NIFT-TEA Signs MoU with EDII-TN to Foster Entrepreneurship and Innovation
In a landmark initiative to nurture entrepreneurship among students, NIFT-TEA College of Knitwear Fashion, Tiruppur, hosted a significant event on July 1, 2025, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Institute (EDII-TN), Government of Tamil Nadu. The event also featured a Student Awareness Program titled “Igniting Young Minds on Entrepreneurship and Innovation”, held at the college auditorium.
The Chief Guest of the event was Mr. R. Ambalavanan, IAAS, Director, EDII-TN. His presence underscored the importance of institutional support in empowering young entrepreneurs and promoting innovative thinking.
The event commenced with a warm welcome address by Dr. V.R. Sampath, Dean of NIFT-TEA, who highlighted EDII’s foundational objectives. Mr. P. Moghan, Academic Chairman, delivered the presidential address, followed by a motivational speech by Mr. Raja Shanmugam, Chief Mentor of the institution. He encouraged students to embrace entrepreneurship as a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.
Key sessions featured insights from Mr. C. Shaunmugaraj, State Program Manager, EDII-TN, who emphasised leadership and entrepreneurial thinking, and Mr. S. Prem Kumar, Assistant Director, EDII-TN, who elaborated on the Innovation Voucher Program (IVP) and its role in supporting innovative startups.
The MoU formalisation paved the way for tangible startup support under the IVP scheme. Sanctioned amounts were awarded to emerging ventures incubated at NIFTTEA-AIC, including:
– Water Might Technologies India Pvt. Ltd. – ₹5,00,000
– Retro Wovens Pvt. Ltd. – ₹5,00,000
– Endless Innovus Solution – ₹2,00,000
– Sri Balu Tex – ₹2,00,000
These grants reflect the government’s commitment to nurturing early-stage innovation in the textile and apparel ecosystem.
In his keynote address, Mr. Ambalavanan introduced the “Five E” framework — Economy, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Environment, and Ethics — as essential pillars of responsible entrepreneurship. He urged students to develop the courage to make ethical decisions and fully leverage platforms like AIC (Atal Incubation Centre) for their startup journeys.
N.Kumaran
