Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan inaugurated the Common Incubation Centre (CIC) at IIT-Tirupati on 17 July, 2025 via virtual mode. The initiative aims to support and nurture entrepreneurial ventures in the Chittoor and Tirupati regions, focusing on the food processing sector.

The centre is designed to assist startups and rural entrepreneurs in adding value to locally abundant produce such as tomatoes and mangoes. In his address, Prof. K.N. Satyanarayana, Director of IIT-Tirupati, said, “The incubation centre was designed to cater to the needs of rural entrepreneurs and start-ups in the food processing domain.” He also highlighted the CIC’s role in propelling regional economic growth.

The project has already received  Rs 3.95 crore in funding, with Rs 2.75 crore from the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and Rs 1.20 crore from IIT-Tirupati’s internal funds. An additional Rs 60 lakh is required to complete and fully equip the facility. In his keynote speech, Chirag Paswan praised IIT-Tirupati’s efforts and said, “The Union Government is committed to promoting value addition and entrepreneurship in the food processing sector.”