DPIIT Signs MoU with Voltas Limited to Support Industry–Start-up Collaboration in Cooling and Smart Appliance Technologies

**Executive Summary** The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Voltas Limited to foster collaboration between industry and start-ups in the cooling and smart appliance sectors. This initiative aims to identify and support start-ups working on innovative technologies within these domains. The collaboration will facilitate innovation challenges, hackathons, and provide selected start-ups with mentorship, technical guidance, and access to testing infrastructure. **Key Points / Main Content** **Objective of the MoU** * To facilitate industry-start-up collaboration in the cooling and smart appliance ecosystem. * To engage start-ups working on technologies related to HVAC, advanced control systems, power electronics, AI/ML diagnostics, IoT-enabled smart appliances, and digitalization. **Initiatives and Activities** * Organisation of innovation challenges under the Bharat Start-up Grand Challenge. * Conducting hackathons focused on industry-related problem statements. * Identification of start-ups aligned with emerging industry requirements by DPIIT through the Startup India initiative and Voltas Limited. **Support for Selected Start-ups** * Provision of mentorship and technical guidance. * Access to testing infrastructure. * Opportunities for market linkages to support product development. * Participation in structured Proof-of-Concept (PoC) programmes with Voltas engineering teams for product validation and technology integration. * Facilitation of field trials through Voltas's service network for testing and refinement of solutions. **Focus Areas for Collaboration** * Energy-efficient cooling systems. * Air-quality monitoring and filtration technologies. * Advanced inverter controls. * Predictive maintenance solutions. * Refrigerant safety systems. * Digital tools for installation and servicing. **Signing of the MoU** * Signed by Director, DPIIT, Dr. Sumeet Kumar Jarangal, and Managing Director, Voltas Limited, Mr. Mukundan Menon. **Impact Analysis** **Start-ups** * **Impact**: Will have opportunities to collaborate with a large enterprise, receive mentorship, technical guidance, access testing infrastructure, and gain market linkages for product development and validation. They can participate in PoC programmes and field trials. * **Action Required**: Identify and apply for relevant innovation challenges, hackathons, and PoC programmes. Align their technologies with emerging industry requirements. **DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade)** * **Impact**: Will facilitate greater engagement between industry and start-ups, particularly in emerging technology areas. Will support the Startup India initiative by identifying and connecting relevant start-ups with Voltas. * **Action Required**: Continue to facilitate and manage the collaboration as per the MoU, including identifying start-ups and coordinating with Voltas. **Voltas Limited** * **Impact**: Will gain access to innovative solutions from start-ups in the cooling and smart appliance sectors. Will be able to leverage these collaborations for product development, testing, and refinement. * **Action Required**: Collaborate with DPIIT to identify start-ups, provide mentorship and technical guidance, offer access to testing infrastructure, and facilitate PoC programmes and field trials.

Key Entities Referenced