MSME Minister Visits TNAU's COXBIT, Reviews Startup and MSME Innovations

Tamil Nadu MSME Minister P. Mathan Raja visited the Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology (COXBIT) at TNAU in Coimbatore, where he reviewed startup innovations, incubation initiatives and MSME support programmes promoting technology-driven entrepreneurship.

Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), P. Mathan Raja, visited the Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology (COXBIT) at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) on July 18 to review its startup ecosystem, incubation programmes and technology-driven initiatives supporting startups and MSMEs.

The Minister was welcomed by Dr. N. Senthil, Director of COXBIT and the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, who briefed him on the centre’s efforts in technology development, product validation, mentoring and commercialisation to foster innovation-led entrepreneurship.



During the visit, COXBIT showcased its support for MSMEs under the Tamil Nadu Food Processing and Agri Export Promotion Corporation (TNAPEx) New Product Design and Technical Assistance (RAMP) Scheme, through which it received a grant of ₹20 lakh to provide technical assistance to 10 MSMEs in the food processing sector.

The centre also highlighted the support extended under the Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Institute of Tamil Nadu (EDII-TN) Innovation Voucher Programme, through which M/s. Bublbox E-Retail Private Limited received a ₹3 lakh grant for product innovation.

MSMEs supported under the TNAPEx-RAMP programme displayed their innovations during the visit. M/s. Ziwwit Sustainable Technologies Pvt. Ltd. demonstrated its Shockwave Seed Priming Technology, while M/s. Aviva Organic Store showcased its Barnyard Millet Poha and a specially developed seasoning powder, both developed with technical support under the programme.

The Minister also interacted with startup founders, industry representatives, academicians and student innovators, appreciating their efforts in developing commercially viable technologies with societal relevance. He later toured COXBIT’s incubation and research facilities and reviewed the centre’s initiatives aimed at promoting innovation-driven entrepreneurship through incubation support, technical guidance and commercialisation assistance.

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