Kanpur — In a significant step towards aligning innovation with quality standards, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, partnered with the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur to host a transformative workshop titled “From Innovation to Impact: BIS Standards Serving the Startups.”
The event brought together emerging startups, innovators, and national standards leaders for an intensive dialogue on how Indian Standards can drive growth, enhance quality, and unlock global market opportunities for the country’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.
The inaugural session was attended by eminent dignitaries including Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean of Research and Development at IIT Kanpur; Prof. Deepu Philip, Professor at the Department of Management Sciences and Professor-in-Charge of SIIC; Smt. Reena Garg, Deputy Director General (Standardization-I), BIS; Prof. M. Jaleel Akhtar, BIS Standardization Chair Professor, IIT Kanpur; and Shri Sudheer Bishnoi, Head of BIS Lucknow Branch. Shri Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director General, BIS, joined virtually and extended his best wishes for the initiative’s success.
The workshop emphasized the critical role of national standards in startup success—from product commercialization and compliance with Quality Control Orders (QCOs) to building consumer trust and global competitiveness. Participants from across deep-tech sectors like electronics, AI-ML, agritech, defense, cleantech, and healthcare directly engaged with BIS officials to explore standardisation frameworks tailored to their domains.
Speaking at the session, Reena Garg highlighted BIS’s pivotal role in building India’s standards ecosystem:
“With over 400 technical committees and 25,000+ standards, BIS supports India’s growth journey by empowering startups and industries with reliable, forward-looking standards that ensure safety, quality, and innovation.”
Prof. Tarun Gupta welcomed the collaboration, emphasizing the synergy between research, innovation, and quality assurance:
“This partnership reflects our shared goal—to create innovations that are not only inventive but reliable and globally relevant. BIS is helping turn standards into stepping stones, not stumbling blocks.”
Prof. Deepu Philip echoed the sentiment, stating,
“At SIIC, we see immense potential in integrating standards early in the innovation process. This shift in perspective helps startups see regulation not as a hurdle, but as a roadmap to scale and sustainability.”
The knowledge sessions explored BIS’s multifaceted roles in standard formulation, product and system certification, hallmarking, international cooperation, and lab testing. Discussions also addressed startup concerns related to post-launch quality assurance, sustainability mandates, and regulatory clarity.
A key takeaway from the event was BIS’s invitation to startups to co-create future-ready standards by identifying emerging trends and innovation gaps. The collaborative approach underscores BIS’s commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that startups are both contributors to and beneficiaries of India’s evolving quality ecosystem.
With no participation fees and open access, the workshop reflected BIS’s inclusive ethos—encouraging even early-stage innovators to step into the formal regulatory fold with confidence and support.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India’s national standards body responsible for the harmonized development of standardization, quality certification, and consumer protection. It supports innovation, industry growth, and global competitiveness through a robust network of sector-specific standards.
The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur is one of India’s oldest and most prominent technology business incubators. With strong government and industry partnerships, SIIC nurtures startups across key sectors, helping them scale from idea to impact.
Established in 1959, IIT Kanpur is a premier institution recognized as an Institute of National Importance. With over 9,500 students, 590+ faculty members, and cutting-edge research across 19 departments and 26 centers, IIT Kanpur continues to lead India’s innovation and academic excellence mission.
