The Uttar Pradesh government has revised its policies to establish 7 Centres of Excellence (COEs) to boost startup growth. The initiative covers businesses for emerging technologies under its Start-in-UP policy.
A total budget of ₹27.18 crore has been allocated for research and development facilities. The aim is to provide specialised funding and technical support to early-stage businesses to support better growth.
Also Read: National Startup Day: India Set For New Phase of ‘Startup India’ in 2026
Focus Areas and Institutional Backing
The COEs will cover priority sectors including blockchain, medical electronics and health informatics, artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, telecommunications and drone technology. The plan is to include several premier academic institutions and organisations to lead these centres.
A blockchain technology centre in Gautam Buddh Nagar is being operated by the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow) with support from Microsoft. The goal is to mentor around 100 startups in the next five years.
Similarly, the MedTech Centre of Excellence in Lucknow is being backed by the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) and other partners to boost health-tech ventures. A 5G/6G telecom research Centre of Excellence in Kanpur has been established to advance next-generation communication technologies.
Other similar centres are planned to focus on AI-driven entrepreneurship and data. The involvement of institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology and industry bodies will ensure the ideas are backed by current technologies, enabling better business performance.
Also Read: PM Modi Marks 10 Years of Startup India; Startup Hub Expo 2026 Readies Next Wave
Goals and Expectations for Startup Growth
“The COEs are designed to provide startups with technical infrastructure, mentoring, incubation support and industry links. The state expects the facilities to develop their own revenue streams and become financially sustainable in next five years”
-said UP officials
The initiative is in sync with the broader efforts to re-brand Uttar Pradesh as a competitive innovation and startup hub. The initiative is an extension of previous policy measures aimed at enhancing technology adoption and entrepreneurship across the state.
