Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, 30 September 2026 unveiled and digitally launched the Impact Report of the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) Industry Accelerator Project at Navigyaan 2026 in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in India's push to develop and commercialise indigenous technologies for the mobility and manufacturing sectors.

Key Developments at Navigyaan 2026

The event marked the formal conclusion of the MHI Industry Accelerator Project, a targeted initiative designed to bridge the gap between early-stage research and market-ready innovation. Kumaraswamy described the occasion as a reflection of the government's commitment to building domestic technological depth. 'The government under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed strong emphasis on building domestic technological and manufacturing capabilities,' he said.

The minister underscored that the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision demands India move beyond being a passive consumer of advanced technologies. 'The vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat calls for an India that is not only a large market for advanced technologies, but also a country that develops, manufactures and exports those,' Kumaraswamy said.

Scale of Support Under the Capital Goods Scheme

Kumaraswamy highlighted the scope of the Scheme for Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector — Phase II, which carries a total financial outlay of ₹1,207 crore and is aimed at building common technology development and services infrastructure. Under the scheme, 33 projects have been approved so far.

Within this umbrella, the MHI Industry Accelerator Programme disbursed ₹35.72 crore in Grant-in-Aid support for 10 technologies, with the explicit objective of advancing them from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to TRL 9 — the stage at which a technology is considered fully operational and commercially deployable.

Technologies Backed and Progress Made

The technologies supported under the programme span critical areas of future mobility, including electric powertrains, high-voltage motor control, and energy storage. According to the minister, a key outcome has been the transition of several technologies from early-stage prototypes to commercially viable products — a progression that is central to India's industrial self-reliance agenda.

Notably, this progression from concept to commercial viability addresses one of the most persistent bottlenecks in Indian technology development: the so-called 'valley of death' between research prototypes and scalable manufacturing.

The Collaboration Imperative

Kumaraswamy called for a coordinated ecosystem approach, arguing that no single actor can build deep technology capacity alone. He identified distinct roles for each stakeholder: 'The government can provide the policy framework and targeted support. Industry brings market understanding and manufacturing capability. Research and academic institutions contribute knowledge and technology. Startups bring new ideas and agility,' he said.

The minister specifically noted the role of institutions such as the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in strengthening the innovation ecosystem, alongside government bodies, industry, academia, and startups.

What This Signals Going Forward

The launch of the Impact Report at Navigyaan 2026 is expected to set the stage for the next phase of MHI's technology support agenda. With 33 projects approved under the broader scheme and 10 technologies now approaching commercial readiness, the ministry is likely to use these outcomes as a blueprint for scaling up support in allied sectors. The emphasis on export readiness — not just domestic deployment — marks a maturation in policy ambition.