The HCL Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of HCL Tech, has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Government of Tamil Nadu to promote entrepreneurship and vocational education in the state. The first MoU is with StartupTN, a registered Section 8 company under the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, to support 100 startups over the next three years. The collaboration aims to foster entrepreneurship among Tamil Nadu’s youth, promote inclusive innovation, and strengthen the state’s startup ecosystem for sustainable development and economic growth.
The second MoU is a renewal of an existing collaboration with the Department of Employment and Training (DET) and aims to strengthen the vocational education system in the state. The five-year initiative will deploy a “Skill Rath” (mobile lab and awareness unit) to increase outreach in communities, upgrade curriculum in select trades, and provide training programs for students and trainers of Government ITIs. The initiative also promotes sports to encourage holistic development.
The collaborations aim to equip Tamil Nadu’s youth with future-ready skills, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and other emerging technologies. By providing access to vocational education and supporting startups, the initiatives aim to create sustainable opportunities that will contribute to the holistic development of the state. The agreements were signed by key officials, including Sivarajah Ramanathan, CEO & Mission Director of StartupTN, and Nidhi Pundhir, SVP of Global CSR at HCL Tech and Director of HCL Foundation.
The partnerships demonstrate HCL Foundation’s commitment to driving positive change in India through its corporate social responsibility initiatives. The collaborations are expected to have a positive impact on the state’s economy and development, and will help to create a more skilled and innovative workforce. With a focus on promoting entrepreneurship, vocational education, and sustainable development, the initiatives align with the government’s goals and priorities for the state. Overall, the MoUs signed between HCL Foundation and the Government of Tamil Nadu are an important step towards creating a more prosperous and developed state.