Maruti Suzuki partners with IIMB to incubate startups

Maruti Suzuki India Limited on August 20 announced its partnership with Nadathur S. Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL), the startup hub and incubation centre at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIMB). This partnership will help startups working in technology-based innovations that can be applied in the mobility sector.

The collaboration marks first-of-its kind initiative by an automobile manufacturing company to help early-stage startups become large scale businesses, said a press release issued by MSIL. It will be a three-month (pre-incubation) and six-month (incubation) engagement.

Maruti Suzuki had launched MAIL (Mobility and Automobile Innovation Lab) in January 2019, which supports startups by co-creating innovative business solutions in the mobility space. The futuristic solutions being developed under MAIL initiative have a positive impact on Maruti Suzuki’s business.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Mobility startup incubation programme addresses the needs of early stage startups, which have potential of becoming large-scale businesses. This partnership with IIMB will spearhead innovation in mobility space.”

Elaborating on the initiative, Prof Venkatesh Panchapagesan, Chairperson, NSRCEL, said “Our mobility programme provides startups the practical expertise of a leader like Maruti Suzuki with the incubation support depth and experience of NSRCEL. We will leverage the broader IIM Bangalore’s network of faculty, students and alumni as well as the expertise and counsel of a host of partner institutions who are active in this domain.”