The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on Wednesday announced that it has signed an agreement with Voltas Limited to promote startups operating in the cooling and smart appliance ecosystem.

The partnership aims to encourage innovation among startups developing technologies related to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), advanced control systems, and digitalisation of manufacturing and service operations.

According to an official statement, the Startup India initiative under DPIIT, in collaboration with Voltas, will consider organising innovation challenges through the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge. The partnership will also support hackathons focused on solving industry-specific problem statements.

The initiative is expected to help emerging startups gain industry exposure, mentorship, and opportunities to develop technology-driven solutions for India’s rapidly evolving appliance and cooling sector.