New Delhi: “Today’s youth are the architects of a Viksit Bharat. To truly realize our potential, we must leverage our vast human resources. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed leadership, the environment for growth has transformed. The opportunity is now open for all,” said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, at the national launch of ‘Campus Tank’, India’s first university-led startup launchpad for student innovators. The event was hosted by Chandigarh University at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi, in collaboration with Apna, India’s largest job portal, and Venture Catalysts, a leading venture capital fund.
With a dedicated funding pool of US$6 million, Campus Tank aims to nurture innovators under 30, providing them with funding, expert mentorship, strategic ecosystem alliances, and immersive incubation to launch their startups.
Highlighting regional disparities, Dr Singh noted, “North India needs to catch up with the South in startups and entrepreneurship. Government jobs still dominate aspirations here due to historical mindsets. Initiatives like Campus Tank will give a significant push to entrepreneurship in North India, where 70% of India’s youth reside.”
He added, “There is no shortage of funding—science and technology budgets have risen by 900%. Programs like the National Research Foundation and dedicated university schemes have democratized government support. India now ranks 39th among 133 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2024. We have over 1.8 lakh startups, 60% women-led, with key projects like Aditya Mission also led by women. In patent filings, India is 6th globally, with 66% of the 64,000 patents filed in the last six years coming from domestic innovators.”
Dr Singh emphasized the need to explore underrepresented sectors beyond AI and ML, such as agriculture, space, and the Himalayas. “Our Aroma Mission has boosted the aroma industry, with over 3,000 startups generating significant profits. Universities play a crucial role, as nearly 50% of Indian startups emerge from Tier 2 and 3 towns where aspirations are high,” he said.
The launch was attended by dignitaries including Satnam Singh Sandhu (MP, Rajya Sabha and Chancellor, Chandigarh University), Prof (Dr) TG Sitharam (AICTE Chairman), Surya Kant (CEO, Atal Incubation Center-BIMTECH), Prof Himani Sood (Pro Chancellor, CU), Siddharth Anand (Apna), and Dr Apoorv Ranjan Sharma (Venture Catalysts). Industry leaders and startup founders, including Padmaja Ruparel (IAN Group), Prachi Kaushik (Vyomini), and L Venkata Subramaniam (IBM Quantum India), also graced the event.
Speaking at the launch, Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “A nation’s progress depends on its vision. Under PM Modi’s leadership, initiatives like Startup India have created a thriving startup ecosystem. India now hosts 1.89 lakh startups and 119 unicorns. Campus Tank aims to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs from university campuses, where globally, many billion-dollar companies like Google, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft were born.”
Sandhu added, “Since 2012, Chandigarh University students have created over 150 startups across 27 domains. CU’s Technology Business Incubator ranked No. 1 among all Indian R&D organizations in 2023-24 with 1,126 patents, mobilizing Rs 5 crore to catalyze startup growth.”
Prof (Dr) TG Sitharam remarked, “Campus Tank is not just a program—it’s a platform to unlock creativity, ignite entrepreneurial spirit, and bridge gaps between academia, industry, innovation, and investment.”
Dr Apoorv Ranjan Sharma of Venture Catalysts stated, “Campus Tank inspires every student to aspire to entrepreneurship. Over 20,000 startup ideas have applied so far, reflecting the ecosystem’s vibrancy.”
Siddharth Anand of Apna added, “Campus Tank has registered young founders from 28 states and six union territories, including 35% women, demonstrating inclusiveness. Initiatives like this are building India’s startup ecosystem toward becoming the second-largest globally by 2047.”
Over 50 startups participated in the event, including Nesthome (real estate), Tranquil AI and Doctorlab (HealthTech), and 256 Bits Studio and Chem0 (AI DeepTech).
Chandigarh University, a NAAC A+ grade and QS World Ranked institution, is located near Chandigarh, Punjab. It offers 109+ UG and PG programs in engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and more. It is the youngest university in India to receive an A+ grade by NAAC and has been recognized for the best placements by WCRC.
