The IN-SPAN Centre of Excellence was inaugurated in Kathmandu on July 12, 2026, to support 25 startups annually and train 500 entrepreneurs across India and Nepal.
The IN-SPAN Centre of Excellence was inaugurated in Kathmandu on July 12, 2026, following an eight-week mentorship program for 24 Nepali entrepreneurs at IIT Madras. The centre aims to support 25 startups annually and train up to 500 entrepreneurs across both nations.
The IN-SPAN Centre of Excellence was officially launched in Kathmandu on July 12, 2026, as part of a bilateral effort to deepen the India-Nepal startup ecosystem [1]. The inauguration follows an eight-week mentorship and market-exposure program that ran from December 2025 to January 2026 at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) in Chennai, India [1].
The launch involved representatives from the IN-SPAN Centre, officials from IIT Madras, and a cohort of 24 Nepali startup founders who completed the earlier mentorship program [1].
The centre’s operational model builds on the successful mentorship experience, with a target to support 25 startups each year and deliver training to 500 entrepreneurs through structured programmes [1].
Programme Overview and Participant Cohorts
The mentorship initiative at IIT Madras, organized by the IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, selected 24 Nepali entrepreneurs through a competitive process and provided them with technical guidance, business development support, and market-access opportunities [2]. The eight-week schedule combined classroom sessions, hands-on labs, and networking events with Indian investors and industry experts.
Following the mentorship, the second cohort of the India-Nepal Startup Partnership began training on June 3, 2026, bringing together 25 Nepali startups for a similar curriculum at IIT Madras [3].
The eight-week schedule combined classroom sessions, hands-on labs, and networking events with Indian investors and industry experts.
The program’s structure includes mentorship, product validation, pitch preparation, and potential seed funding pathways, aiming to accelerate the commercialization of innovative solutions from Nepal.
The IN-SPAN Centre’s annual plan outlines the enrollment of up to 25 startups per year, with a broader training agenda that targets 500 entrepreneurs across the two countries over a multi-year horizon [1]. The centre will host workshops, incubator services, and research collaborations, leveraging IIT Madras’s technical expertise and Nepal’s emerging entrepreneurial talent pool.
Institutional Collaboration and Operational Framework
India-Nepal IN-SPAN Centre Launched to Strengthen Cross-Border Startup Ecosystem
The IN-SPAN Centre of Excellence operates as a joint venture between Indian and Nepali governmental agencies, though the launch announcements primarily highlighted the involvement of IIT Madras and the centre’s administrative board [1]. Funding contributions are expected from both governments, supplemented by private sector partners and international development agencies, to sustain mentorship, incubation, and research activities.
Governor Whitmer approved a $22.9 billion education budget that earmarks $502 million for student-literacy programs, raising per-pupil aid by $250 and expanding support for at-risk…
IIT Madras serves as the primary academic and technical partner, providing faculty, laboratory facilities, and access to its innovation ecosystem, including the IIT Madras Startup Incubator [2]. The centre’s governance includes a steering committee that coordinates cross-border policy alignment, intellectual property considerations, and market entry strategies for participating startups.
The operational model emphasizes a “train-the-trainer” approach, wherein selected Nepali entrepreneurs receive intensive mentorship and subsequently act as mentors for later cohorts, thereby expanding the programme’s reach without proportionate increases in resource allocation [3].
The programme also offers networking opportunities with Indian investors, which can accelerate capital acquisition for early-stage ventures.
Impact on Students, Educators, and Startup Stakeholders
For Nepali entrepreneurs, the IN-SPAN Centre provides direct access to world-class technical mentorship, market exposure in India, and potential pathways to seed funding, reducing barriers to international expansion [2][3]. The programme also offers networking opportunities with Indian investors, which can accelerate capital acquisition for early-stage ventures.
Indian educators and researchers at IIT Madras gain exposure to diverse problem sets originating from Nepal, fostering collaborative research projects and joint product development initiatives [1][2]. The cross-border interaction enriches curricula in entrepreneurship and technology management, offering students real-world case studies from the partnership.
Institutional stakeholders in both countries can anticipate measurable outcomes such as increased startup formation rates, higher cross-border investment flows, and enhanced innovation capacity within the region [1][3]. The centre’s annual support of 25 startups and training of 500 entrepreneurs is expected to generate employment opportunities, contribute to GDP growth, and strengthen the broader South Asian technology ecosystem.
Key Facts
What: IN-SPAN Centre of Excellence launched to support India-Nepal startup collaboration.
What: IN-SPAN Centre of Excellence launched to support India-Nepal startup collaboration.
When: Inaugurated July 12, 2026; mentorship programmes ran Dec 2025-Jan 2026 and June 2026 onward.
Impact: Provides Nepali entrepreneurs with mentorship, training, and market access; expands collaborative research and innovation capacity for Indian and Nepali institutions.
NewsNews
