**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) organized a one-day Hydrogen Startup Exhibition on April 15, 2026, to showcase 18 innovative startups and promote India's green hydrogen ecosystem. The event highlighted a ₹100 crore funding scheme for pilot projects, providing grants of up to ₹5 crore per startup. Results for the 58 shortlisted applicants currently under review by the Project Appraisal Committee are expected to be declared in the coming weeks.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Exhibition and Ecosystem Overview**
* 18 startups showcased diverse technologies across the green hydrogen value chain, including electrolyzer components, fuel cells, and biomass-to-hydrogen solutions.
* Specialized innovations featured at the event included hydrogen-based cooking, drones, MEMS-based safety sensors, and AI/ML digital solutions.
* As of September 2025, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recognized 249 startups operating in the hydrogen sector.
**Funding and Grant Provisions**
* The MNRE "New and Novel Uses of Hydrogen Production and Applications" scheme has earmarked ₹100 crore specifically for startup pilot projects (Part B).
* Eligible startups can receive a maximum grant of ₹5 crore each to support technological development and applications.
**Application and Selection Status**
* Following a Call for Proposals (CfP) issued by NISE in September 2025, 111 applications were received.
* 58 startups were shortlisted and have completed presentations before the Project Appraisal Committee.
* The final selection results for these grants are scheduled for announcement in the near future.
**Impact Analysis**
**Green Hydrogen Startups (Shortlisted)**
**Impact**
Shortlisted startups are in the final stages of a selection process that could grant them up to ₹5 crore in funding for pilot projects.
**Action Required**
Shortlisted entities must await the official declaration of presentation results, which is expected within the coming weeks.
**Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) / National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE)**
**Impact**
The organizations are responsible for managing the ₹100 crore funding pool and evaluating the 58 shortlisted proposals to ensure technical and financial viability.
**Action Required**
The Project Appraisal Committee must finalize the evaluation of presentations and publish the list of successful grant recipients.
**Industry and Research Stakeholders**
**Impact**
The exhibition provides these stakeholders with direct access to emerging technologies in safety, production, and digital hydrogen management, facilitating potential collaboration.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders should monitor the upcoming results to identify high-potential technologies and innovators for future industry integration.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE): The primary ministry responsible for organizing the Hydrogen Startup Exhibition and overseeing the growth of India's green hydrogen ecosystem.
Scheme for New and Novel Uses of Hydrogen Production and Applications: A policy initiative earmarking ₹100 crores specifically for startup funding and pilot projects, with grants up to ₹5 crore per startup.
National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE): The nodal agency responsible for implementing the call for proposals (CfP) and shortlisting startups for the hydrogen funding scheme.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT): The department cited for its role in tracking and recognizing the 249 startups active in the hydrogen sector as of September 2025.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Showcases India’s Growing Hydrogen Startup
Ecosystem at One-Day Exhibition
18 Innovative Startups Highlight Diverse Green Hydrogen
Technologies and Solutions
Diverse Startup Participation Showcasing Innovations Across
the Hydrogen Value Chain
Posted On: 15 APR 2026 5:51PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) organized a one-day Hydrogen Startup Exhibition.
The aim of the exhibition was to promote the vibrant hydrogen startup ecosystem in the country.
The exhibition brought together 18 promising startups working across various segments of the green
hydrogen value chain, including electrolyser technologies, fuel cell applications, biomass-to-hydrogen
production, and digital solutions for hydrogen systems. The participating startups demonstrated their
technologies and products and interacted with key stakeholders from government, industry, and the
research community.
It may be noted that as per Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), there were
249 startups in the hydrogen area as of September 2025.
The participating companies included five electrolyzer startups (electrolyzers and associated stack
components), two hydrogen production startups, one fuel cell startup, one hydrogen applications startup,
one safety startup (MEMS-based sensor), two drone startups, three hydrogen cooking startups, one
artificial intelligence/machine learning startup, and two bio-hydrogen startups.
Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Sood, graced the occasion and
interacted with the startup founders. Other dignitaries included MNRE Secretary Shri Santosh Sarangi,
Scientific Secretary in the PSA Office Dr. Parminder Maini, and NGHM Director Shri Abhay Bakre.
MNRE had launched the scheme for New and Novel Uses of Hydrogen Production and Applications last
year, under which Part B of the scheme earmarked Rs. 100 crores for startup funding (pilot projects), with
a maximum grant of Rs. 5 crore per startup.
Following the scheme launch, NISE had issued a call for proposals (CfP) in September 2025. A total of
111 applications were received, out of which 58 were shortlisted for presentation before the Project
Appraisal Committee earlier this year. The results of the presentations will be declared in the coming
weeks.It may be recalled that MNRE had organized a similar startup expo as part of the R&D Conference last
September at Dr. Ambedkar Centre in New Delhi, in which more than 25 startups had participated. This
second event was a successor to the first event.
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