Schaeffler India recently announced the winners of the fourth edition of its Social Innovator Fellowship Program, aimed at supporting young changemakers developing scalable solutions for environmental and social challenges. The initiative focuses on innovation-led sustainability across areas such as renewable energy, carbon neutrality, circular economy and technology-led social solutions.

Open to applicants aged 18–35 from across India, the programme received over 460 registrations from 21 states, with 172 eligible applications and 103 shortlisted for final assessment. Following evaluations and prototype demonstrations, 10 projects were selected.

Each winning team will receive a grant of Rs 1.75 lakh along with access to a 24-week hybrid mentorship programme conducted through IIMA Ventures at IIM Ahmedabad. The programme is designed to help innovators refine their ideas, access expert mentoring and prepare solutions for market readiness and scale.

The award ceremony was attended by leaders from academia, impact investing and the social sector. Beyond the fellowship, Schaeffler India continues to support social development through initiatives in STEM education, water conservation, agroforestry, climate-resilient agriculture and community health.

Company Quote: “Change is the only constant. In a dynamic world where environment and technology play a fundamental role to meet the evolving needs of the world’s populus, the Social Innovator Fellowship Program speaks volumes of Schaeffler’s commitment to ESG and building not just a technologically advanced business model but be sensitive to the environment we operate in,” said Harsha Kadam, MD and CEO, Schaeffler India.