Kerala-based deep-tech startup Neiox Eco Cycle has received a Rs 75 lakh prototyping grant from Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) under the USHUS Maritime Innovation Scheme, marking a major milestone in India’s push for sustainable maritime technologies.
The grant, awarded at an event held at IIM Kozhikode, will support Neiox in developing the world’s first carbon-negative, non-toxic marine hull coating. The startup, led by CEO Akhil Raj Pottekkat, aims to create a coating that not only prevents corrosion and biofouling but also improves ship fuel efficiency, cuts CO₂ emissions, and protects marine ecosystems.
What makes this innovation distinctive is its origin from captured air pollutants, transforming harmful emissions into useful industrial materials. The company claims the coating will help reduce environmental damage caused by traditional chemical-based coatings while turning climate and health liabilities into economic assets.
Neiox Eco Cycle is recognized by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) and supported by TBI NIT Calicut and LIVE IIM Kozhikode. The company operates at the intersection of climate action, public health innovation, and sustainable industrial transformation.
“This collaboration with Cochin Shipyard reflects Kerala’s growing leadership in sustainable maritime innovation,” said Akhil Raj Pottekkat. “Our goal is to redefine how industries perceive environmental waste from liability to opportunity.”
The grant handover ceremony was attended by IIM Kozhikode Executive Director Ashutosh Sarkar, CSL Chief General Manager (Design) K.R. Anjana, Senior Manager Krishna Prasad S, and LIVE IIM Kozhikode Senior General Manager Lijo P. Jose.
With this funding, Neiox Eco Cycle positions itself as a pioneer in green maritime technology, contributing to India’s vision of a cleaner, carbon-smart industrial future.
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