UP, Jan 19 : The Uttar Pradesh government is accelerating efforts to position the state as India’s leading startup hub, with the approval of seven ultra modern Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the Start in UP policy. So far, the government has released ₹27.18 crore to support these centres.
Officials said the Centres of Excellence are giving a major push to innovation, research, technological development and employment generation, while strengthening the state’s long-term startup ecosystem.
Incubation Support for Startups, Skill Boost for Youth
According to officials, hundreds of startups are currently receiving incubation and technical support through the CoEs, while thousands of young professionals are benefiting from skill development programmes, new employment opportunities and encouragement for indigenous technology development.
The Centres of Excellence focus on future-oriented sectors, including blockchain technology, medical electronics and health informatics, artificial intelligence, 5G/6G telecommunications, additive manufacturing and drone technology.
Beyond technical assistance, the centres are playing a key role in making Uttar Pradesh–based startups globally competitive.
Prestigious Institutions Anchor the Centres
The Centres of Excellence located in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, Saharanpur and Ghaziabad are being supported by leading institutions such as IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, IIM Lucknow, STPI Lucknow and AKGEC Ghaziabad.
Through these partnerships, startups gain access to world-class laboratories, AI/ML and supercomputing platforms, testing facilities, mentorship and strong industry linkages.
Under the state’s startup policy, each Centre of Excellence is eligible for grant-in-aid of up to ₹10 crore over five years, covering both capital and operational expenses. The government aims to make the centres self-reliant within five years.
Sector-Specific Centres Drive Innovation
The Blockchain Technology Centre of Excellence in Gautam Buddh Nagar, operated by IIM Lucknow’s Enterprise Incubation Centre in collaboration with Microsoft, plans to incubate 100 startups over five years. Startups receive high-end infrastructure, seed funding of up to ₹75 lakh, expert mentorship and access to angel and venture capital networks.
The Medical Electronics and Health Informatics (MedTech) Centre of Excellence in Lucknow, supported by STPI, SGPGI, AIMED, AMTZ and KIHT, focuses on medical device and health-tech startups. Its goal is to reduce import dependence while advancing Make in India and Digital India initiatives.
The 5G/6G Telecom Centre of Excellence at IIT Kanpur is driving research and startup development in next-generation telecommunications, equipped with advanced RF labs, AI/ML servers and testing facilities.
AI, Manufacturing and Drone Technology in Focus
The AI and Innovation-based Entrepreneurship (AIIDE) Centre of Excellence in Noida, supported by IIT Kanpur and FICCI, provides 50 AI-based startups each year with training, mentorship and investor access.
Meanwhile, the 5G/6G Ubiquitous Wireless Communication Centre of Excellence operated by IIT Roorkee in Saharanpur aligns with India’s 6G vision, while the Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Ghaziabad is preparing MSMEs and startups for global markets through advanced 3D printing and digital manufacturing.
The UAV Design, Training and Capacity Building Centre of Excellence at IIT Kanpur offers drone startups design validation, testing, consultancy and a DGCA-approved flight testing zone, positioning Uttar Pradesh as a key hub for drone technology.