St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research
St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research
SPIHER, a deemed university in Avadi, Chennai, runs the SPEC Technology Business Incubator and a Ministry-backed MSME Business Incubator for technology ventures.
SPIHER at a glance
| Full name | St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research |
|---|---|
| Established | 1993 |
| Address | Avadi, Chennai - 600 054, Tamil Nadu |
| Programmes | 2 standing programmes |
| Stages supported | Idea, Prototype |
| Official website | spiher.ac.in |
| info@spiher.ac.in |
Programs by St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research
2 past programs · Filter all programs
What's next?
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What's next?
This closed a while ago and we don't know if it will run again. Tap Notify me and we'll email you if it does.
Track record
What St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research reports about its portfolio.
All figures self-reported — spiher.ac.in, as of Oct 2026.
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research, separate from the funding calls above.
Incubation for technology ventures, with workspace, labs, mentoring and investor connects.
Best for: Young graduates and student entrepreneurs with technology ideas
- Idea – Prototype
- In person
- Grant support for selected startups
With Department of Science and Technology (DST)
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
SPEC TBI trains young graduates to become entrepreneurs and supports technology ventures. The page names refrigeration and cold chain as a focus area, alongside manufacturing, life sciences, water and environment, AI and IoT.
What you get
- Workspace and infrastructure, with individual and cubicle workspaces
- Access to labs, including IoT, engine research and chromatography
- Mentoring from domain experts and industry leaders
- IPR and regulatory support
- Access to government seed grants and CSR funds
- Investor connects through Demo Days and Pitch Feasts
Who can apply
- Young graduates and student entrepreneurs, as the page describes its training
How selection works: Application and screening, then a presentation to the expert panel, then an incubation agreement.
How to apply: Apply through the online or offline application form on the TBI page. Intake dates are not stated.
SPIHER MSME Business Incubator
Grant schemeProject-based grant for technology development of innovative ideas, under an MSME scheme.
Best for: Entrepreneurs with innovative technology ideas
- Idea – Prototype
- Grant support for selected startups
With Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The SPIHER MSME Business Incubator runs under a project-mode scheme of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. It gives a grant for technology development on each approved project and supports the idea through mentoring and R&D.
What you get
- A grant for technology development, covering technology fee, mentor fee, equipment and testing, and overheads
- Mentoring and technical guidance
- R&D support and testing where needed
- IPR guidance
Who can apply
- Entrepreneurs with innovative ideas
- The entrepreneur contributes a share of the project cost, with the share depending on enterprise size
How selection works: The incubator processes the application, recommends it to its managing committee, and the grant is approved and sanctioned by the MSME office.
How to apply: The page does not give a separate application route. Guidance on the project report for the seed grant is available from the incubator.
Labs & facilities
Equipment and space on campus.
Workspace for incubatees
Individual and cubicle workspaces for incubatees, 40+ seats.
Prototyping and makerspace
Advanced manufacturing space with 3D printers, and a makerspace.
Analytical chromatography lab
Chromatography lab for startups needing separations and purification.
Recognitions & empanelments
Official approvals this incubator holds.
Host Institute, MSME Innovative Scheme (Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises)
Listed at entry 576 of the Ministry's published List of Host Institutes for the incubation component of the MSME Innovative Scheme, as "St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research" (THIRUVALLUR, TAMIL NADU), checked 24 September 2026. This is the status that lets an innovator name the institute as their Host Institute when applying on the ministry's own portal. The list gives no approval date, no period and no status column, so whether the recognition is current cannot be told from it; and being listed is a capacity registration, not evidence that the institute has ever hosted an approved idea.
How to apply to St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research
Which incubator fits
- SPEC TBI takes startups through a full incubation process: screening, a presentation, an agreement, then workspace and mentoring.
- The MSME Business Incubator is for technology ideas that need a project-based grant for development. The page names the scheme as a grant for technology development.
How applications work
- Apply through the online or offline application form on the TBI page. The page does not state a current intake date.
- Ask the team whether the programme is open to founders who are not from the campus. The fetched pages do not say.
How selection works
- Applications are reviewed by an expert panel on innovation, feasibility and market potential.
- Shortlisted startups present their ideas, then selected startups sign an agreement.
