water have reached 13 million people. He is a fellow of all the science and engineering academies of India, the World Academy of Sciences, the African Academy of Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has received the Padma Shri, the VinFuture Prize, and the Eni award, among others
Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal
Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and serves as an Associate of the Centre for Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) at IIT Madras. His areas of expertise include ultrasonics for nondestructive evaluation, structural health monitoring and process control, simulation and analysis of elastic wave propagation and scattering, robotic and automated inspection, and artificial intelligence in sensing and control. Dr. Rajagopal has made significant contributions in the field of Ultrasonic NDE, particularly in the development of advanced computational tools for weld qualification in collaboration with Rolls-Royce during his post-doctoral research fellowship at Imperial College London. Dr. Rajagopal has authored over 100 technical articles published in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
Prof. Thillai Rajan
Prof. Thillai Rajan is a Professor in the Department of Management Studies and leads the Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST) at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. During 2009 – 18, he edited the annual India Venture Capital and Private Equity Report. In 2020, he played a key role in the formation of Innovation, Venturing, and Entrepreneurship in India Network (iVEIN), a multi-institutional consortium to research innovation and venturing in India. He is also a co-founder of YNOS Venture Engine, a start-up set up to address the pain points of early-stage entrepreneurs. From 2017 – 2022, he was also an associate at the Mossavar Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University. Between Aug – Dec 2022, he hosted India’s First LIVE chat show on Start-ups, The Start-up Junction, in Doordarshan Tamil, part of the National Broadcasting Network. He has been the recipient of the Fulbright Nehru Senior Research Fellowship, the Endeavour Executive Fellowship of the Government of Australia, and the Chevening Gurukul Fellowship.
Mr. Krishnan Narayanan
Mr. Krishnan Narayanan (former president, IIT Madras Alumni Association) is the co-founder and President of itihaasa Research and Digital, and studies the evolution of technology domains in India. He is an award-winning author and has co-authored Against All Odds – The IT Story of India (Penguin India, 2022) and Empowering India (Indian Academy of Sciences, 2023).
Earlier at Infosys, he was a member of the Infosys Labs Management Council, managed a global transformation program in partnership with Microsoft, and collaborated with research & innovation clusters from the US, Netherlands, and Australia. He has degrees from IIT Madras and XLRI Jamshedpur. He is the past President IIT Madras Alumni Association and a founding governing board member of AquaMAP Water Centre.
Module Description
MODULE – 1 : Entrepreneurial thinking and Innovation value chain
Module Duration:
All lectures of 50 minutes will be LIVE and recorded
Concepts Covered:
Entrepreneurship from academic institutions: From ammonia to CRISPR and the world today
Ideas worth solving: From workbench to factories – bridging barriers, and when to think about starting a company
Intellectual property and its protection
MODULE – 2: Incubation
Module Duration:
All lectures of 50 minutes will be LIVE and recorded
Concepts Covered:
Building a business plan, Creating a dream tea,m Entrepreneurial finance: Raising and managing money
First revenue
Nuts and bolts – Statutory and legal compliance,s Investors and expectations
Module 3 will take the form of interaction with faculty and alumni who have founded companies.
MODULE – 3: Value Creation
Module Duration:
All lectures of 50 minutes will be LIVE and recorded
Concepts Covered:
Growth of businesses
Exit plan Life X-verse: New products, innovation, and value creation
Experiences in nurturing companies – short lectures by business executives, entrepreneur-scientists, and engineers. Opportunities locally – IITM, in your subject, and in India
MODULE – 4: Ideas for businesses
Module Duration:
All lectures of 50 minutes will be LIVE and recorded
Concepts Covered:
Group presentations on ideas worth solving and making business plans for each of them
Eligibility & Fees
Participants from any background are eligible. Final year B.E./B.Tech., M.E./M. Tech, M.Sc./M.A., Ph.D., and equivalent students may join.
Exempt for IITM students
Course Fees: ₹10,000 + 18% GST. We offer an inaugural discount of 50%; therefore, the current fee is ₹5,000 + 18% GST.
Registration fee: ₹ 5,900 (₹ 5,000 + 18% GST)
Intended Audience
College or university students studying business, management, or related fields who are interested in starting their ventures or working in innovative environments.
Entrepreneurs or aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enhance their skills in innovation, creativity, and business development.
Professionals in established companies are seeking to foster a culture of innovation within their organizations or start their ventures
Start-up founders or small business owners looking to refine their entrepreneurial strategies and grow their businesses
Innovators, researchers, and inventors who are interested in understanding how to bring their ideas to market and commercialize their innovations
Career switchers or individuals seeking to explore opportunities in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and gain knowledge about starting and running a business.
Certification
The certificates will be awarded to the participants who take up the Quizzes, presentations, and group discussions
Certification Criteria will be based on :
Making a business plan for an unknown business in the area of interest
Building a new business case for a known business
Analysing the reasons for the failure of a business that grew from an academic institution
Case studies on failed and successful start-ups / science-based innovations in large companies
Course Schedule
Last day of registration: July 24, 2025
Course Duration: Commencing July 28 – Ending November 2025
Live Session Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Live Session Timings: 05:00 p.m. – 05:50 p.m. (IST)
The recorded lectures can be accessed anytime for convenience.
