Have you ever wondered how India plans to fight climate change while still growing its economy? A powerful new partnership has just been announced that could help solve this challenging problem. According to DDNews, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) have joined forces to support new companies working on clean energy solutions.
This two-year partnership will create something called the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge, or ENTICE for short. Through this program, promising startups can win up to $500,000 to develop their climate-friendly technologies. But what does this really mean for India’s future?
How ENTICE Will Work: More Than Just Money
The ENTICE program isn’t just about giving money to startups. It creates a complete support system that helps new companies overcome the biggest obstacles they face. When a small company has a good idea for fighting climate change, they often struggle to test it in real-world conditions.
Through this partnership, startups will receive expert guidance from experienced mentors who understand both business and technical challenges. They’ll also get opportunities to test their products in actual settings and connect with customers who might buy their solutions.
- Funding support: The $500,000 reward helps startups pay for equipment, hire team members, and develop their products when they’re too small to get money from traditional investors.
- Mentorship value: Having experienced guides helps founders avoid common mistakes and solve problems faster, saving precious time when addressing urgent climate challenges.
- Market connections: The program helps startups find their first customers, which is often the hardest step for new climate technology companies.
The Climate Technologies Being Targeted
This partnership isn’t looking for just any type of technology. It specifically focuses on innovations that can make clean energy more accessible and affordable. Previous ENTICE challenges have supported several important areas:
| Technology Area | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Energy storage solutions | These technologies help store solar and wind power for use when the sun isn’t shining or wind isn’t blowing, making renewable energy more reliable for everyday use. |
| Distributed renewable energy | These are small power systems placed where people actually use energy, eliminating the need for expensive power lines and bringing electricity to remote areas. |
| AI-based smart metering | These systems help track and manage energy use more efficiently, reducing waste and helping both consumers and power companies save money. |
India’s Climate Progress and the Role of Startups
India has already made significant progress toward its climate goals. The country has reached 220.10 GW of installed renewable energy capacity as of March 2025, which is enough to power millions of homes. But reaching the target of 500 GW by 2030 requires new approaches.
Startups play a crucial role because they can develop innovative solutions that big companies might not consider worth pursuing. They’re more willing to take risks on new technologies that could dramatically reduce costs or solve difficult problems in unique ways.
While climate tech firms in India raised $50 billion in funding during 2024, this was actually less than the previous year, showing the urgent need for programs like this DPIIT-GEAPP partnership.
Why This Partnership Matters Right Now
Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, emphasized that “India’s climate leadership depended on a strong foundation of entrepreneurship.” This reflects the growing understanding that government action alone isn’t enough to address climate challenges.
Saurabh Kumar from GEAPP pointed out that combining “GEAPP’s global expertise” with “DPIIT’s institutional backing” creates a fertile ground for clean energy innovation in India specifically. This matters because solutions that work in other countries often need adaptation for India’s unique conditions.
The timing of this partnership is particularly important as India works toward reducing its emission intensity (how much pollution is created for each unit of economic growth) by 45% by 2030. Startups will help develop the technologies needed to achieve this goal while maintaining economic growth.
Looking Forward: The Bigger Picture
This partnership represents more than just support for a few companies. It shows how India is building an ecosystem that can sustain long-term progress toward its 2070 net-zero goal. Will this model of government-private partnerships become the standard approach for addressing climate challenges in developing economies? Only time will tell, but it certainly offers a promising path forward.
