The Ministry of Heavy Industries has completed the MHI Industry Accelerator Project, a government-backed initiative that supported the development of homegrown technologies for India’s mobility and manufacturing sectors. Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy unveiled the impact report of the project at Navigyaan 2026 in New Delhi on 30 September 2026, marking the conclusion of the scheme that supported technologies from concept stage through to commercial viability.
The accelerator provided Rs 35.72 crore in grant support to help 10 technologies progress from Technology Readiness Level 3 (early-stage prototype) to Level 9 (commercialisation and market deployment). The technologies covered future mobility areas including electric powertrains, high-voltage motor control and energy storage systems.
Key facts
- Rs 35.72 crore in grant support provided under the MHI Industry Accelerator Project
- 10 technologies advanced from Technology Readiness Level 3 to Level 9
- Scheme for Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector Phase II has a total financial outlay of Rs 1,207 crore
- 33 projects approved under the larger competitiveness scheme
- Technologies covered electric mobility, power electronics, high-voltage systems, energy storage, predictive maintenance, sensors and advanced surface engineering
- Project implemented by ARAI-AMTIF (Automotive Research Association of India and Automotive Mission for Technical Innovation Foundation)
What the accelerator supported
The MHI Industry Accelerator was designed to bridge the gap between early-stage technology development and commercial deployment. It formed part of the larger Scheme for Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector Phase II, which has approved 33 projects with a total budget of Rs 1,207 crore. This broader scheme aims to develop common technology infrastructure and services across India’s capital goods manufacturing sector.
The 10 technologies supported by the accelerator moved through several validation and prototyping stages. The government grant was meant to address the funding gap that typically exists when promising technologies emerge from research institutions or startups but are not yet ready for commercial manufacturing or market adoption.
The ecosystem approach
Kumaraswamy stressed that technology development requires collaboration among multiple stakeholders. Government provides policy and targeted financial support. Private industry contributes manufacturing expertise and market knowledge. Research institutions and universities supply technical knowledge. Startups bring innovation and flexibility. Institutions like ARAI help validate technologies and guide them toward industry adoption.
The minister emphasised that self-reliance in technology should go beyond simply replacing imports. Instead, India should develop indigenous intellectual property, build resilient supply chains, and cultivate skilled human resources capable of sustaining advanced manufacturing.
Connection to Atmanirbhar Bharat
The accelerator project sits within the government’s broader Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) framework. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the government has emphasised that India must move beyond being a consumer of advanced foreign technologies. Instead, it should develop, manufacture and export its own technologies to global markets. The accelerator aligned this vision with practical support for early-stage technologies that show commercial promise.
What this means for you
If you work in or run a manufacturing company, this accelerator’s completion signals that government support exists for developing indigenous technologies in sectors like electric vehicles and power systems. The technologies that emerged from this programme may lead to products or components available from Indian manufacturers in coming years, potentially offering cost-effective alternatives to imports.
If you work in research, academia or startup innovation, the project demonstrates that the government funds technology development through agencies like ARAI. However, with the MHI Industry Accelerator concluded, future applicants will need to look toward other schemes under the competitiveness programme or other ministry-led initiatives.
As a citizen interested in India’s self-reliance goals, the completion report shows tangible progress: 10 technologies moved from early prototypes to commercial readiness, representing movement toward India’s stated objective of becoming an advanced manufacturing nation by 2047.