What reviewers look for
- Innovation and a feasible route to a market, as stated on the TBI page.
- For the MSME scheme, a project report for the seed grant, and an entrepreneur contribution toward the project cost.
About St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research
St. Peter's Institute of Higher Education and Research (SPIHER), formerly known as St. Peters University, is a deemed-to-be university in Avadi, Chennai. It was established in 1993 as St. Peter's Engineering College and runs two technology incubators from its campus.
Who runs the incubators
The SPEC Technology Business Incubator was set up in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to train young graduates to become entrepreneurs. The SPIHER MSME Business Incubator works under a project-mode scheme of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
How the programmes work
SPEC TBI has a structured process. Startups apply through an online or offline application form, an expert panel reviews applications on innovation, feasibility and market potential, and shortlisted startups present their ideas. Selected startups sign an incubation agreement and get access to workspace, labs, mentoring, IPR and regulatory support, and investor connects.
The MSME Business Incubator supports innovative technology ideas with a grant for technology development. The grant is sanctioned by the MSME ministry for each project. Support includes guidance on the project report for the seed grant, mentoring, technical guidance, R&D and testing support, and guidance on IPR.
Facilities
SPEC TBI has individual and cubicle workspaces for incubatees, an advanced manufacturing space with 3D printers, a makerspace, a startup library, a conference room and a training hall. It also has labs for IoT, engine research and chromatography, and a CNC milling machine.
Scale
The TBI page states that it is currently supporting 30+ startups. The same page reports 9+ incubated startups that filed intellectual property rights and 15+ that raised seed grants. These are the institution's own figures and the page does not date them.
Who runs it
The TBI team is led by a Chief Executive Officer, with a Head of Incubation, a Project Manager and a Startup Secretarial Assistant. The MSME incubator is headed by the Director of R&D.
Location
The campus is in Avadi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The institution's contact page gives its address as Avadi, Chennai, 600 054.
Get in touch
Send a message to St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research — we'll forward it on your behalf.
Who they work with
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Frequently asked questions about St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research
What is the full form of SPIHER?
SPIHER stands for St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research.
What is St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research?
St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research is an academic institution based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
What does St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research do?
St. Peter's Institute of Higher Education and Research (SPIHER), formerly known as St. Peters University, is a deemed-to-be university in Avadi, Chennai. It was established in 1993 as St. Peter's Engineering College and runs two technology incubators from its campus.
Where is St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research located?
St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research is located at Avadi, Chennai - 600 054, Tamil Nadu.
What programs does St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research run?
St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research runs SPEC Technology Business Incubator (SPEC TBI) and SPIHER MSME Business Incubator.
Which SPIHER programme should I apply to?
It depends on how far along your startup is. Idea stage: SPEC Technology Business Incubator (SPEC TBI) and SPIHER MSME Business Incubator. Prototype stage: SPEC Technology Business Incubator (SPEC TBI) and SPIHER MSME Business Incubator. Check the programme's own eligibility before applying — several programmes are sector-specific.
Does St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research provide funding?
Selected startups in some St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research programmes can receive grant support, including SPEC Technology Business Incubator (SPEC TBI) and SPIHER MSME Business Incubator. Grant amounts are set per programme and cohort, and selection into a programme does not guarantee a grant — check the programme's own page for current terms.
What sectors does St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research support?
St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research works with startups in Technology, Manufacturing, Engineering and Nanotechnology.
What stage of startup does St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research support?
St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research supports startups at the Ideation and Validation stages.
What facilities does St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research offer?
St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research offers Workspace for incubatees, Prototyping and makerspace and Analytical chromatography lab.
Is St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research government recognised?
St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research holds the following recognitions and affiliations: Host Institute, MSME Innovative Scheme (Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises).
How do I apply to St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research?
- SPEC TBI takes startups through a full incubation process: screening, a presentation, an agreement, then workspace and mentoring. - The MSME Business Incubator is for technology ideas that need a project-based grant for development. The page names the scheme as a grant for technology development. - Apply through the online or offline application form on the TBI page.
When was St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research founded?
St. Peters Institute of Higher Education and Research was founded in 1993. It is an academic institution.
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