Government-backed support for innovators to take clean tech to India 

The opportunity will offer UK businesses the chance to work with industry, academia and investors in India and the UK to test, fund and fast-track to market critical Net Zero technologies. Aimed at UK-based innovators, all start-ups and SMEs working on energy and transport system solutions are being invited to apply – no matter their stage or size. 

The call is being run by Innovating for Transport and Energy Systems (ITES), a landmark collaboration between UK and India governments to boost market-first Net Zero solutions to transport decarbonisation, and their society benefits. 

Led by Energy Systems Catapult and the Indian Institute of Science, backed by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and government teams in India, ITES has now opened applications for its second challenge call following the success of its first 19-strong cohort earlier this year. 

ITES challenge call benefits 

Successful applicants in this call can expect: 

• Incubation support to help with commercial capabilities and positioning 
• Small amounts of grant funding 
• Partner matching with Indian entities 
• Real world testing, pilot, and demonstration projects 
• Networking and relationship building 

Who should apply? 

The Catapult and the Indian Institute of Science are particularly interested in hearing from clean tech innovators with solutions in: 

• Hydrogen* 
• Battery recycling 
• Non-domestic building energy management 
• Grid stability 
• Consumer engagement and outreach 
• Maritime & port systems 
• Public transportation & planning 
• Battery swapping 
• Charging solutions and propositions 
• Energy storage and delivery 
• Energy systems flexibility management 
• EV fleet management 
• Microgrids 
• Micro-mobility 
• Rail 
• Shared mobility 
• Smart charging 

Innovators with a solution outside of the above areas are also encouraged to apply if their solution also addresses transport and energy system decarbonisation. Energy Systems Catapult will assess each applicant’s fit for the Indian market and tailor support to each business. Support will be delivered via a combination of UK and India-based experts. 

Responsible for around 20% of global emissions, transport – and the energy systems that power it – is one of the world’s biggest Net Zero challenges. By linking innovators, researchers, and investors together in the UK and India, ITES aims to unlock financial investments and accelerate the pace of decarbonisation, supporting innovators to collaborate and demonstrate their solutions in India, the world’s fifth biggest economy. 

Andrew Stokes, UK lead for ITES, said: “Forging close international partnerships is crucial if we’re to achieve Net Zero by 2050 and 2070 in the UK and India respectively. 

“This challenge call offers innovative startups an opportunity to receive tailored incubation support and for more developed SMEs to test and demonstrate their innovations in a safe environment with partners working towards a common goal. 

“We want to hear from all SME innovators – no matter their stage or size – if they think their solutions could solve some of the toughest decarbonisation challenges in India.” 

This challenge call will close for applications when 20 SMEs have been successfully onboarded. Early applications are encouraged. 

*Innovators in the hydrogen sector will benefit from ITES’ ongoing collaboration with Xynteo’s Energy Leap programme, which will provide opportunities to engage with businesses, innovators and other stakeholders in India. 

Energy Leap, a clean hydrogen technology and business accelerator founded by Xynteo, focuses on driving innovation and market creation for clean hydrogen in India and globally, supporting the wider hydrogen economy, energy security, economic development and decarbonisation. The programme aims to support start-ups on technology commercialization, market creation and unlocking capital, bringing together stakeholders such as industry, investors, technology and think tanks. The accelerator will catalyse new technologies and start-ups across the hydrogen value chain, and commercialise them through business modelling, operational, technology and investment support, and market access.