Sustainability Innovation Boost for Startups
Pune, 8th July 2025: Envalior, a leading high – performance engineering materials company has partnered with Venture Center, a not-for-profit technology business incubator hosted by CSIR’s National Chemical Laboratory, under their CSR initiative to support technology startups and innovators working on clean energy, carbon capture and storage, circular economy, climate action, and green mobility. The two organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the “Envalior Sustainability Innovation Program” — a targeted grant initiative for early-stage startups developing breakthrough technologies high-impact sustainability domains for critical societal needs.
As per the terms of the MOU, selected startups will receive non-dilutive grant funding along with mentoring, technical support, and access to Venture Center’s incubation ecosystem. Each supported project will run for a duration of 6 – 8 months. The program also aims to create a strong support network of mentors, investors, and service providers to promote the growth of entrepreneurs.
Two levels of grant support are planned under the program
- Technology Advancement Grants (Rs. 10 lakh): for refining early prototypes, exploring potential markets, assessing commercial viability, and securing necessary approvals/certifications etc.
- Pilot Grants (Rs. 5 lakh): for field trials and pilot demonstrations to assess technical and commercial feasibility.
Nileshkumar Kukalyekar, Business Director- South Asia, Middle East and Africa at Envalior , shared his thoughts on the launch of the program, “India has vast potential in sustainability innovation, but unlocking it at the early stage requires grounded support. This collaboration with Venture Center sets out to do so by making resources more accessible and risks more manageable for young startups. We hope to create conditions where technical breakthroughs can be made relevant for real-world applications. Envalior has long believed in the power of applied materials science to address systemic challenges. This program is an opportunity to invest in that belief by supporting problem solvers who are actively shaping a better future.”
Dr. Premnath Venugopalan, Director of Venture Center says “Technological innovation plays an important role in addressing today’s pressing challenges, especially in areas like sustainability. But early-stage startups often struggle to access patient capital, particularly for high-risk and long-gestation ideas. Public funding is limited, and private investors usually look for quicker returns, making it harder for innovators to experiment freely. That’s where grant support can make a real difference, and I believe the Envalior Sustainability Innovation Program will serve as a crucial funding bridge”.
By combining Envalior’s industry perspective with Venture Center’s incubation expertise, the program aims to accelerate the journey of promising technologies to market. Over time, it is expected to seed a pipeline of impactful solutions, create entrepreneurial opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to India’s climate goals. The first call for applications under the Envalior Sustainability Innovation Program will be announced shortly.
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About Envalior
Envalior is a global leader in Engineering Materials with over 4,000 employees worldwide. It was established in 2023 through the merger of Lanxess Performance Materials and DSM Engineering Materials. With a long track record of customer-driven innovation, Envalior specializes in developing sustainable and high-performance material solutions. Focus markets include Automotive, New Mobility, Electronics & Electrical, and Consumer Goods. For more information, visit www.envalior.com
About Venture Center
Venture Center, hosted by CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune is one of India’s top science-based technology business incubators, and has recently completed 17 years of service to the nation. It is the recipient of the National Entrepreneurship Award 2019, the Asian (AABI) Incubator of the Year Awards for 2018, the National Award for Technology Business Incubators from the President of India in May 2016. It has also recently been awarded the Best Incubator for Nurturing IP. Venture Center is recognized and supported by DST-NSTEDB and BIRAC.
For more information: www.venturecenter.co.in
Press Release: EDC/2025/07/08
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