Coimbatore Set for High-Tech Transformation, Says TN Industries Minister Rajaa

Industries Minister T R B Rajaa said the city, long recognised as a manufacturing powerhouse, was being repositioned to support advanced electronics, auto-electronics, aerospace and defence, drones, small aircraft production, data centres and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). The shift was described as a key part of the government’s industrial diversification strategy.

According to official sources, 158 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were expected to be signed, involving investments worth ₹43,844 crore and the creation of 1,00,709 jobs, in the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin at the summit.

In a post on X, Rajaa said, “Kovai Rising is being seen in full strength this evening. The vision for repositioning the city has been advanced with the TN Rising Coimbatore Summit.” He added that Coimbatore was no longer being viewed only as a manufacturing centre but was increasingly becoming a high-tech industrial and innovation destination.

Launch of New Tech Hubs

Separately, Minister for Information and Digital Services P. Thiaga Rajan (PTR) inaugurated the iTNT Coimbatore Regional Hub at the Government College of Technology (GCT) campus. It has become the third regional iTNT centre in Tamil Nadu and the first for the western region, after Madurai and Tiruchirappalli.

PTR also launched the Bosch Innovation Challenge in partnership with Bosch Global Software Technologies and the IP Nexus 2026 programme with the Karpagam Innovation and Incubation Council. Both initiatives have been created to strengthen intellectual property commercialisation, technology transfer and advanced research.

An MoU was also exchanged with PSG-STEP to establish a satellite office of the iTNT Hub in Coimbatore, expanding the city’s innovation network.

PTR said on X that Tamil Nadu was steadily diversifying its research ecosystem and converting this strength into a “future-ready Deep Tech landscape.”

Officials noted that the large volume of investments was expected to generate wide-ranging public benefits.

The creation of over one lakh jobs was described as a major opportunity for local youth, particularly in high-skill sectors such as electronics, aerospace, robotics, AI, drones and digital technologies.

The growth of the iTNT Hub and associated programmes was expected to support startups, student innovators and researchers through incubation services, mentorship, labs and funding access.

Improved digital and physical infrastructure, including better connectivity, stable power supply and new tech facilities, was also expected to benefit the wider public.

Local businesses, MSMEs and traditional industries in Coimbatore were expected to gain from increased demand, technology upgrades, component production and collaborations with incoming global companies. The presence of GCCs was also projected to bring global exposure and more high-value employment.

Officials stated that the initiatives collectively aimed to create a deep-tech-oriented, job-rich and innovation-driven ecosystem in Coimbatore.