Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology (MMMUT) in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, plans to develop 50 startups in the green hydrogen sector over the next 10 years, with research into biomass-based hydrogen production forming a key part of the initiative.
The university is preparing to incubate 10 startups in the first phase, with each set to receive financial assistance of ₹25 lakh. The programme is intended to help young innovators translate clean energy technologies into commercial ventures.
The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has approved a grant of ₹50 crore for establishing a Centre of Excellence for green hydrogen at MMMUT.
MMMUT to Establish Green Hydrogen Centre with IIT-BHU Support
The proposed Centre of Excellence will be established at MMMUT in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, under a hub-and-spoke model. IIT-BHU will provide technical guidance to support the centre’s activities.
The initiative is designed to advance green hydrogen research while creating opportunities for technology development and entrepreneurship. The planned startup-incubation programme will support the development of new businesses in the sector over the coming decade.
Biomass-Based Hydrogen Among Research Priorities
Research at the proposed centre will focus on technologies associated with green hydrogen production and synthesis. One of its principal areas of focus will be producing hydrogen from biomass, alongside hydrogen production using electrolysers.
Biomass-based hydrogen production connects the initiative with the wider bioenergy sector, where organic materials can serve as feedstocks for alternative fuels and energy products. Developing commercially viable production pathways will be important to translating research into deployable technologies.
The centre’s remit will extend beyond research to supporting the development of new enterprises. Startup incubation is expected to help innovators advance technological concepts towards commercial applications.
First Phase to Support 10 Startups
MMMUT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Anupama Kaushik Sharma said that the university’s first phase would involve developing 10 startups, with the initiative already underway, according to the report.
Each of the 10 startups is expected to receive ₹25 lakh in financial assistance. The university’s longer-term target is to develop 50 startups in the green hydrogen sector over 10 years.
The reported ₹50 crore grant approved by UPNEDA is for establishing the Centre of Excellence; the available report does not specify whether the startup-level financial assistance will be drawn from this grant or provided through a separate funding arrangement.
A separate demonstration-stage example is Eskom’s planned solar-linked hydrogen pilot in Johannesburg, which focuses on electrolysis research.
Bioenergy Business Analysis
MMMUT’s initiative brings together green hydrogen research, biomass utilisation and startup incubation within a single institutional programme. Its emphasis on biomass-based hydrogen is particularly relevant to the bioenergy industry, where converting biological feedstocks into useful energy carriers remains an important area of technology development.
The programme’s long-term impact will depend on the technologies developed, the availability and suitability of biomass feedstocks, production costs and the ability of incubated startups to move beyond research towards commercial deployment.
The planned 50-startup pipeline provides a framework for nurturing green hydrogen ventures, while the proposed Centre of Excellence could help strengthen technical capabilities in Uttar Pradesh’s emerging clean energy ecosystem. However, measurable progress will depend on the centre’s implementation, the technologies validated and the commercial viability of the resulting projects.
