India is stepping up efforts to expand electronics hardware innovation beyond major technology centres through a new programme supporting startups in smaller cities.

The Electropreneur 2.0 initiative was announced at the STPI Electropreneur Summit in Delhi. The programme will support companies working in electronic system design and manufacturing across cities such as Dehradun, Mandi, Jaipur and Chandigarh.

The initiative has a budget of Rs 47 crore, with funding coming from NITI Aayog, STPI, IIIT Delhi, IESA and corporate social responsibility sources.

The programme aims to support around 500 startups by providing financial assistance, access to infrastructure and mentorship designed to help businesses develop and commercialise their products.

The initiative builds on Electropreneur 1.0, which supported 59 startups that went on to generate 66 patents and Rs 150 crore in revenue.

The programme is part of India’s wider effort to strengthen its electronics and semiconductor ecosystem and turn engineering talent from smaller cities into globally competitive hardware businesses.