The Sagarmala Startup and Innovation Initiative (S2I2) was launched on 19 March 2025 with the objective of establishing an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for India's maritime sector. 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, serves as the designated implementing agency for this initiative.
Under S2I2, Maritime Innovation Hubs (MIHs) have been established at four premier institutions: IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, and the Indian Maritime University in Chennai. These hubs support technology development, testing, validation, capacity building, and handholding for startups in developing and demonstrating innovative maritime solutions. The framework creates a structured pathway from port-led problem identification to pilot execution and scale-up of startup solutions, strengthening alignment with maritime ecosystem priorities.
The MIF, in collaboration with Chennai Port Authority and 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. Following the hackathon launch, a boot camp was organized at IIT Madras Research Park on 16-17 October 2025, bringing together startups, academia, industry leaders, and maritime stakeholders to address pressing maritime challenges.
The initiative received an overwhelming response with 330 applications from startups across India addressing 51 problem statements across six thematic areas: Port Infrastructure; Smart & Integrated Port Operations; Integrated Logistics & Multimodal Connectivity; Green & Sustainable Maritime Sector; Advanced Safety, Security & Regulatory Compliance; and Shipbuilding & Lifecycle Management.
After evaluation by multiple Expert Committees, the program culminated in the selection of 36 startups for 40 projects, each tackling real-world operational challenges with innovative, scalable solutions poised to drive transformation across India's maritime sector. Additionally, Visakhapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh has identified 4 specific problem statements, with 2 startups from Andhra Pradesh already onboarded to develop and implement innovative solutions.
This information was formally provided by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.