MG Motor India today launched the fourth season of its start-up incubation programme – MG Developer Program and Grant (MGDP). The company kicked off the programme at an event today at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

In its latest iteration, the programme will focus on e-mobility, with an aim to identify the various problems and opportunities in the field, and invite start-ups to innovate and come up with potential solutions that could be taken to the market.

"In a fledgling industry like that of EVs, there are a lot of questions that need to be addressed, right from battery materials, range, charging infrastructure and battery charging patterns as well as recycling among many others. Globally, as well as in India, a lot of companies are doing work in these areas and therefore, MG Motor India has already partnered with different players," said Rajeev Chaba, president and MD, MG Motor India.

"The MGDP 4.0 aims to facilitate a positive change in the industry by creating a space for EV innovators from across the country to collaborate and develop novel solutions. This is a platform that seeks to unite the best brains of the industry to come together and bring innovative ideas that have the potential to change the EV landscape," Chaba added.

While MG Motor India has earmarked a budget outlay of Rs 50 lakh as part of the grant programme to incubate start-ups, according to Chaba, the time spent in mentorship will be much more crucial for young entrepreneurs who will effectively benefit from the knowledge shared by industry professionals as well as receive opportunities to test their solutions at the company's workshops, sales, or even at the manufacturing setup.

The carmaker has partnered with Invest India, Startup India, Jiobp, Exicom, Fortum, CESL, Attero, MapmyIndia and Bosch for the MGDP 4.0.

While entries are open until November 10 for applying into the programme, the shortlisting of the candidates for mentorship by jury would be completed by November 15, 2022. The top shortlisted startups will be invited for a Demo Day in front of the jury members from MG Motor India and its aforementioned partners in the MGDP 4.0 in the last week of January 2023, followed by announcement of winners in the first week of February next year.