'Sports Tech start Up Conclave' would be held in Delhi on July 12 and 13 by IIT Madras

On July 12 and 13, 2024, in New Delhi, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Centre of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA) will host a "Sports Tech Start-Up Conclave."

The summit will highlight IIT Madras' dedication to supporting Indian sports startups and its intentions to provide technological assistance to the Indian government to enable India to host the Olympics in 2036. Another area of concentration will be encouraging indigenization in the companies that manufacture sporting products.

Important Goals

Working on indigenization and providing Atmanirbhar Bharat with technological support in this area is one of the Center's main goals. At the Conclave, comprehensive programs that align with the Indian government's aim for the growth of sports in the country will be introduced, just in time for the July 26, 2024 start of the Olympic Games in Paris.

Professor Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations) and Head of CESSA, IIT Madras, said, "Sports tech is a nascent industry in India," inviting start-ups from all over the country to participate in this Conclave. Growing IT start-ups in this area is crucial if we want our athletes to become well-known worldwide.

Former global head of ESPNcricinfo, Ramesh Kumar is the CEO of the Centre of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA), IIT Madras.

"We want to take the lead in creating a support infrastructure for Sports Tech for various players in India by creating awareness about opportunities in this space, showcasing some products and applications, enabling networking opportunities for various players, and bringing both public and private players under one roof to enable collaboration opportunities," stated Ramesh Kumar, CEO of CESSA, IIT Madras, about this event.

The event's main goals are to develop a technology ecosystem in sports and to support tech start-ups in the sports industry. Through IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies, the CESSA will invest a total of Rs 5 crore in 10 innovative sports technology start-ups, providing them with incubation support as well. IIT Madras will spearhead the effort to nurture at least 200 Indian sports technology start-ups with innovative concepts over the course of the next five years.

The Conclave will also outline the goals and strategies for providing different stakeholders in the nation's sports ecosystem with access to high-quality sports education via IIT's digital platforms. It will also discuss possible models of cooperation between these stakeholders.

With active technical support from IIT Madras CESSA, the Conclave will also open the door for the creation of supporting structures to support the Government of India's and various sports bodies' aspirations towards hosting the Olympics in 2036.

Support technology for different Indian manufacturers of sporting items for particular goods and services indigenousization
Utilize technology to give all participants in the sports ecosystem—including PE teachers, coaches, referees, analysts, managers, and players—access to high-quality sports education.
Encourage the use of the technological stack for self-paced, universal instruction in a variety of sports courses offered by NPTEL in collaboration with different athletes.

Expand on the achievements of IIT Madras' digital learning programs by operationalizing a digital university with an emphasis on sports industry courses, offering upskilling opportunities to different stakeholders in the sports value chain.

The Conclave will also provide the necessary framework for IIT Madras to create a thorough plan aimed at involving retired athletes in education and upskilling, employment opportunities, and sports education and courses in partnership with different Indian athletes.