Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has been recognised as one of the Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars (CSS) globally, making it the only Indian company to feature on this prestigious list. The recognition, jointly awarded by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and global innovation advisory firm Mind the Bridge, highlights BPCL’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaborating with startups.

The awards ceremony was held at the ICC headquarters in Paris. The Corporate Startup Stars Awards 2025 honoured leading companies from the Forbes Global 2000 and Fortune Global 500 that demonstrate exceptional engagement with startups, open innovation, and ecosystem development.

Shri Sanjay Khanna, Chairman and Managing Director of BPCL, said, “This global accolade reflects BPCL’s commitment to building an open innovation ecosystem and supporting entrepreneurship in India. Through our startup initiative ‘Ankur’, we are catalysing breakthrough solutions for cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable energy. As BPCL marks 50 years in the energy sector, we remain focused on partnering with startups to advance technologies that accelerate India’s energy transition.”

Launched in 2016, Project Ankur has supported 30 startups across Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Industrial IoT, Asset Integrity, Predictive Maintenance, Safety Technologies, and other emerging domains. The BPCL Ankur Fund provides equity funding to promising early-stage startups aligned with BPCL’s strategic priorities, enabling them to scale solutions within the company’s ecosystem.

John W H Denton AO, Secretary General, ICC, said, “Innovation remains central to global economic growth. ICC supports businesses that drive meaningful impact through corporate-startup collaboration.” Alberto Onetti, Chairman of Mind the Bridge, added, “BPCL exemplifies how large corporations can strategically invest in startups to drive technological adoption and nurture early-stage entrepreneurs.”

BPCL, a Fortune Global 500 Maharatna PSU, is integrating sustainability into its operations with initiatives like electric vehicle charging at over 6,500 stations and a roadmap to achieve net-zero energy by 2040.

This recognition positions BPCL as a global leader in corporate innovation, highlighting its role in shaping the future of energy while supporting India’s startup ecosystem.