FICCI Mercedes-Benz India to power next wave of Indian innovators

Reinforcing India’s position as a fast-emerging global innovation hub, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), in partnership with Mercedes- Benz India, announced the launch of the FICCI Mercedes-Benz India “Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge Programme”, a national initiative aimed at nurturing early-stage innovators and strengthening the country’s startup ecosystem.

The Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge Programme has been designed as a comprehensive national platform to support innovators at the most critical phase of their journey. It will focus on priority sectors such as manufacturing, sustainability, decarbonisation, electric mobility and education—key pillars for India’s development goals. Selected innovators will gain access to expert mentorship, industry exposure, opportunities to present at FICCI’s flagship platforms, and for the top seven winners,

innovation support of up to ?30 lakh, along with year-long hand-holding and industry access. Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge Programme initiative aligns closely with India’s long-term vision of building an innovation-led, inclusive and globally competitive economy under the Viksit Bharat mission.

At the national launch of the FICCI Mercedes-Benz India Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge Programme, Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, underlined the company’s long-term commitment to nurturing India’s startup ecosystem through meaningful industry partnerships. Iyer added, “We are delighted to partner with FICCI for the launch of the Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge Programme. This collaboration reflects our shared belief that innovation, entrepreneurship and skill development are fundamental to building a resilient, sustainable and globally competitive India.”

Reflecting on Mercedes-Benz’s legacy as an innovation-driven organisation and its evolving role as an ecosystem enabler in India, Mr. Iyer emphasised the importance of supporting early-stage ideas that align with national development priorities. He added that “Mercedes-Benz is proud to call itself a 140- year-old startup, we invented the car and we continue to reinvent it. With this programme, we aim to extend that spirit of innovation to India’s young entrepreneurs by fostering high-potential ideas,enabling

lab-to-market transitions and strengthening industry-academia collaboration in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat.”

Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, drew a powerful parallel between India’s traditional strengths and its modern entrepreneurial spirit, underlining the cultural pride that must be attached to startups as the country accelerates its innovation journey. Sanjiv added that “Every farmer in this Press Information country is a startup, betting on the future, adopting new technology and taking risks. Just as a farmer takes pride in his flourishing fields and a mother in her child, Indians must take pride in their startups. Entrepreneurship is not an easy choice, but it is the backbone of a confident, self-reliant and future ready India.”

Highlighting the importance of deep collaboration between corporates and startups, Singh noted that global best practices show innovation flourishes when large enterprises actively engage with agile young companies, a principle that is now shaping India’s own startup ecosystem. He further added, “Innovation does not happen in isolation. Corporates bring scale and experience, while startups bring speed, agility and the courage to experiment and fail fast. India’s startup ecosystem is at a point of inflection, innovation is no longer optional, it is our growth engine. The next decade will belong to ecosystems that reward collaboration over isolation and build solutions for global markets.”

Ms. Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, highlighted that India stands at a defining moment in its economic and technological journey, where innovation has become a central pillar of growth. She noted that the country’s entrepreneurial energy is no longer confined to metros but is emerging strongly from campuses, incubators, research labs and Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions, reflecting a broad-based and nationally transformative startup movement. Ms Vij, added that, “India’s innovation story today is being written from every corner of the country. Through the Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge Programme, we are creating a national platform that gives early-stage innovators the ecosystem support they need at the most crucial point of their journey. By nurturing ideas in areas like sustainability, manufacturing and mobility, we are collectively investing in the India of 2047.”