India, Netherlands to launch initiative on May 25 to promote startups

India and the Netherlands will jointly launch an initiative on May 25 in Bengaluru to facilitate market access for startups in the two countries and promote innovation and entrepreneurship, the commerce and industry ministry said today.

In an endeavour to further the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, Startup India under the ministry and the Dutch government are jointly launching the "Indo-Dutch #StartUpLink initiative".

It is developed for Indian and Dutch startups that are exploring each other's markets and offers access to key information, relevant networks, pilot opportunities, and navigators, the ministry said in a statement.

"The initiative will fulfil the twin objective of facilitating market expansion for startups in the two countries alongside fostering a joint sense of innovation and entrepreneurship," the ministry said in a statement.

It also said that 'Clean Air' India Ring, a critical component of the initiative will be launched tomorrow here by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

This initiative, it said, is a multi-corporate challenge that will test and scale innovations through collaboration between startups, corporates and governments by providing pilot opportunities for promising innovations that solve the problem of pollution.

Rutte, who is visiting India, will be accompanied by the Dutch Ministers for Foreign Trade & Development Cooperation, Healthcare, Infrastructure and Water, and Agriculture and Food and a trade delegation comprising 220 participants.

"As a partner for the Indo Dutch #StartUpLink, Shell has come on board with the aim of accelerating India's transition to a sustainable energy future," it said, adding that Shell has established the Shell E4 startup hub to enable and empower energy entrepreneurs.

As the first energy focused startup hub in India, it said Shell E4 is uniquely positioned in offering startups access to infrastructure (labs and co-working space), industry knowledge, subject matter expertise, funding, global connections and brand recognition.

"In addition to the core offering, Shell will meet the needs of companies entering India by helping them with market assessment, business model development, regulatory and legal support, product/service development and testing, brand strategy and visual identity development," it added.

A delegation of 10-12 Dutch startups is expected to visit India later this year and take part in a series of business-to-business and business-to-government meetings.