MAHIR – the “Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research (MAHIR),” , an initiative by The Ministry of Power and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has launched a unique initiative, aimed at accelerating the power sector, and startups in India. This ambitious mission seeks to identify and develop emerging technologies indigenously, with a focus on realizing the goals of achieving Net Zero emissions, promoting the Make in India initiative, and fostering a thriving start-up ecosystem.
Under the MAHIR initiative, the government plans to pool financial resources from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and Central Public Sector Enterprises. Additional funding, if required, will be sourced from the Government of India’s budgetary resources.
Over the next five years, MAHIR will follow a comprehensive technology life cycle approach, taking ideas from conception to product development. By harnessing cutting-edge technologies and facilitating their implementation, the mission aims to position India as a global manufacturing hub, driving future economic growth.
Union Power & NRE Minister Shri R. K. Singh emphasized that MAHIR would serve as a catalyst for achieving national priorities such as Net Zero emissions, as well as promoting initiatives like Make in India and Start-up India. The Minister highlighted the importance of research and innovation in driving the transformation of the Indian power sector, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a sustainable and energy-efficient future.
Power Secretary Shri Alok Kumar emphasized the significance of industry-academia-government collaboration in creating an innovation ecosystem in the power sector. MAHIR will partner with prestigious institutions such as IITs, IIMs, NITs, IISERs, and universities, while also engaging with both public and private power sector start-ups and established industries. The government will act as an enabler to foster an ecosystem of innovation.
MAHIR Mission Objectives
The MAHIR mission’s objectives encompass identifying emerging technologies, facilitating collective brainstorming among power sector stakeholders, supporting pilot projects of indigenous technologies, and forging international alliances for research and development. Areas of research focus include alternatives to Lithium-Ion storage batteries, green hydrogen for mobility, carbon capture, geo-thermal energy, solid-state refrigeration, nano-technology for EV battery, and indigenous CRGO technology.
To ensure effective research oversight, MAHIR will be structured with a Technical Scoping Committee and an Apex Committee. The Technical Scoping Committee, led by the Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority, will identify research areas, recommend potential technologies, and monitor approved projects. Once research areas are approved, global companies and organizations will be invited to submit outcome-linked funding proposals through a Quality cum Cost-Based Selection process.
Indian start-ups will also receive support through funding for pilot projects, facilitated by the Central Public Sector Enterprises under both ministries. In exchange for funding, start-ups will share the intellectual property rights (IPR) of their developed technologies with the Government of India and the Central Power Research Institute.
Furthermore, the MAHIR initiative will actively promote international collaboration to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and technology transfer. The mission seeks to forge partnerships with leading global laboratories for joint development of cutting-edge technologies, enhancing India’s position among the leading countries in power system-related technologies and applications development.
With the launch of the MAHIR initiative, the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy have set in motion a transformative journey towards a sustainable, self-reliant power sector in India. Through indigenous research, innovation, and strategic partnerships, MAHIR aims to act as a catalyst for realizing the vision of Net Zero emissions, bolstering the Make in India initiative, and driving India’s path towards a greener, more prosperous future.
