Brandworks Technologies, through its innovation arm BIRF (Brandworks Innovation Research Foundation), has entered a strategic partnership with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to bolster India’s electronics hardware and deep-tech start-up ecosystem. Signed at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to empower product-focused start-ups, MSMEs, and entrepreneurs in areas such as electronics hardware, IoT, communication module design, and AI-enabled hardware. The collaboration will provide access to critical infrastructure, mentorship, funding opportunities, and market linkages to strengthen India’s innovation and manufacturing landscape.
The initiative is aligned with the ‘Make in India’ vision and represents the culmination of ongoing discussions between DPIIT’s Startup India initiative and Brandworks Technologies—a homegrown electronics leader. “Having navigated the challenges of prototype dead ends, supply chain gaps, and scaling hurdles, we are uniquely positioned to guide an emerging innovator,” said Ishwar Kumhar, Founder & CEO of Brandworks. The partnership brings together DPIIT’s national start-up network and Brandworks’ in-house resources to create a supportive framework for innovation and commercialization.
Sanjiv Singh, IRS, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, commented, “This collaboration reflects our dedication to foster world-class products that highlight India’s manufacturing excellence.”
The MoU activates BIRF’s comprehensive Startup Enablement Framework, offering:
- Lab-to-Market Access via advanced prototyping labs with 3D printing, modular PCBAs, and testing infrastructure, including R&D facilities in GaN technology, IoT firmware, and material sciences.
- A structured incubation program for 15 start-ups in 2025–26 and 200+ over the next 3–5 years, focused on core hardware domains.
- Expert mentorship in areas such as IP strategy, costing, export compliance, and international investor connections.
- Certification support for CE, UL, BIS, RoHS, and SMT line scaling.
With India’s electronics market projected at $91 billion, the MoU targets a crucial need: building domestic capabilities in semiconductors and high-precision components. “Most hardware start-ups falter before reaching production,” said Kumhar. “Our experience enables us to help them overcome these barriers.”
The partnership represents a timely response to India’s PLI schemes and shifting global supply chains, positioning Brandworks and DPIIT as key enablers of India’s next wave of deep-tech innovation.
