CII Launches National Cleantech Initiative to Support Startups
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has launched a national initiative, CII-ASCEND: Activate Startups in CleanTech to Strategize, Execute, Navigate & Deploy, serving as a platform to bring together startups, investors, incubators, research institutions, and industry leaders to encourage clean technology solutions in the Indian industry.
The initiative was launched by D Sridhar Babu, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications; Industries & Commerce and Legislative Affairs, Government of Telangana, at the CII-GreenCo Summit 2025 in Hyderabad, aiming to bridge the gap between innovation and industrial deployment in a sustainable manner.
This initiative introduced the first edition of the CII-ASCEND Innovation Challenge, supported by the Sustainability, Equity and Diversity Fund (SED), offering a unique opportunity for cleantech innovators to gain visibility on a national level, industry validation, and critical deployment support for real-world pilots.
The challenge invites applications from Indian startups, R&D labs, MSMEs, and universities working on clean technologies that are ready for pilot deployment (Technology Readiness Level 5–7). Priority thematic areas include renewable energy, waste and water management, electric mobility, decarbonization, IoT solutions, resource efficiency, energy storage, green hydrogen, electric vehicles & infrastructure, and many more.
Selected innovators will receive up to US$ 30,000 in funding, direct market access through CII’s industry network, and expert mentorship from leaders in technology, business strategy, and sustainability. Pilot implementation in one or more industrial sites, engagement with policymakers, and monitoring and verification to validate the efficacy of solutions will be accessible to selected innovators as well.
Applications are open until July 31, 2025, and shortlisting by an expert panel will take place in August 2025. Winners will be announced in November 2025, with outcomes to be showcased by September 2026. CII-ASCEND is positioned as a key step toward India’s clean, low-carbon industrial revolution.
Image Source: CII