Shell GDC I-GNITE Program

AI for Science: Advancing Innovation in Energy, Decarbonisation & Low Carbon solutions

About the Program

The Shell-GDC I-GNITE Program is an initiative by Shell GameChanger

in partnership with the Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GDC), IIT Madras, to identify and nurture the most promising AI-based STEM innovations and startups in India working on decarbonisation-related challenges. The program is aimed at early-stage Indian startups and late-stage translational research project teams from Indian STEM universities and labs developing AI-based innovations in science with applications in low-carbon solutions, aligning with Shell's decarbonisation strategies.

Calling all visionary startups and research teams!

If you are developing cutting-edge solutions in AI for Science, enabling Low Carbon Innovation (including carbon capture, renewable hydrogen, low-carbon fuels and gases, Biofuels, novel catalysts, and battery and EV technology) — Here is a great opportunity to participate and gain through the Shell – GDC I-GNITE Program.

Join us in accelerating your energy transition and decarbonisation journey. Apply now to showcase your innovation and help shape the journey towards net zero.

Here’s a great opportunity to accelerate your startup interest!

Register Your Interest

By AI for Science, we mean integrating generative learning with Physics-based modelling to simulate and predict phenomena across scales – from the atomic and molecular, through mesoscopic, to macroscopic, continuum and system level engineering domains.

By combining data-driven insights with Physics-informed principles, these systems deliver faster, more accurate, and physically consistent solutions for multi-scale problems that challenge traditional computational methods.

Who Should Apply?

Low-Carbon and Alternative Fuels

Sustainable aviation fuel
Bio and synthetic fuels

Low Carbon Gases

Renewable Hydrogen
Bio LNG, RNG etc.

If your solution aligns with the articulated areas of interest ,
we want to hear from you!

We invite early-stage Indian startups and late-stage translational research teams from Indian STEM institutions, labs, and incubators, working on any of the following areas using AI-based modelling techniques:

Carbon Management and Decarbonisation

AI modelling for decarbonisation
Carbon capture technologies
Carbon utilization
Carbon storage – value chains.

Renewable Materials and Novel Catalysts

Novel catalysts
Novel battery chemistries, EV, energy storage etc.
Electrification
New Sorbant materials

Program Overview

“Welcome to the Shell- GDC I-GINITE Program!! A global best accelerator for startups working on AI-powered energy innovations for transiting to a low carbon world. Together, we can change our world into a better place.”

Dr. R Raghuttama Rao, CEO - GDC, IIT Madras

“Powered by Shell’s deep technical expertise and GDC’s extensive reach and business mentorship capabilities, this call for applications is poised to attract bold, innovative ideas that can be successfully brought to life. We invite aspiring entrepreneurs and changemakers to apply and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of energy.”

Dr. Ajay Mehta, Vice President, Research and Innovation, Shell

The Shell-GDC I-GNITE Program supports teams at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2–4 through:

Entrepreneurial thinking
Business mentorship
Access to Shell’s technical network and manufacturing resources
Opportunities for grants, partnerships, and investment

*At the end of the program, selected teams will pitch to Shell for potential collaboration and investment.

Program Highlights

Duration:

8 months (December 2025 – July 2026)

Structure:

Three phases with Phase1 focussed on the selection of Teams, followed by Two intensive phases (~8 weeks each)
Each intensive phase includes workshops, feedback, and evaluations

Funding:

Promising teams may receive up to INR 5,00,000 after Phase 2
Additional grants up to INR 10,00,000 for PoC development may be awarded after Phase 3

Eligibility:

Open to early-stage startups and pre-incubated research teams
Pre-incubated teams must incorporate a company by end of Phase 2 to qualify for Phase 3

How to Apply

To get started, please follow these steps:

Click the registration link and complete your registration. Registration Link: Click here

Upon registration, you will receive access to the ‘Application Form’, where you can provide us with the necessary information about your project/business idea. Fill out the Application Form with all the required details. Our team will review your submission.

If you meet our selection criteria, our selection committee will invite you for an interview.

Following selection, we will extend an offer and plan the initial steps of your acceleration journey.

Expectations from Selected Teams/Startup Applicants

All team members will commit to devote the requisite time to the program.

PHASE 2

Phase 2 will require about 50% of your time (on a continuous basis) during the 8 weeks from Jan 2026 to Mar 2026.

PHASE 3

Phase 3 will involve approx. 35% of your time (every week) during the 2 months between Apr 2026 and mid- July 2026.

Open House Webinar

Join us for an Open House Session on 13^th October 2025), where we’ll walk you through the program structure, expectations, and benefits.

Duration: 90 minutes
Includes: Program overview + live Q&A
Submit your questions in advance to the Program Manager at: surya@gdciitm.org

Need Help?

For queries, contact the Program Manager, GDC at: 9790013112

If you have any specific queries/clarifications, please email Program Manager, GDC at surya@gdciitm.org

About Shell-GDC I-GNITE Program:

Shell is partnering with GDC, IIT Madras for the Shell-GDC I-GNITE Program. The program is dedicated to nurturing breakthroughs in low-carbon innovations based on AI-modelling, particularly among Indian STEM university researchers and startups.

About IIT Madras:

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is an institute of eminence, as recognized by the Government of India. It has been India's #1-ranked academic institution for the past 10 years under the NIRF.

ABOUT SHELL GAMECHANGER

Shell GameChanger exists to foster collaboration between start-ups with early stage (energy-related) technologies and solutions, and experts within Shell, working on unproven early-stage ideas.

Through the GameChanger Programme, we release specific business-inspired Calls for Solutions. Selected companies will gain business support, access to the expertise in Shell, and non-diluting seed funding. Start-ups keep the independence to make their own business.

We believe in the power of partnerships and collaboration. Since its establishment in 1996, Shell GameChanger has contributed to an open and connected global start-up ecosystem, working with start-ups, research institutions and accelerator programme.

About GDC:

The Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (GDC) is a philanthropic initiative at IIT Madras. GDC works with faculty, researchers, students, and budding entrepreneurs in STEM colleges and incubators across India to enable them to commercialise their research-based ideas and create positive socio-economic outcomes at scale. GDC aims to catalyse a ‘lab to market’ transformation of science-based research into deep-tech startups by converting entrepreneurs and founders from academic researchers.

GDC works with universities, laboratories, incubators, and startups and helps strengthen the innovation ecosystem by developing entrepreneurial mindsets and business thinking capabilities in university faculty, researchers, and students.

Over the past eight years, GDC has worked with over 200 universities/incubators/institutions and transformed over 500 startup teams in their entrepreneurial capabilities. Of these, nearly 200 teams have launched their startups.