Climate, Energy & EV Startup Grants and Funding Programs in India — July 2026

As of July 2026, ten active grants, seed funds, incubation programs, and competitions are open for Climate, Energy & EV startups in India. These include government-backed initiatives, corporate accelerators, and deep-tech competitions.

The funding landscape for Climate, Energy & EV in India combines central government schemes (DBT, MeitY), institutional programs (IIMA Ventures, IIITH), and corporate-led initiatives (Maruti Suzuki, Suzuki). Programs range from early-stage grants to equity-based investments.

Active Climate, Energy & EV Grants and Programs

Genesis by IKP – Cohort 1 (IKP Knowledge Park)

The Genesis by IKP – Cohort 1 is a 12-month venture-building program for deep science startups at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2–3. Hosted by IKP Knowledge Park, it provides up to ₹30 lakh in grant funding along with hands-on mentoring from IKP's in-house experts. The program targets founders translating lab research into commercial ventures, covering critical aspects of venture development. Applications close 31 July 2026.

Akash Coherent ImpactTech Program by AIC-IIITH Foundation (AIC-IIITH Foundation)

The Akash Coherent ImpactTech Program is a 4-6 month acceleration program run by AIC-IIITH Foundation in partnership with Coherent Corp and supported by Atal Innovation Mission. It offers milestone-based grant funding of up to ₹2.2 lakh for deep-tech solutions addressing social or climate problems. The program focuses on transitioning prototypes (TRL 3) to market-ready products, with emphasis on India's Sustainable Development Goals. Applications are rolling.

Bharat ClimateTech Initiative (IIMA Ventures)

The Bharat ClimateTech Initiative is a joint effort by IIMA Ventures and MUFG. It supports up to eight early-stage entrepreneurs with grant funding of up to ₹40 lakh per startup. The initiative targets climate-tech and sustainability solutions aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions and water consumption. Startups receive tailored business support to scale from innovation to impact. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Andhra University Centenary Innovation & Impact Grant (AUCIIG) — RUSA 2.0 (Andhra University)

The Andhra University Centenary Innovation & Impact Grant offers up to ₹5 lakh per project for research, prototyping, and startup ideas from within the AU ecosystem. Supported under RUSA 2.0, the grant covers AI, green energy, IoT, materials science, and social-impact innovation. Selected innovators receive mentorship and prototype-to-market support. Applications are rolling.

Next Bharat Residency Program (Next Bharat Ventures IFSC Private Limited)

The Next Bharat Residency Program is a Suzuki Initiative offering equity-based funding of up to ₹5 crore. The 3-month hybrid program (3 weeks in-person in Bengaluru) targets impact entrepreneurs serving India's informal urban and rural economies. It covers stipends and access to Suzuki's network. Applications are rolling.

SLINGSHOT 2026 Deep Tech Startup Pitching Competition at SWITCH, Singapore (Enterprise Singapore)

SLINGSHOT 2026 is Asia's leading deep-tech pitching competition, with a prize pool of over ₹15.84 crore. The Grand Winner receives ₹2.88 crore. The competition covers five domains including Environment, Energy & Sustainability. Registration closes 27 July 2026. Top 50 finalists get a sponsored trip to Singapore for the finals at SWITCH.

Open Challenge Program (OCP) Cohort 1 at NERVE CoE, Nagpur (NERVE CoE, Nagpur)

The Open Challenge Program is a MeitY-backed 18-month program offering up to ₹50 lakh in seed funding, GPU infrastructure, and mentoring. It supports AI and deep-tech startups in HealthTech, AgriTech, Forestry, and Mining. Applications close 15 July 2026. The program includes IPR and legal support.

Maruti Suzuki NURTURE Cohort 4 at IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIM Calcutta Innovation Park)

The Maruti Suzuki NURTURE program is a pre-incubation initiative for early-stage startups, with focus on eastern, north-eastern and central India. It offers cash rewards of up to ₹13 lakh and a paid PoC opportunity. Focus domains include EV & EV infrastructure, sustainability, and mobility. Applications are rolling.

Indian Innovation Icons 2027 (Marico Innovation Foundation)

The Indian Innovation Icons is a biennial platform for for-profit and non-profit innovators tackling real-world challenges. Selected ventures receive strategic mentorship, investor access, and national visibility. The program does not disclose a fixed funding amount; benefits vary based on startup needs. Applications are rolling.

D.E.S.I.G.N. for BioE3 Challenge (Department of Biotechnology)

The D.E.S.I.G.N. for BioE3 Challenge is a government initiative under the BioE3 policy framework. It awards INR 1 lakh to top 10 concept proposals each month (up to 120 winners) from students and researchers. Winners get mentorship from DBT-BIRAC and access to incubation networks. The challenge runs until 31 October 2026 with monthly submission windows.

Before Applying

Several programs impose specific eligibility constraints. The Andhra University AUCIIG is restricted to innovators within the Andhra University ecosystem. Maruti Suzuki NURTURE gives preference to startups registered in eastern, north-eastern, or central India. IKP Genesis targets deep science startups only at TRL 2–3. Next Bharat Residency requires startups to serve India 2/India 3 economies. SLINGSHOT 2026 is a competition open to global deep-tech startups, but winners must be able to travel to Singapore. The Akash Coherent ImpactTech program focuses on SDG-aligned solutions.

Deadlines vary: NERVE OCP Cohort 1 closes on 15 July 2026, SLINGSHOT 2026 on 27 July 2026, and IKP Genesis on 31 July 2026. The DESIGN for BioE3 Challenge has monthly rolling submissions until October 2026. All other programs accept applications on a rolling basis. The Next Bharat Residency Program offers equity-based funding, not a grant, so dilution may apply. Ensure your startup's stage and technology readiness match the program's requirements before applying.