IIITH’s Social Tech Incubator launches cohort of GreenTech Startups with EPAM Systems:
Leverages AI, IoT, Robotics and GIS
Hyderabad, September 12, 2025: AIC-IIITH has launched the 3rd Akash EPAM Social Impact Innovation Program (ESIIP) to support GreenTech startups in areas like Green Energy, Smart Cities, Climate Tech, Sustainable Agriculture, and Mobility. The program also leverages IIITH’s strong research ecosystem to drive cutting-edge innovation in areas like AI/ML, Robotics, GIS etc to advance India’s UN SDG commitments with a focus on Climate Action (SDG 13). The program recognises the importance of research-led tech and entrepreneurial innovation towards sustainable climate action.
Startup-led innovation is a critical driver of climate action, especially in developing countries like India. Yet an analysis by Cambridge Associates shows that Emerging Market Greentech startups attract only 9% of total investment in the sector. As per AIC-IIITH’s research, a mere ~0.2% of total CSR spending has been spent on Innovation.
Through this program, AIC-IIITH Foundation and EPAM Systems, Inc., a leading digital transformation services and product engineering company, have selected 12 Startups. The program will provide these Greentech Startups with equity-free grants of up to INR 5,00,000 and Incubation Support. There is a special focus on helping these startups connect with Professor and researchers at IIITH and leverage institutes expertise in tech areas AI/ML, IoT, Robotics, GIS. Especially these Startups have good synergies with Smart City Labs at IIITH.
Congratulating the selected startups and these efforts, Prof. Ramesh Loganathan, Director of AIC-IIITH said, “Tech innovation is key to solving the climate crisis and as a leading Information Technology university in India focused on research that matters, this program fits perfectly with our overall vision. We look forward to actively supporting these startups with our expertise.”
T0 date AIC-IIITH has run 8 cohorts and supported 60+ startups with incubation support and INR 3+ Cr of funding. AIC-IIITH’s startups are solving pressing challenges in sectors like agriculture, education, accessibility, climate and creating 430+ jobs.
The key highlights of this year’s program include milestone-based grant support of up to INR 5 Lakhs, incubation support, business coaching and access to IIIT-Hyderabad’s Smart City Labs.
“Bold, early-stage ideas in climate tech often struggle to move forward due to limited access to capital, technical depth or networks. At EPAM India, we see it as an opportunity to close that gap. Our partnership with AIC-IIITH is designed to support entrepreneurs who are solving real-world problems with technology, and to create an ecosystem where purposeful innovation is rightfully enabled.”– Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director, EPAM Systems India Pvt. Ltd.