Kerala-based startup Neiox Eco Cycle gets Rs 75 lakh grant from Cochin Shipyard

In a boost to sustainable maritime innovation, deeptech climate startup Neiox Eco Cycle has secured a Rs 75 lakh prototyping grant from Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) under its USHUS Maritime Innovation Scheme.

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The announcement was made at a function held at IIM Kozhikode, where Akhil Raj Pottekkat, Founder and CEO of Neiox, signed the official agreement. The grant will support the development of what the startup calls the world’s first sustainable, non-toxic, carbon-negative marine hull coating, a breakthrough material with anti-corrosive and anti-biofouling properties.

Derived from captured air pollutants, the coating converts substances that would otherwise contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases into a high-value industrial solution.

According to the company, the innovation enhances ship fuel efficiency, cuts CO₂ emissions, and helps protect marine ecosystems, representing a potential “Kerala model” for global adoption.

Recognised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) and supported by TBI NIT Calicut and LIVE IIM Kozhikode, Neiox operates at the intersection of climate action, public health innovation, and sustainable industrial transformation.

“Our collaboration with Cochin Shipyard reflects Kerala’s leadership in sustainable maritime innovation and our shared mission to build cleaner industries and healthier communities,” Pottekkat said.

The event was attended by Dr Ashutosh Sarkar, Executive Director, IIM Kozhikode; K.R. Anjana, Chief General Manager (Design), CSL; Krishna Prasad S, Senior Manager, CSL; and Lijo P Jose, Senior General Manager, LIVE IIM Kozhikode.