NEW DELHI : The Sagarmala Startup and Innovation Initiative (S2I2) is emerging as an important platform for fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-led transformation in India’s maritime sector, connecting startups and emerging technologies with real-world challenges faced by ports and other maritime stakeholders.
Launched on 19 March 2025, S2I2 aims to establish a structured innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for the maritime sector. The initiative is being implemented by the Maritime India Foundation (MIF), a society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 and functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
Maritime Innovation Hubs Create a Structured Innovation Ecosystem
A key component of S2I2 is the establishment of Maritime Innovation Hubs (MIHs) at IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur and Indian Maritime University (IMU), Chennai.
These hubs provide startups with support in technology development, testing, validation, capacity building and handholding for the development and demonstration of innovative maritime solutions. The initiative establishes a structured pathway through which port-led operational challenges can be converted into technology solutions, piloted in real-world environments and subsequently scaled across the maritime ecosystem.
MAR-a-THON 2025: India’s First Maritime Hackathon
In a significant step towards strengthening this innovation ecosystem, MIF, in collaboration with Chennai Port Authority (ChPA) and the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC), IIT Madras, launched MAR-a-THON 2025 — India’s first-ever Maritime Hackathon at IIT Madras on 25 August 2025.
The initiative brought together startups, researchers, academia, industry experts and maritime stakeholders to develop practical solutions to some of the sector’s most pressing operational and technological challenges.
The momentum continued with the MAR-a-THON Boot Camp 2025, organised at IIT Madras Research Park on 16–17 October 2025. The two-day programme provided a collaborative platform for startups, academia, industry leaders and maritime stakeholders to engage directly with identified challenges and explore innovative solutions with potential for deployment and scale-up.
The response to the initiative was significant, with 330 applications received from startups across India against 51 problem statements covering six critical thematic areas:
Port Infrastructure
Smart & Integrated Port Operations
Integrated Logistics & Multimodal Connectivity
Green & Sustainable Maritime Sector
Advanced Safety, Security & Regulatory Compliance
Shipbuilding & Lifecycle Management
Following evaluation by multiple Expert Committees, 36 startups were selected for 40 projects, each addressing real-world operational challenges through innovative and scalable solutions aimed at accelerating the transformation of India’s maritime sector.
Visakhapatnam Port Strengthens Startup-Driven Innovation
Extending this innovation framework to Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam Port has identified four specific problem statements under the S2I2 framework.
In a further step towards translating innovation into practical implementation, two startups from Andhra Pradesh have been onboarded to develop and implement innovative solutions addressing these identified challenges.
The engagement marks an important step in connecting local startup capabilities with real-world port requirements, while creating opportunities for technology demonstration, validation and eventual scale-up.
From Maritime Challenges to Scalable Solutions
The S2I2 model represents a shift towards a more collaborative and problem-driven approach to maritime innovation. By bringing together ports, startups, academic institutions, technology centres and industry stakeholders, the initiative seeks to accelerate the journey from identifying operational challenges to developing, testing and deploying viable solutions.
The onboarding of startups for Visakhapatnam Port demonstrates how this framework can translate India’s growing startup capabilities into practical solutions for port operations, efficiency, sustainability, safety and logistics.
With the maritime sector increasingly embracing digitalisation, automation, green technologies and smart infrastructure, initiatives such as S2I2 are expected to play a crucial role in building an innovation-led, technology-enabled and globally competitive Indian maritime ecosystem.
The Sagarmala Startup & Innovation Initiative is thus creating a bridge between India’s vibrant startup ecosystem and the evolving needs of its maritime sector — turning port-led challenges into opportunities for innovation, collaboration and sustainable growth.
