IBM and MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to accelerate India’s deep-tech startup ecosystem through technology access, mentorship, skill development and enterprise engagement opportunities.

The partnership will combine MeitY Startup Hub’s nationwide innovation network with IBM’s expertise in artificial intelligence, hybrid cloud and quantum computing. The collaboration aims to help promising startups develop, validate and scale technology solutions for domestic and global markets.

Under the agreement, startups will gain access to IBM’s enterprise technology portfolio and innovation platforms to tackle business and industry challenges. IBM will provide technical guidance on its enterprise AI and data platform, IBM watsonx; IBM Bob, an AI coding agent for enterprises; and IBM Sovereign Core, an AI-ready software stack designed to support digital sovereignty.

The collaboration will also introduce startups to IBM’s hybrid cloud and quantum computing technologies, along with its security and automation solutions.

Dr. Panneerselvam Madanagopal, Chief Executive Officer of MeitY Startup Hub, said India’s startup ecosystem is emerging as a global centre for technology innovation.

“India’s startup ecosystem is emerging as a global engine for technology innovation. Through this collaboration with IBM, we aim to strengthen indigenous deep-tech capabilities, foster technology-led entrepreneurship and create greater opportunities for innovators to build solutions that contribute to a Viksit Bharat,” Madanagopal said.

Sandip Patel, Managing Director of IBM India and South Asia, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to fostering innovation and strengthening India’s deep-tech startup ecosystem.

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to fostering innovation and strengthening our country’s deep-tech startup ecosystem. These startups are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology-led growth for India and the world,” Patel said.

“Together with MeitY Startup Hub, we aim to help founders innovate faster, scale responsibly, and build solutions that address both national and global challenges, turning promising innovations into real-world impact,” Patel added.