Directorate

Synopsis

Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) have partnered through an MoU to boost capacity building, research, and advocacy. The collaboration aims to foster interdisciplinary learning and thought leadership in corporate governance, startup funding, and technology. This partnership seeks to cultivate a skilled tech workforce and drive India's digital transformation.

Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the fields of capacity building, advocacy, awareness, as well as research and publication. The MoU was exchanged between Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI, and Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO, IICA, in the presence of Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman during the IICA Northeast Conclave 2025 held at IIM Shillong, Meghalaya. 

This strategic partnership aligns with STPI’s ongoing efforts to promote research-driven growth and a knowledge-based innovation ecosystem in India. The MoU focuses on fostering interdisciplinary learning and thought leadership across various domains, including corporate governance, startup funding, law, economics, finance and management.

Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI, said, “By combining STPI’s deep industry connect and startup ecosystem with IICA’s expertise in corporate governance and policy research, we are poised to drive impactful capacity building and thought leadership. Together, we aim to foster a future-ready ecosystem that not only fuels innovation but also builds an informed, skilled and globally competitive tech workforce.

Under the agreement, STPI and IICA will jointly conduct structured training programs, workshops and seminars aimed at enhancing capacity across stakeholders in the tech and corporate ecosystem. The collaboration will also facilitate national and international advocacy initiatives through seminars, conferences, and roadshows, engaging policymakers, academia, corporates, sociologists, and financial institutions. Additionally, both institutions will collaborate on research and publication initiatives, including policy papers, research studies, and sectoral analyses, to inform and guide India’s digital and entrepreneurial trajectory.

Over the past three decades, STPI has played a pivotal role in transforming India’s IT landscape, with STPI-registered units achieving IT exports of over Rs 10 lakh crore in FY 2024–25. Through its 24 Centres of Entrepreneurship (CoEs) and the Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS), STPI has nurtured over 1,400 startups, collectively raising approximately Rs 600 crore in funding from investors.

As India moves towards becoming a global leader in innovation, STPI remains committed to harnessing the potential of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Blockchain, and Quantum Computing, to drive the next wave of digital transformation.