IIT Kanpur’s involvement with national endeavours like the Railway Technology Mission has emphasized the criticality of suitable mechanisms for upliftment of technology from laboratories to the marketplace. Incorporation of industry and entrepreneurs as partners in the R & D activity has been recognized as a necessary condition for validation and adaptation of laboratory-level proof-of-concepts into sustainable and commercially viable products.

In this context, Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG), at IIT Kanpur has been formed with a focus on Technology for Rural Entrepreneurship.

The Group proposes to take up projects on technology development which can lead to mini and micro entrepreneurship activity in areas such as sustainable agriculture and agro-processing; micro-watershed management; rural housing & sanitation; renewable energy; artisanal technology and rural industries.