AIC Pinnacle Entrepreneurship Forum and National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support startups working in electric vehicles, automotive mobility and connected mobility. The partnership is aimed at linking startup incubation and industry networks with automotive testing and validation infrastructure.
The MoU was signed at EKA Mobility’s Trucks and SCV Plant in Chakan by AIC Pinnacle CEO Dr Avinash Thakur and NATRAX Director Dr Manish Jaiswal. Under the partnership, startups will be supported across product development, testing, validation and commercialisation stages.
As an initial step, the organisations are discussing a startup hackathon and access to NATRAX’s testing facilities for suitable startups from AIC Pinnacle’s existing cohort. The collaboration will also provide access to technical expertise and industry networks as startups work towards market readiness.
AIC Pinnacle Startups To Get Access To NATRAX Testing Facilities
The partnership combines AIC Pinnacle’s incubation, mentoring and industry network with NATRAX’s automotive testing and validation infrastructure. The organisations intend to use this setup to help startups progress from prototypes to product development and validation.
AIC Pinnacle CEO Dr Avinash Thakur said the collaboration is intended to give startups access to testing, technical and industry support beyond the incubation stage. NATRAX Director Dr Manish Jaiswal said the partnership will provide startups and innovators with access to testing, validation and wider ecosystem capabilities.
Partnership To Focus On Electric Mobility And Connected Mobility
Electric mobility is identified as a key focus area for AIC Pinnacle under the MoU. The organisations will also explore connections between startups and industry participants, strategic partners, educational institutions, government stakeholders and other ecosystem organisations across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and the wider automotive innovation ecosystem.
AIC Pinnacle Entrepreneurship Forum is a not-for-profit startup incubator supported by the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog. Its focus areas include electric vehicles, cleantech, sustainability, healthtech, manufacturing and engineering. NATRAX, located near Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh, provides testing and validation infrastructure for automotive technologies and products.