Course Essentials
Students should utilize a Gmail account for course registration to streamline the process and enhance their user experience.
While attending lectures and viewing videos can be done on tablets and mobile phones, it is crucial to utilize a laptop or desktop for submitting assignments, quizzes, and the end-of-semester exam. This ensures accurate submission and entry on your course page.
Contact for Support
For any queries related to the course, you may please write to:
5 reviews for Innovation and Entrepreneurship – A Multi-disciplinary Approach : Batch 2
Rated 5 out of 5
Subrata Bag –
Participating in IIT Madras’s Entrepreneurship for Scientists and Engineers course was a truly transformative experience. The program offered in-depth exposure to key aspects of entrepreneurship, including patent filing, financial planning, market analysis, and innovation strategy. Site visits to Bangalore and the IIT Madras Research Park provided firsthand insights into cutting-edge sectors such as biotechnology, neuroscience, and clean energy. Engaging with pioneering startups like ART Park, CCAMP, and Agnikul brought these concepts to life. The hands-on learning, enriched by mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders, greatly strengthened my entrepreneurial mindset and skills. This course reshaped my perspective on innovation and equipped me to confidently navigate the startup ecosystem. I wholeheartedly recommend it to aspiring entrepreneurs from scientific and engineering backgrounds.
Rated 5 out of 5
Subrata Bag –
‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship – A Multi-disciplinary Approach’ combines business strategy, tech expertise, and design thinking for impactful solutions. Expert insights and real-world examples drive practical understanding, empowering aspiring innovators. This course provided me with a profound understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Rated 5 out of 5
Prasanna Phanindran S –
Having completed the course in the last batch, taught by the esteemed Prof. Thalappil Pradeep, I can confidently say it was one of the most intellectually enriching experiences of my academic journey.
The course provided a comprehensive walkthrough of the entrepreneurial lifecycle – starting from idea generation and design thinking, to patent filing, team formation, and business model development. Each module was thoughtfully designed to blend theoretical foundations with practical insights, ensuring we were not just learning concepts, but also seeing their real-world applications.
What truly stood out was the clarity the course brought to foundational distinctions – like Innovation vs. Invention and Tech vs. Hard Tech – nuances that are often overlooked but are essential in shaping a meaningful entrepreneurial journey.
A major highlight was the guest lecture by Mr. Krishnan Narayanan, who introduced the PIEX Lens – a powerful framework that enables structured thinking around idea visualization and evaluation through key locus points. This session alone shifted how many of us approached brainstorming and concept validation.
We were also fortunate to learn from Prof. Thillai Rajan, whose sessions on entrepreneurial finance, startup ecosystems, and the distinction between entrepreneurs and business owners added deep value. Similarly, Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal offered a compelling deep dive into technology translation and commercialization, an area critical for any research-driven innovation.
The field visit to Bengaluru was another highlight – we had the privilege of exploring C-CAMP, where we interacted with several Deep Tech startups transforming ideas into impactful technologies. At CBR, IISc, we witnessed cutting-edge research on neurodegeneration and aging, further reinforcing the course’s core message – innovation thrives at the intersection of disciplines.
Overall, this course isn’t just a course on entrepreneurship — it’s a multidisciplinary expedition into how science, technology, creativity, and business converge to bring ideas to life. For anyone looking to understand the why, what, and how of innovation in the Indian and global context, this course is a must.
Rated 5 out of 5
Charith –
I liked the course very much. I joined the course with an expectation to learn something new about entrepreneurship and innovation, especially from Prof. T Pradeep (I have seen a couple of his interview earlier and felt like I couldn’t miss the chance to interact directly with him), and I must say it was indeed a very good learning experience for me.
Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal has this ability to connect one-on-one with students and I liked his lectures as well. While Prof. Thillai Rajan and Mr. Krishnan Narayanan brought in their management and entrepreneurship experience to the class, Prof. T Pradeep gave me a very good understanding of what it means to translate research into actual startup. I think I was able to pickup some of his scientific temper while not ignoring the commercialization aspect.
The course involved going to Madras and Bangalore. We the students visited couple of very good venues where I understood that some really cool and interesting research is going on, but my brain was largely in ‘404: Error in Grapsing’ mood, so I went around, spoke to people and made few friends.
The course co-ordinator for us was Ramya mam. She was very polite, kind and caring of all of us. During the visits she made sure we all had a nice experience overall.
Net-net, I think i learnt a lot from this course. Had a lot of learning-filled experiences, made couple of good friends, across different states. I am satisfied, and happy. Period.
Rated 5 out of 5
Suzan Kagan –
Course Review: Innovation & Entrepreneurship (ID-5031)
Instructor: Prof. T. Pradeep
IIT Madras
This course was a great mix of theory and real-world learning. We learned key innovation tools which helped us think in new ways and develop better ideas.
