1 hr ago
IISc Startups Take Indian Deeptech From Lab to Market
Several new companies are growing out of the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru.
They are trying to turn laboratory research into useful products.
One company is making a blood test that could help identify Alzheimer’s risk early.
Another is building robot vacuums that can move around homes.
A third is developing balloons that can watch large areas for defence and safety.
Other startups are creating heat-based energy storage, portable crop-quality testers and advanced solar cells.
These technologies could reduce reliance on imported products.
However, deeptech startups often need many years of research, testing and specialised equipment before they can sell their products.
IISc’s incubator is helping these companies move from experiments toward commercial use.
Startups incubated at IISc are developing technologies in diagnostics, robotics, surveillance, energy storage, agriculture and solar power.
Enlife is developing an AI-powered blood test for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, calibrated for Indian genetic and metabolic profiles.
Botloka’s Jiva robot vacuum uses sensors, embedded software and AI, while the company plans to develop a broader household robotics platform.
Thinking Balloon is building autonomous tethered balloon systems for surveillance at military posts, ports and critical infrastructure.
Voltanova, Green Collar Global and ABX3PV are working on thermal batteries, portable agricultural testing and perovskite solar cells, respectively.
- Who
- Startups incubated by the Indian Institute of Science’s Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development, including Enlife, Botloka, Thinking Balloon, Voltanova, Green Collar Global and ABX3PV.
- What
- The ventures are developing deeptech products including AI diagnostics, household robots, surveillance balloons, thermal batteries, agricultural analysers and perovskite solar cells.
- Where
- The startups are emerging from the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, with some ventures also connected to other institutions and intended for use across India and other markets.
- When
- The technologies are at different stages, from laboratory development and field testing to existing commercial deployments; Voltanova expects commercial deployments in the coming months.
- Why
- They aim to turn scientific research into market-ready products and address problems that have often been served by imported technology.
Key facts
- Incubator
- Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development at the Indian Institute of Science
- Enlife focus
- AI-powered blood testing for early detection of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases
- Botloka product
- Jiva robot vacuum with up to 180 minutes of battery runtime
- Thinking Balloon focus
- Autonomous tethered balloon platforms carrying cameras, radar and communications equipment
- Voltanova claim
- Thermal battery systems with claimed 95% efficiency and costs at one-fifth of conventional battery storage for relevant uses
- Green Collar Global product
- TARAM portable near-infrared analysers for testing commodities such as spices and grains
- ABX3PV focus
- Perovskite solar technology for flexible, tandem and potential building, vehicle and space applications
Quotes
Hema Annamalai
Co-founder of Green Collar Global
“We are targeting industries such as steel, textiles and chemicals, where replacing fossil-fuel-based industrial heat remains a difficult part of decarbonisation. Commercial deployments are expected to begin in the coming months.”
financialexpress.com
“The test is being calibrated for Indian genetic and metabolic profiles, rather than simply adapting diagnostic systems developed for Western populations.”
financialexpress.com








