NEW DELHI: In a significant move to catalyse climate-tech entrepreneurship in India, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Friday to foster innovation, sustainability, and enterprise in the country’s clean energy and manufacturing sectors.

The two-year collaboration—renewable upon mutual agreement—aims to nurture early-stage climate-tech ventures by facilitating access to funding, mentorship, pilot deployment opportunities, and market linkages. The initiative aligns with India’s long-term vision of achieving net-zero emissions and aims to build a robust pipeline of scalable, investable startups.

As part of the MoU, GEAPP will roll out the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE)—a competitive platform that offers up to USD 500,000 in rewards for impactful, scalable clean energy solutions. Investment support will be channelled through impact investors such as Spectrum Impact and Avana Capital.

DPIIT will integrate the initiative with its Startup India ecosystem, ensuring wide outreach through relevant government schemes and enabling startups to leverage institutional and policy support.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship in advancing India’s climate goals. “This partnership will open up significant avenues for climate-tech startups to scale solutions vital to India’s energy transition and sustainability roadmap,” he said.

Saurabh Kumar, Vice President – India, GEAPP, called the agreement a critical step toward driving systemic transformation. “GEAPP’s global expertise, in combination with Startup India’s network and DPIIT’s policy backing, can unlock new pathways for innovation-led clean energy growth,” he noted.

The MoU was formally signed by Dr. Sumeet Jarangal on behalf of DPIIT and Saurabh Kumar for GEAPP, in the presence of senior representatives from both organizations.

The collaboration is expected to strengthen India’s position as a hub for clean energy innovation while contributing meaningfully to global climate goals.