Chennai: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) conducted a day-long interactive workshop at IIT Madras to foster collaboration between start-ups and the national standards body, focusing on innovation, growth, and standardization.

The event saw participation from key officials, including BIS Deputy Director Generals Rajeev Sharma (Standardization) and Praveen Khanna (South), alongside IIT Madras faculty and industry leaders. Prof. Rupen Goswami, BIS Standardization Chair at IIT Madras, welcomed the attendees, while Prof. Radhakrishna Pillai emphasized the importance of integrating standardization into start-up ecosystems.

In his keynote address, Sharma underscored the role of start-ups in shaping industry standards, highlighting the 3S principles—speed, skill, and scale. Dr. Tamaswati Ghosh, CEO of IITM Incubation Cell, showcased success stories from IIT Madras Research Park.

BIS officials, including Aditya Das and Arunkumar S, detailed BIS's role in standard formulation, conformity assessment, and laboratory activities. They discussed support mechanisms for start-ups, such as certification fee assistance and access to testing facilities.

Sector-specific discussions covered electrical, electronics, healthcare, mechanical, and civil domains. BIS officials, including Reena Garg and Asit Maharana, engaged with start-ups, addressing queries and facilitating collaboration.

IIT Madras Director Dr. V. Kamakoti lauded BIS's efforts and assured institutional support for standardization initiatives.

The workshop marked a significant step in aligning start-ups with industry standards, fostering innovation, and enhancing product quality.