Bharat Safety Program - Road Safety & Mobility Startup Accelerator

About the Initiative

Honda India Foundation (HIF) partnered with the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) IIT Delhi Sonipat Innovation Foundation to launch the Bharat Safety Program; an accelerator dedicated to advancing Deeptech based road safety solutions. The initiative supports India’s growing mobility needs by enabling innovators to develop safer, more reliable, and scalable technologies for two wheeler riders and diverse road users.

This collaboration aligns directly with Honda’s Global Vision 2050: Zero Traffic Collision, reinforcing Honda’s commitment to creating a safer mobility ecosystem through technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Program Framework

The Bharat Safety Program follows a structured multi-stage acceleration model, which includes:

Shortlisting Deeptech Startups: 15-20 startups are identified through a competitive selection and bootcamp process.
Focused Incubation: 5 top-performing startups receive extended support, including technical guidance, product development assistance, and pilot opportunities.
Access to Academic & Industry Networks: Startups gain entry to IIT Delhi laboratories, faculty mentorship, Honda engineers, and relevant industry connections for real-world testing.
Mentorship from Experts: IIT professors, Honda professionals, innovation experts, and mobility specialists collaborate to shape robust, deployment-ready road safety solutions.

Launch & Symposium Highlights

The program was inaugurated at IIT Delhi Technopark (I TEC), Sonipat on 26 November 2025, featuring:

Official launch of the Bharat Safety Program platform.
MoU exchange between HIF, AIC IIT Delhi, and Rishihood University.
A high impact panel discussion on "Deeptech Innovation for Safer Mobility in a Fast Growing India".

The symposium brought together leaders from academia, industry, government, and startup ecosystems to discuss emerging technologies for India’s road safety challenges.

Key Focus Areas of Innovation

The Bharat Safety Program empowers startups to build solutions addressing critical safety concerns, including:

Rider behavior monitoring
Over speeding alerts and prevention
Helmet usage compliance
Collision avoidance technologies
Smart road infrastructure
AI based monitoring systems
Night-time visibility enhancement

Special emphasis is placed on technologies that address rural road risks, considering the high share of accidents occurring in rural areas.

Leadership & Dignitaries Present

The MoU signing and launch event were graced by senior leaders and dignitaries from HIF and IIT Delhi, including:

Mr. Vinay Dhingra, Trustee, HIF
Shri Rajeev Taneja, Operating Officer, HIF
Shri Prabhu Nagaraj, Operating Officer, Corporate Affairs, HMSI
Prof. Preeti Ranjan Panda, Dean – Corporate Relations, IIT Delhi
Dr. Nikhil Agarwal, Director, AIC IIT Delhi
Mr. Nalin Kohli, Board of Directors, AIC IIT Delhi
Prof. Somnath Baidya Roy, IIT Delhi
Mr. Tarun Chaturvedi, COO, FITT IIT Delhi

Program Governance

The initiative is led through a structured two tier committee system:
Advisory Committee
Includes representatives from:

IIT Delhi
MeitY
HIF
FITT
AIC IIT Delhi
NITI Aayog
Role: guiding startups, reviewing impacts, supporting scale-up strategies.

Selection Committee
Includes:

FITT / AIC IIT Delhi
HIF
Investors
Government representatives
Role: screening, evaluating, and selecting the most promising Deeptech startups.

Startup Support Ecosystem

Startups in the Bharat Safety Program receive:

24 month access to IIT Delhi labs for development and testing
Hands on mentoring from IIT faculty, Honda engineers & innovation experts
Product development support in transport, road safety & automobile domains
Demo Day platforms for showcasing solutions to investors and industry partners

This holistic support ensures that solutions go beyond prototypes and move toward real-world deployment and commercialization.

Program Impact & Vision

The Bharat Safety Program represents India’s first dedicated accelerator for road safety and mobility technology, backed by Honda India Foundation. It combines the technological depth of IIT Delhi, the innovation framework of AIC, and Honda’s long-term commitment to safer mobility.

By fostering Deeptech solutions and empowering early-stage entrepreneurs, the initiative aims to: