Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh is entering a decisive phase where innovation is shaping development, governance, and partnerships, said State Minister for Education, IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh at the CII Partnership Summit. Speaking on the theme “RTIH and One Family One Entrepreneur – Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact for AP”, he outlined the government’s mission to nurture entrepreneurship at the household level and build an innovation-driven economy by 2029.
Lokesh said the government’s vision is to ensure “one entrepreneur per family”, not as a privilege for a few but as an accessible, practical pathway for all. Andhra Pradesh aims to create more than 20,000 startups, generate one lakh jobs, and set up Centres of Excellence in 10 major sectors. He stressed that innovation is not just about startup numbers but about building a mindset of creativity and problem-solving among students, MSMEs, large industries, and government departments.
Quoting Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Lokesh noted that dreams must be imagined before they are achieved. He said similar to how Naidu once spoke about “one professional per home”, today the state is championing “one entrepreneur per home”. He emphasised identifying talent from village level, nurturing their ideas, and helping them implement solutions that emerge from real-life community challenges. He added that every major global company once started as a small idea addressing a local problem, and Andhra Pradesh wants to empower such early-stage innovators.
Lokesh highlighted that the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH) will be the driving force behind the state’s innovation roadmap. RTIH acts as a collaborative platform linking government, industry, academic institutions, investors, and creators. Through decentralized hubs and spoke centres run by corporate and academic partners, the state aims to build a strong innovation network driven by public–private collaboration. RTIH currently covers the entire startup lifecycle through programmes such as Idea Discovery, Future Founders, Catalyst, and Velocity Labs. APIC and MINE will support prototyping, while mobile incubation units will reach rural areas to ensure inclusive innovation.
Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh is introducing fresh thinking into governance and is determined to transform the state into India’s tech capital. The government plans to be the “first customer” for new startups through RTIH GovTech initiatives, identifying real problems and quickly implementing workable solutions. Hackathons will help startups design and scale innovative models that directly address public needs.
He said Andhra Pradesh’s broader goal is to earn global recognition in the innovation and startup space, supporting young entrepreneurs who want to build world-class companies starting from the state. The “One Family – One Entrepreneur” mission, he said, is not just a slogan but a new development model being powered through the AP Innovation & Startup Policy 2024, which outlines clear pathways for students to evolve into successful entrepreneurs.
During the event, six major MoUs were signed in the presence of Nara Lokesh. Agreements were finalised with AP VAGA, Startup UAE, Quantum AI, AIM/AIG, Startup Runway, and RRP Electronics Limited. Notably, RRP Electronics announced an investment commitment of ₹10,000 crore in the state. RTIH CEO P. Dhatri Reddy, Tata Innovation Group Senior Vice President Ravi Arora, BlackBuck Co-founder Rajesh Yabaji, Endiya Partners MD Satish Andra, Professor Ramesh Lokanathan, and GAME Co-founder Madan Padaki were among the key participants.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to building a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem that takes innovation to every household in Andhra Pradesh.