State to unveil AI, Deep Tech policy, look at Deep Tech Fund: IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan

Tamil Nadu to unveil policies on Deep Tech and AI, focusing on innovation and economic growth by 2030.

Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on Thursday said Tamil Nadu will soon unveil policies on Deep Tech and Artificial Intelligence (AI), besides mulling a Deep Tech Fund.

“In the recent discussion on Demands for Grant for the IT and Digital Services Department in the Assembly, we also spoke about a mantra or slogan — Innovate in Tamil Nadu. As we are the most industrialised State with the greatest of talent pool, we need to use the innovation approach to stimulate our economy and achieve the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s vision of a $1 Trillion economy by 2030,” he said speaking at an event to mark the first anniversary of Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (iTNT Hub).

iTNT Hub was established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity), Government of India, and Information Technology and Digital Services Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, along with industry support. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin in May 2023. 

“We are at an interesting inflection point in the technology space with the advent of both Deep Tech and AI. While some may argue that AI is overhyped, relative to the pace at which it has evolved, there is no question that it is profoundly going to change the nature of work, in many ways it would be disruptive.... in many ways creating new kinds of opportunities and new enterprises,” Mr. Thiaga Rajan said.

He said in alignment with the Centre’s Deep Tech Policy, which is expected to be announced soon, the State government will focus on areas of technology product design to facilitate new product development with a confluence of product designers, product developers and manufacturing support. 

The second is to conduct the Tamil Nadu innovative conclave regularly, because it will be a bedrock for innovation and the State is already the leader in patent filing and in Research & Development. The State also expects to have a Deep Tech fund, Mr. Thiaga Rajan said. 

Later, speaking to newspersons, the Minister said the Tamil Nadu government has been taking various steps, including mentorship and providing space, to ensure that many start-ups are set up in the State creating employment opportunities for people here, rather than allowing them to go to other states for work.