New Delhi: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has been named among the Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars (CSS) 2025, a distinguished global accolade awarded by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge. This recognition places BPCL as the only Indian organisation on the list, underscoring its dedication to fostering innovation and supporting early-stage entrepreneurial ventures.
The announcement was made at a ceremony hosted at the ICC headquarters in Paris, celebrating 100 companies from the Forbes Global 2000 and Fortune Global 500 for their exemplary efforts in startup collaboration and ecosystem development.
Project Ankur: A Platform for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
BPCL’s Chairman and Managing Director, Sanjay Khanna, highlighted that the recognition reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to breakthrough technologies through open innovation.
“This global accolade is a testament to Bharat Petroleum’s commitment to building an open innovation ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurship in the country. Through our startup initiative ‘Ankur’, we are catalysing solutions that will make energy cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable,” he said.
Launched in 2016, Project Ankur is BPCL’s flagship startup program, supporting 30 startups across high-impact domains including –
- Robotics
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Industrial IoT
- Asset integrity management
- Predictive maintenance
- Safety technologies
The BPCL Ankur Fund, created to invest in early-stage ventures, continues to nurture startups aligned with both BPCL’s strategic goals and India’s evolving energy landscape.
Global Recognition of BPCL’s Open Innovation Model
Industry leaders praised BPCL’s structured approach to innovation-led collaboration.
ICC Secretary General John W H Denton AO remarked,
“Businesses that collaborate with startups are shaping the future of global commerce.”
Alberto Onetti, Chairman of Mind the Bridge, noted,
“BPCL is a strong case of how a corporation can strategically drive innovation by partnering with startups and investing in them. Through Project Ankur and the BPCL Ankur Fund, the company has created a platform that accelerates technology adoption while nurturing India’s energy entrepreneurs.”
Strengthening India’s Startup Ecosystem and Clean Energy Future
For India’s startup ecosystem, BPCL’s recognition positions the company as a corporate catalyst enabling deep-tech innovations and supporting the country’s clean energy transition. As BPCL celebrates 50 years of excellence, its strategic focus on sustainability, EV infrastructure, and net-zero ambitions by 2040 underscores its role as a forward-looking partner for startups.
BPCL’s inclusion among the Global Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars highlights India’s rising influence in global innovation networks and reinforces the growing collaboration between large enterprises and startups—a trend shaping the next phase of India’s technological and energy transformation.
About BPCL
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is a leading Indian public sector undertaking (PSU) engaged in refining, marketing, and distributing petroleum products. As one of India’s major integrated oil and gas companies, BPCL operates refineries in Mumbai, Kochi, and Bina and plays a key role in the nation’s fuel supply and energy security.
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