DPIIT-Ather Energy MoU to Boost Clean Mobility, Deep-Tech Startup Ecosystem

In a strategic move to propel India’s clean mobility transformation and foster innovation-led manufacturing, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ather Energy Limited, a leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer in India. This collaboration, part of the Build in Bharat initiative, signals a strong push towards sustainable transportation and deep-tech entrepreneurship in India.

The MoU was signed under the aegis of the Startup Policy Forum (SPF), a prominent coalition of over 50 innovation-driven startups working closely with policymakers to shape a robust ecosystem for advanced manufacturing.

Strategic Areas of Collaboration: Driving Innovation and Capacity

The DPIIT-Ather Energy partnership outlines several core areas of cooperation designed to stimulate the growth of India's startup ecosystem in the EV and clean energy domains:

• Mentorship Programs: Ather Energy will extend strategic mentorship to early-stage and deep-tech startups, particularly those developing solutions in the EV value chain, battery technologies, and clean energy applications.

• Infrastructure Support: The collaboration will identify and facilitate access to critical infrastructure for startups—including labs, prototyping facilities, and supply chain support systems—which are often a major bottleneck in hardware innovation.

• Innovation Platforms: Joint initiatives like the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge will be launched to scout and support high-potential startups working on core technology challenges in manufacturing and mobility.

• Skill Development: DPIIT and Ather will also co-host talent development initiatives, workshops, and exposure visits for students and young professionals to encourage skill-building in EV technologies and manufacturing disciplines.

• Startup Events and Community Engagement: Startups will be encouraged to participate in flagship events such as Startup Mahakumbh and engage in on-ground exposure visits to learn from operational EV manufacturing setups and innovation hubs.

Voices from the Leadership: Policy Meets Industry

The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, and Tarun Mehta, Co-founder and CEO of Ather Energy.

Shri Sanjiv Singh commented on the strategic importance of the collaboration:

“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.”

Ather Energy’s Tarun Mehta echoed the sentiment:

“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.”

Startup Policy Forum: Building Bharat through Innovation

Representing the Startup Policy Forum, President and CEO Shweta Rajpal Kohli highlighted how this collaboration aligns with the Forum’s vision for a self-reliant, innovation-first industrial 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.”

The Build in Bharat initiative, under which this MoU falls, aims to position India as a global hub for high-quality, scalable hardware products, manufactured locally through innovative, startup-led interventions. The focus is on deep-tech verticals such as EVs, semiconductors, energy storage, robotics, and advanced materials.

Implications for India’s Startup and Sustainability Goals

This DPIIT-Ather Energy partnership is expected to yield several long-term benefits:

• Accelerate India’s electric vehicle adoption, a critical component of national emissions reduction targets

• Create a fertile environment for manufacturing-oriented startups

• Reduce the dependency on imports for EV and battery components

• Foster innovation in clean energy and sustainable mobility

• Build high-skill employment pathways in advanced manufacturing

By combining public policy support with private sector expertise, this initiative sets the foundation for a future-ready, self-reliant startup ecosystem aligned with India’s industrial and environmental aspirations.