The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ather Energy to support electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and promote deep-tech startup development in India. The partnership falls under the Startup Policy Forum’s “Build in Bharat” initiative, which includes over 50 innovation-focused startups.
Under the agreement, DPIIT and Ather Energy will collaborate on several initiatives, including mentorship programmes for deep-tech startups, infrastructure support for the EV supply chain, and joint innovation challenges such as the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge. The MoU also covers joint talent development initiatives, participation in startup events, and on-ground industry exposure visits.
The MoU was signed in the presence of DPIIT Joint Secretary Sanjiv Singh and Ather Energy Co-founder and CEO Tarun Mehta.
“The electric mobility sector in India is entering a transformative phase. Through this partnership with Ather Energy, we aim to create an enabling environment where startups can meaningfully contribute to EV manufacturing, battery innovation, and clean energy solutions,” said Singh
“We are pleased to collaborate with DPIIT to enhance support systems for hardware and deep-tech startups. With policy support and industry involvement, this initiative can help founders overcome core technology challenges and scale high-quality products from India,” added Mehta.
“This partnership between DPIIT and Ather Energy brings to life the Startup Policy Forum’s Build in Bharat initiative. Collaboration is key to unlocking India’s manufacturing potential and building a globally competitive innovation ecosystem,” noted Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President and CEO of the Startup Policy Forum.
Ather Energy is an electric vehicle manufacturer headquartered in India, known for its development and production of electric scooters and related charging infrastructure.
