The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Blue Star Limited to support startups, innovators and entrepreneurs across India. The agreement aims to strengthen the manufacturing and innovation ecosystem by promoting industry-driven product development in areas such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), digital solutions and advanced manufacturing processes. The collaboration is intended to connect startups with industry requirements and market opportunities. As part of the initiative, startups will receive mentorship from industry experts, access to research and development laboratories and testing facilities, and opportunities for pilot deployment. The partnership will facilitate product validation, proof of concept development and integration into value chains. Periodic engagement sessions and structured mentorship programmes are planned to align innovations with operational needs. DPIIT will collaborate with Blue Star to organise innovation challenges under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge and targeted hackathons focused on HVAC, digital technologies and manufacturing domains. Startups will be invited to participate in structured proof of concept programmes with selected entities being considered for pilot deployment and further industry engagement. The arrangement is intended to create pathways for scalable solutions to enter commercial markets. The collaboration will also allow startups to access technical support, testing infrastructure and R&D facilities that can accelerate product development cycles. It will provide market linkages and opportunities for integration into supply chains, enabling entrepreneurs to validate business models and reach customers. DPIIT and Blue Star expect that industry engagement will lead to measurable outcomes in deployment and adoption. The memorandum was signed by the deputy secretary of DPIIT and the managing director of Blue Star in the presence of senior officials from both organisations. The partnership is framed to support sectoral innovation, drive investment in advanced manufacturing and nurture enterprises that address real-world technical challenges. Officials noted that structured collaboration between government and industry is a practical mechanism to scale homegrown technologies.