Schaeffler India awards grants to social innovators for sustainable solutions

On December 22, 2025, Schaeffler India announced the winners of its 4th Edition of the 'Schaeffler India Social Innovator Fellowship Program,' which empowers young social innovators developing scalable, impactful, and technology-driven solutions for environmental and societal challenges. The program, open to applicants aged 18-35 from across India, focuses on environmental sustainability, renewable energy, carbon neutrality, circular economy, natural resource management, and technology application in the social sector. Since enrollment opened in July 2025, the program received over 460 registrations from more than 21 states and 172 eligible applications.

Ten exceptional projects were awarded a grant of INR 1.75 lakh each and access to an intensive 24-week hybrid mentorship program at IIM Ahmedabad's IIMA Ventures. Notable winners included Swapnil Gawande from Amravati for a unified digital platform for corneal tissue distribution, Dhulipalla Venu from Chennai for "Glare Zero" addressing night-time road accidents, and Shubham Singh from Rupnagar for "Ares Systems" developing green hydrogen-based technology. Delhi innovators Arif Jamal and Adesh Manik Ghisare were recognized for "Krishigro" (renewable energy solutions for farmers) and "UnBubble" (converting agri-waste into value-added products), respectively. Arnav Jain from Gurugram was honored for "Stealthera," a smart monitoring device for seniors.

Harsha Kadam, managing director and chief executive officer of Schaeffler India, emphasized the company's commitment to ESG and building a sustainable future, noting the overwhelming response rates from participants over the years. This initiative aligns with Schaeffler India's broader social development efforts, including STEM education, water conservation, agroforestry, and community health projects.