Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Institute(EDII) is an autonomous society of the Government of Tamil Nadu formed in 2001 to promote entrepreneurship across Tamil Nadu. Located in Guindy, Chennai, EDII-TN is focused on creating an aspirational entrepreneurship and innovation culture amongst all segments, especially youngsters, leading to creation and growth of large number of innovative businesses, especially in the manufacturing sector. EDII-TN supports, trains and facilitates budding & existing entrepreneurs, Startups, MSME clusters, Colleges & Universities in creating an E&I ecosystem, etc. An aspirational and inclusive entrepreneurship and business innovation culture spread across Tamil Nadu with EDII-TN emerging as the State resource hub in education, training, research & practice in Entrepreneurship and innovation. Till date, since inception, EDII-TN has trained 2.33 lakh entrepreneurs in various fields.
EDII-TN adopts a twin edged approach with Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Facilitation, a process-based life-cycle oriented approach like training, facilitation, mentoring, networking support along with recognition, celebration and documentation of entrepreneurship and innovation across the State. The canvas of EDII-TN is wide. It caters to the Student community, aspiring entrepreneurs, Startups, existing entrepreneurs and MSE Clusters. The entire Life-cycle is defined in four phases such as ideation stage, business planning phase, business launch phase and support for existing MSMEs. Mentorship service is provided and fresh entrepreneurs are attached to experienced industry professionals and entrepreneurs to receive mentoring support during the initial years of the business.
EDII-TN has initiated establishment of low cost manufacturing incubators in various academic and research organizations of the State for catalysing on-going research and development activities of the institutions under Tamil Nadu Manufacturing Business Incubators Program. EDII-TN launched Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Program (IEDP), a comprehensive program for entrepreneurship and innovation development for all Colleges, Polytechnics and ITIs with an objective to create a positive and dynamic Entrepreneurship & Innovation ecosystem within and around higher educational institutions. Launched in 2016-17, with leading academic institutions in Chennai, Thanjavur, Madurai, Salem, Coimbatore Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli and Karaikudi as regional hubs. Besides, to spread entrepreneurial culture among students and youth, EDII-TN has also executed MoU with The Tamil Nadu Open University to offer online/offline course on Entrepreneurship
EDII-TN has prepared a draft Startup policy under Startup and Innovation Action Plan and submitted to the Government of Tamil Nadu. EDII-TN Tamil Nadu has organised versatile programmes to penetrate starup activities like Startup Pitch fest, student startup activation, Boot Camps, startup payanams, exposure visits, sandbox programmes etc., EDII-TN participated along with startups/innovators in international trade fairs held in India to support the innovative startups to commercialize their product/technology. Mass outreach programmes have been made in DDK and All India Radio for dissemination of information to the general public on entrepreneurship and available supporting services.
