Honda India Foundation has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Atal Incubation Centre at IIT Delhi to launch the Bharat Safety Program, an initiative aimed at fostering innovation in road safety through startup development.
The program, aligned with Honda's Global Vision 2050 goal of zero traffic collisions, will operate over 2.5 years. During the selection and bootcamp phase, 15-20 deeptech startups will be shortlisted. The subsequent 24-month incubation period will see five startups receive focused mentorship, product development opportunities, and access to government, industry, and academic networks.
Key focus areas include over-speeding, helmet usage, rider behavior analysis, collision prevention systems, and night-time visibility enhancements for two-wheeler users.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Vinay Dhingra, Trustee of Honda India Foundation; Rajeev Taneja, Operating Officer at HIF; Prof. Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean of Corporate Relations at IIT Delhi; and Dr. Nikhil Agarwal, Director of AIC IIT Delhi, among other officials.
The Atal Incubation Centre at IIT Delhi, established under NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission, serves as a platform connecting startups, investors, corporates, and policymakers. The partnership leverages this ecosystem to drive practical solutions for road safety challenges.
This marks the first HIF-backed accelerator program dedicated exclusively to road safety and two-wheeler mobility in India. The initiative aims to address safety awareness and infrastructure gaps, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas where such interventions are most needed.
Honda India Foundation serves as the corporate social responsibility arm for nine Honda group companies in India, focusing on road safety, environmental protection, rural development, education, and healthcare initiatives.