New Delhi: In a move aimed at supporting early-stage climate-tech startups in India, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a two-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). The agreement, signed on May 17, focuses on accelerating clean energy innovation and entrepreneurship aligned with India’s long-term climate goals.
Focus on Startup Ecosystem and Policy Support
The partnership will integrate with DPIIT’s existing Startup India framework to connect emerging climate-tech ventures with funding networks, government schemes, and policy assistance. The goal is to develop a pipeline of scalable, investment-ready startups that can contribute to India’s clean energy transition.
DPIIT will facilitate outreach to relevant stakeholders and ensure that eligible startups benefit from institutional and regulatory support. The MoU also outlines opportunities for pilot project deployment and access to markets, both critical for startups working in early-stage innovation.
ENTICE Platform to Drive Innovation
As part of the collaboration, GEAPP will launch the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE), which will award up to USD 500,000 to selected clean energy solutions with high impact and scalability potential. The funding will be routed through established impact investors such as Spectrum Impact and Avana Capital.
The initiative reflects a shift toward targeted investment in climate-tech, moving beyond broad awareness campaigns to concrete, startup-focused interventions.
Officials Highlight Need for Innovation-Led Transition
Speaking at the signing event, Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, emphasized the need for private-public cooperation in meeting India’s net-zero targets. He noted that the partnership opens up avenues for clean-tech innovation within structured government-backed channels.
Saurabh Kumar, Vice President of GEAPP India, pointed to the role of such collaborations in enabling systemic change in the energy ecosystem. The agreement was signed by Dr. Sumeet Jarangal for DPIIT and Saurabh Kumar for GEAPP.
Strategic Collaboration, Not Just Financial Support
The MoU positions itself not merely as a funding mechanism but as a structured attempt to integrate startups into the national energy and climate strategy. The partnership underscores a larger trend in India’s governance framework—where climate-tech is being treated not only as an environmental necessity but also as an economic and innovation opportunity.
By connecting global experience with domestic policy and entrepreneurship, the DPIIT-GEAPP partnership aims to fill critical gaps in early-stage support for clean energy startups.