A major highlight was the visit to innovation centers and startups. It made the concepts we learned in class feel real and gave us new inspiration.
We also worked on patent writing, which gave us practical skills to protect and present our ideas.
As a student from Israel, this course opened my eyes to India’s innovation scene and gave me tools I’ll use in my future projects. Clear, practical, and inspiring. Highly recommended.
Suzan Kagan
Innovation & Entrepreneurship ID-5031
IIT Madras
Subrata Bag –
Participating in IIT Madras’s Entrepreneurship for Scientists and Engineers course was a truly transformative experience. The program offered in-depth exposure to key aspects of entrepreneurship, including patent filing, financial planning, market analysis, and innovation strategy. Site visits to Bangalore and the IIT Madras Research Park provided firsthand insights into cutting-edge sectors such as biotechnology, neuroscience, and clean energy. Engaging with pioneering startups like ART Park, CCAMP, and Agnikul brought these concepts to life. The hands-on learning, enriched by mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and industry leaders, greatly strengthened my entrepreneurial mindset and skills. This course reshaped my perspective on innovation and equipped me to confidently navigate the startup ecosystem. I wholeheartedly recommend it to aspiring entrepreneurs from scientific and engineering backgrounds.
Subrata Bag –
‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship – A Multi-disciplinary Approach’ combines business strategy, tech expertise, and design thinking for impactful solutions. Expert insights and real-world examples drive practical understanding, empowering aspiring innovators. This course provided me with a profound understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Prasanna Phanindran S –
Having completed the course in the last batch, taught by the esteemed Prof. Thalappil Pradeep, I can confidently say it was one of the most intellectually enriching experiences of my academic journey.
The course provided a comprehensive walkthrough of the entrepreneurial lifecycle – starting from idea generation and design thinking, to patent filing, team formation, and business model development. Each module was thoughtfully designed to blend theoretical foundations with practical insights, ensuring we were not just learning concepts, but also seeing their real-world applications.
What truly stood out was the clarity the course brought to foundational distinctions – like Innovation vs. Invention and Tech vs. Hard Tech – nuances that are often overlooked but are essential in shaping a meaningful entrepreneurial journey.
A major highlight was the guest lecture by Mr. Krishnan Narayanan, who introduced the PIEX Lens – a powerful framework that enables structured thinking around idea visualization and evaluation through key locus points. This session alone shifted how many of us approached brainstorming and concept validation.
We were also fortunate to learn from Prof. Thillai Rajan, whose sessions on entrepreneurial finance, startup ecosystems, and the distinction between entrepreneurs and business owners added deep value. Similarly, Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal offered a compelling deep dive into technology translation and commercialization, an area critical for any research-driven innovation.
The field visit to Bengaluru was another highlight – we had the privilege of exploring C-CAMP, where we interacted with several Deep Tech startups transforming ideas into impactful technologies. At CBR, IISc, we witnessed cutting-edge research on neurodegeneration and aging, further reinforcing the course’s core message – innovation thrives at the intersection of disciplines.
Overall, this course isn’t just a course on entrepreneurship — it’s a multidisciplinary expedition into how science, technology, creativity, and business converge to bring ideas to life. For anyone looking to understand the why, what, and how of innovation in the Indian and global context, this course is a must.
Charith –
I liked the course very much. I joined the course with an expectation to learn something new about entrepreneurship and innovation, especially from Prof. T Pradeep (I have seen a couple of his interview earlier and felt like I couldn’t miss the chance to interact directly with him), and I must say it was indeed a very good learning experience for me.
Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal has this ability to connect one-on-one with students and I liked his lectures as well. While Prof. Thillai Rajan and Mr. Krishnan Narayanan brought in their management and entrepreneurship experience to the class, Prof. T Pradeep gave me a very good understanding of what it means to translate research into actual startup. I think I was able to pickup some of his scientific temper while not ignoring the commercialization aspect.
The course involved going to Madras and Bangalore. We the students visited couple of very good venues where I understood that some really cool and interesting research is going on, but my brain was largely in ‘404: Error in Grapsing’ mood, so I went around, spoke to people and made few friends.
The course co-ordinator for us was Ramya mam. She was very polite, kind and caring of all of us. During the visits she made sure we all had a nice experience overall.
Net-net, I think i learnt a lot from this course. Had a lot of learning-filled experiences, made couple of good friends, across different states. I am satisfied, and happy. Period.
Suzan Kagan –
Course Review: Innovation & Entrepreneurship (ID-5031)
Instructor: Prof. T. Pradeep
IIT Madras
This course was a great mix of theory and real-world learning. We learned key innovation tools which helped us think in new ways and develop better ideas.
A major highlight was the visit to innovation centers and startups. It made the concepts we learned in class feel real and gave us new inspiration.
We also worked on patent writing, which gave us practical skills to protect and present our ideas.
As a student from Israel, this course opened my eyes to India’s innovation scene and gave me tools I’ll use in my future projects. Clear, practical, and inspiring. Highly recommended.
Suzan Kagan
Innovation & Entrepreneurship ID-5031
IIT Madras