State government to release policy to create ‘innovation city’, says Aadhav Arjuna

Ministers N. Marie Wilson and Aadhav Arjuna presented the diploma to a student during the convocation of Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology University on Saturday. | Photo credit: R. RAVINDRAN

Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna said on Saturday that the Tamil Nadu government will soon release a “visionary” policy to help create an “innovation city” so that innovators from India can implement their ideas in the country instead of looking for opportunities abroad.

Addressing the 35th convocation of the Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, he said the policy document would provide a path for Tamil Nadu to become a $1.5 trillion economy. The state should create an environment where the ideas created by students can be implemented in their own country, rather than having to move abroad for it. The minister stated that university students overwhelmingly preferred to enter the labor market, and pointed out that over 90% of students in the group of university graduates have secured a place. “Facilities should be available for students who like to invent, innovate and test their ideas. If the US had not founded Silicon Valley, several large and popular technology companies might not exist,” he said.

N. Marie Wilson, Minister for Finance, Pensions and Planning and Development, said the current government is committed to ensuring a corruption-free government that will have a direct impact on people’s lives. He said the White Paper released by his department stated that Tamil Nadu has a debt burden of ₹ 1.28 lakh per capita and urged the students to contribute to the GSDP by coming up with new ideas for innovation. He thanked the university for providing 50 free seats to poor and deserving students from RK Nagar Assembly constituency during the current academic year.

Mariazeena Johnson, chancellor of Sathyabama University, said that the outgoing batch of students managed to secure 4,002 placement offers from leading national and multinational organizations.

B. Sheela Rani, Vice-Chancellor while presenting the annual report said that 4,712 undergraduate students, 932 postgraduate students and 116 PhD students graduated this year. The university’s technology business incubator nurtured 82 start-ups this year. The highest salary package achieved during this year’s campus placements was ₹ 41.2 lakh per annum.

N. Marie Johnson, President of Sathyabama University; and present were Maria Bernadette Arul Selvan, Maria Catherine Johnson and J. Arul Selvan, all Vice-Presidents.

Published – 11 Jul 2026 22:56 IST