TN-SHORE (Tamil Nadu State Higher Education Research) initiative launched in 2021 to enhance research collaboration between state universities, institutes and industry.
- Aims to strengthen innovation ecosystem and commercialization of research in key sectors.
- State government allocated $30 million funding for first 3 years across identified priority areas.
Key Focus Areas
Sustainable Technologies
- Renewable energy – solar, wind, hydro power innovations targeted
- Support for electric mobility and battery research
- Water conservation and management solutions
Healthcare and Biotechnology
- Precision medicine and diagnostic tools
- Public health technologies – remote screening, AI for health data
- Generics manufacturing and biopharma research
Advanced Computing and Electronics
- Semiconductor and display manufacturing
- 5G and telecom innovations
- Smart devices and sensors for the Internet of Things
Emerging Materials
- Smart materials science
- Advanced composites and coatings
- Micro and nanoscale fabrication
Agri-tech and Food Processing
- Sustainable farming – water management, crop data analytics
- Post-harvest management and cold storage tech
- Nutraceuticals and functional foods
Key Implementation Strategies
Industry Partnerships
- MOUs with leading corporates like Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, Foxconn, Zoho, Siddha, etc
- Private sector provides market insights, real-world problems for academics to solve
Innovation Hubs
- Hub and spoke model to concentrate research expertise
- Interdisciplinary hubs aligned with priority industry sectors
Technology Transfer
- Facilitate patenting and licensing of promising university research
- Assistance commercializing products/solutions for societal impact
Impact so Far
- Over 150 collaborative R&D projects initiated in 2 years span
- 38 patents filed – 6 already granted
- 2 industry-academia innovation hubs established – for EV and clean energy tech
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Strong government funding and support
- Backing from major homegrown corporations
- Allows tapping synergies between industry and Tamil Nadu’s universities ecosystem
Weaknesses
- Structure so far allows research fragmentation
- Balance needed between commercial and public good outputs
Opportunities
- Leveraging Tamil spirit of innovation for ‘next-generation’ solutions
- Potential to nurture world-leading innovations with patient investment
Threats
- Require sustained long-term policy commitment
- Lagging IPR regime remains an uncertainty for commercialization
Case Examples
AI-Powered Crop Disease Surveillance
- Anna University and Zoho collaboration using computer vision for disease detection
- Enables rapid image-based crop diagnostics boosting yield
- Software tested with 98% accuracy; discussions to integrate with government extension efforts
Smart Water Grid Pilots
- Pilot ‘intelligent’ water distribution systems deployed in 2 districts
- Sensors, cloud analytics optimize local supply and demand
- 45% improvement in leak management, 25% better demand-supply alignment
Recommendations
For Policymakers
- Set consistent criteria for ongoing monitoring and evaluation
- Develop mechanisms to balance commercial needs with public goods research
For Universities
- Strengthen IPR support for researchers
- Build deeper understanding of industry problems and orientation
For Industry
- Adopt open innovation mindsets
- Commit talent and purified problems for joint-research
In TN-SHORE, Tamil Nadu has made an ambitious, yet promising start in catalyzing impact-oriented R&D. Sustained policy commitment, strengthening IPR regimes further and balancing priorities will be key going ahead.
Key TN-SHORE R&D Initiatives
| Focus Area | Key Projects | Academia Partners | Industry Partners | Current Status |
| Electric Mobility | Smart Battery Management Systems | Anna University | Ashok Leyland, Mahindra | Prototype testing |
| Healthcare | Point-of-Care Rapid Diagnostics | Madras Medical College | Siddha Biotech | Seeking regulatory approval |
| Water Management | Intelligent Water Grid Platform | IIT Madras | Grundfos, Nokia | Successful district pilots |
| Agri-tech | Crop Disease Surveillance Model | Vellore Institute of Technology | Zoho | Ready for integration with government programs |