DPIIT and Ather Energy Partner to Supercharge Deep-Tech EV Startups Under ‘Build in Bharat’ Initiative
In a major boost to India’s clean mobility and manufacturing startup ecosystem, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ather Energy, one of India’s best electric vehicle manufacturers. The partnership is under the Build in Bharat initiative of the Startup Policy Forum (SPF), an association of over 50 innovation-oriented startups.
The MoU outlines a holistic relationship between DPIIT and Ather Energy to accelerate the clean mobility and advanced manufacturing sectors in India. The MoU primarily operated on the following contours: a strategy for deep-tech startups mentorship, support for startups within the EV value chain working on such initiatives, joint innovation schemes like the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, co-hosted talent and skill development initiatives, participation in events like Startup Mahakumbh and structured on-ground exposure visits.
The signing ceremony was attended by Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Sanjiv Singh, and Ather Energy Co-founder and CEO, Tarun Mehta. The initiative is expected to support India’s transition toward sustainable transport and foster a more enabling environment for manufacturing ‑oriented startups.
Speaking at the signing, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Sanjiv Singh said, “The electric mobility sector in India is entering a transformative phase. Through this partnership with Ather Energy, we aim to catalyse the development of an enabling environment where startups can contribute meaningfully to EV manufacturing, battery innovation, and clean energy solutions.”
Co‑founder and CEO, Ather Energy, Tarun Mehta said, “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.”
President and CEO, Startup Policy Forum, Shweta Rajpal Kohli said, “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.”
This initiative represents a strategic leap toward nurturing hardware, deep‑tech, and manufacturing startups in India. Moving beyond traditional software-led ventures, it offers sector-specific support to solve real-world challenges in the EV ecosystem—including battery systems, power electronics, vehicle assembly, diagnostics, and automation.
Under this MoU, startups in EV tech can participate in programs like the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, which offers access to innovation platforms, exposure to investors, pilot testing facilities, and integration into broader R&D and manufacturing networks. Joint talent-building initiatives are also in place, with exposure programs and workshops hosted at Ather’s research, design, and manufacturing centers.
The program also bridges policy and infrastructure support. DPIIT will facilitate access to government labs, regulatory guidance, and streamlined support for manufacturing incentives, while Ather Energy contributes its testbeds, design expertise, and practical know-how in scalable hardware deployment. This combination gives startups access to both on-ground infrastructure and policy-level facilitation.
For early-stage founders, the value proposition is compelling. The MoU provides credibility, access to state-of-the-art hardware prototyping spaces, mentorship from industry experts, participation in high-profile national events, and structured exposure routes to manufacturing ecosystems. It also includes a structured roadmap for capacity building through innovation challenges and live demonstrations.
The collaboration aligns with India’s broader strategic goals—supporting clean mobility transitions, reducing reliance on imported technology, and positioning the country as a resilient manufacturing hub under the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India agenda. By backing owners of foundational deep-tech capabilities, the partnership directly contributes to scaling India’s hardware and mobility innovation.
In conclusion, this MoU between DPIIT and Ather Energy is more than a policy statement—it is a practical blueprint to build, scale, and support India’s next-generation healthcare startups focused on EV and advanced manufacturing. With targeted infrastructure support, mentorship, innovation programs, and skill development initiatives, the collaboration creates fertile ground for deep-tech innovation, aiming to empower startups to deliver sustainable, high-quality solutions and strengthen India’s global competitiveness in advanced mobility and manufacturing.
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