The ‘Sports Tech Start-Up Conclave’ by IIT Madras, aiming to enhance indigenization and technological support for Atmanirbhar Bharat in the sports sector, was inaugurated in New Delhi on July 12, 2024. According to a press release by IIT Madras, the two-day event, led by the Centre of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA), aims to boost Deep Tech start-ups in the sports sector by providing investment support to selected sports tech start-ups. The conclave is sponsored by Dream Sports, Vedanta, and SFA Play.
“As all of you are aware, the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed India’s wish to host the 2036 summer Olympics. We are working towards making the bid successful. We have to not only work hard but all of us have to work together to make India a sporting giant in the world. We are hopeful that IITM CESSA will pave the way for a culture of innovation in sports,” said Sujata Chaturvedi, IAS, Secretary (Sports), Government of India.
IITM CESSA showcased its ongoing projects and future plans in sports technology and products, aiming to drive overall sporting excellence in the country and support the Government of India’s initiatives and various sports bodies’ efforts towards hosting the 2036 Olympics, as mentioned in the press release.
“The Government of India in 2017 came up with the idea of setting up the NCSSR to support education, research and innovation on high-performing athletes. It has a current budget outlay of Rs. 260 crore. Our mission is to always be athlete-centric. We have to develop a supportive ecosystem where the athletes’ needs and challenges are taken care off. We want to train experts in the country who can provide the best possible solution to our athletes. We have 11 centres spread across various sciences centres in the country supported by six universities and five medical colleges. NCCSR collaborates closely with IIT MADRAS and will continue to do so in the future,” said Brig. Dr. Bibhu Kalyan Nayak, Director in-charge and Head, National Centre for Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR).
During the start-up funding session at the conclave, selected sports tech start-ups, ranging from innovative apps using vision technology to enhance cricket training to India-specific athlete management systems and unique sports learning platforms and modules, will present their business models to a panel of judges, IIT Madras informed.
“With the ever-increasing intervention of technology in sports, IIT Madras is committed to bringing sports and technology together. We believe that the market for sports technology will be significant. There is a necessity to develop indigenous products for Indian sportspersons, right from monitoring their health to monitoring progress in their respective sports. This Sports Conclave is yet another effort taken by IIT Madras to meet these objectives,” said Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras.
