It is intended to admit 1-2 Industry/Entity of each category as Associate Sponsors for each Centre having convergent interest in the relevant focus area.  The associate sponsors need to commit a minimum financial contribution of Rs 40 Lakhs per year and Rs 2 Crores over 5 years which can be in the form of cash contribution, providing of equipments required by the TCOE, institution of professorship chair or sponsorship of projects of mutual interest with well defined objectives & financial implication as mutually decided with the Centres.

Associate Sponsors can enter into an agreement and IPR sharing agreements with TCOE for the project sponsored by them.  Apart from a Good Branding and access to low cost Intellectual Capital of the Premier Academic Institutes, Associate Sponsors become the member of autonomous core group/steering committee of the respective TCOE where they can participate in decision making and providing overall guidance. They also automatically become Associate Member to the TCOE Coordination centre Society wherein they can interact with other TCOEs.