DPIIT Signs MoU with Ather Energy
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ather Energy, an electric vehicle manufacturer, to enhance India's clean mobility goals and bolster the electric vehicle (EV) production ecosystem. The partnership is a component of the Startup Policy Forum’s ‘Build in Bharat’ program, designed to assist innovation-driven, hardware-centric startups in the nation.
Through the partnership, DPIIT and Ather Energy will collaborate to assist startups in the EV value chain by providing access to infrastructure, mentorship, innovation challenges, and training initiatives. The initiative aims to advance deep-tech and hardware entrepreneurship in line with India’s wider industrial and environmental objectives.
The MoU details multiple fields of collaboration. This encompasses strategic guidance for startups focused on essential EV and battery innovations, jointly creating innovation initiatives like the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, and facilitating exposure by taking part in national startup events like Startup Mahakumbh. Targeted programs for talent development and site visits to manufacturing plants will provide early-stage companies with an in-depth perspective of production processes and market connections.
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The Startup Policy Forum, which supports the Build in Bharat initiative, unites more than 50 innovation-driven startups emphasizing hardware, manufacturing, and industrial technology. The MoU is viewed as an initiative to connect early-stage deep-tech startups with major industrial opportunities in India's expanding EV and clean energy landscape.
“This partnership between DPIIT and Ather Energy brings to life the Startup Policy Forum’s Build in Bharat initiative. Unlocking the potential of India's manufacturing sector through collaboration is key to building a globally competitive innovation ecosystem,” says Shweta Rajpal Kohli, president and CEO, Startup Policy Forum.
The DPIIT-Ather Energy collaboration comes at a time when the Indian EV sector is gaining momentum, backed by a mix of policy incentives, state-level EV policies, and rising consumer interest.
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However, access to manufacturing infrastructure, ecosystem linkages, and scale-up support remain challenges for startups in the hardware and clean mobility segments.
“We are happy to collaborate with DPIIT to strengthen support systems for hardware and deep-tech startups. With policy support and stronger industry participation, this initiative can help founders tackle core technology challenges and scale high-quality products from India,” says Tarun Mehta , Co-founder and CEO, Ather Energy.