Entrepreneurship

Scheme / Programme Field Eligibility / Qualifications Age Summary
NIDHI-Technology Business Incubator (NIDHI-TBI) All science disciplines Academic/Technical/R&D institution with proven track record in technology-based entrepreneurship N/A Promotes new technology/knowledge/innovation based startups.
NIDHI-PRAYAS (Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring Innovators & Startups) All science disciplines STEP/TBI with proven track record in technology-based entrepreneurship N/A Pre-incubation initiative to set up Idea to Prototype support.
NIDHI-EIR (Entrepreneur-in-Residence) All science disciplines NSTEDB-approved incubator in existence ≥3 years with proven incubation track record N/A Provides subsistence grant to aspiring/budding entrepreneurs of considerable potential for pursuing a promising technology business idea.
NIDHI-Accelerator All science disciplines TBI with NSTEDB recognition and experience running at least one national/regional entrepreneurship programme N/A Supports TBIs in and around academic, technical and management institutions to tap innovations and technologies for venture creation.
NIDHI-CoE (Centres of Excellence) All science disciplines Existing incubator in existence ≥5 years with adequate expertise and infrastructure for scaling up N/A Augments and scales up existing incubation activities. DST provides enhanced support of Rs. 50 crore over 5 years.
NIDHI-GCC (Grand Challenges and Competitions) All science disciplines TBI with minimum 3 years’ experience running national/regional entrepreneurship programme N/A Designed for TBIs to tap innovations and technologies for venture creation using existing expertise and infrastructure.
BIRAC-E-YUVA (Encouraging Youth for Undertaking Innovative Research through Vibrant Acceleration) Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Medical Sciences PhD holders (post-doc) and Masters/B.Tech/B.Pharma/B.E. in any field of science N/A Promotes a culture of applied research and need-oriented entrepreneurial innovation among young students and researchers.
BIRAC-BIG (Biotechnology Ignition Grant Scheme) Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Medical Sciences Indian citizen; must be physically incubated in an incubator with recommendation N/A Available to scientist entrepreneurs from research institutes, academia and start-ups. Bridges gap between discovery and invention with early-stage grants.
BIRAC-SBIRI (Small Business Innovation Research Initiative) Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Medical Sciences Company, LLP, or Joint Venture with private/public partner N/A Enabling platform for product and process development and taking innovations to market.
BIRAC-BIPP (Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme) Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Medical Sciences Indian company or joint association with national R&D organisations N/A Government partnership with industries on a cost-sharing basis for path-breaking research in frontier futuristic technology areas.
BIRAC-PACE (Promoting Academic Research Conversion to Enterprise) Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Medical Sciences Academia (public or private institute, university, NGO, or research foundation) with established research support system N/A Bridges academic R&D and industry; mandated for research on problems of national importance and societal relevance.
BIRAC-SPARSH (Social Innovation Programme for Products: Affordable & Relevant to Societal Health) Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Medical Sciences Incubation centers, research parks, knowledge parks, foundations, technology centers as legal entities under Indian law with ≥51% Indian stakeholders N/A Promotes development of innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems.
BIRAC-SEED Fund (Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development) Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Medical Sciences Incubator operational ≥3 years with at least 5 resident Biotech/Life Science start-ups N/A Provides capital assistance to start-ups with new and meritorious ideas to help them reach investment-ready stage.
BIRAC-Accelerating Entrepreneurs Fund Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Medical Sciences Partner applicant with ≥5 years’ experience in biotech/health/life science, including ≥3 years in the relevant field N/A Fund of funds partnering with fund managers to invest in SEBI-registered AIFs. Plugs the ‘Valley of Death’ for biotech start-ups.
BIRAC-BioNest (Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies) Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Medical Sciences Academic/research organisation or research hospital without a formal incubation centre but supporting entrepreneurial activities N/A Bio-incubation provides infrastructure, mentoring and networking platforms for start-ups during fledgling days.
BIRAC-IIPME (Industry Innovation Programme on Medical Electronics) Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Medical Sciences Indian start-ups <3 years old with 51% Indian ownership; LLPs; DSIR-recognised entities N/A Funds a portfolio of Indian-led pilot projects in electronics, medical devices, healthcare, software, algorithms & IT.
CSIR-PRISM (Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Startups and MSMEs) All science disciplines Any Indian citizen with innovative idea; public-funded institutions/organisations engaged in innovation N/A Supports state-of-the-art new technology solutions through autonomous organisations.
MEIT — IPR Awareness Seminars/Workshops in E&IT Sector Computer Sciences and IT Educational institutes and industry bodies; DeitY societies or autonomous bodies N/A Supports IPR awareness workshops/seminars for stakeholders especially in the Electronics & IT sector.
MSME-ASPIRE (Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Agro-Industry) Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences All MSMEs with Entrepreneurs Memorandum (EM) registration N/A Sets up a network of technology and incubation centres to accelerate entrepreneurship and support rural and agriculture-based industry startups.
MEIT-SIPEIT (Support for International Patent Protection in Electronics & Information Technology) Engineering Sciences Registered company under Companies Act 2013 of Government of India N/A Financial support to technology startup units for international patent filing to encourage innovation in the ICTE sector.
MEIT-TIDE 2.0 (Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs) All science disciplines Organisations of higher learning and R&D with incubation facilities and links with large companies N/A Promotes tech entrepreneurship through financial and technical support to incubators supporting ICT start-ups using emerging technologies such as IoT.
Karnataka Semiconductor Venture Capital Fund (KARSEMVEN Fund) Engineering Sciences Early and growth stage start-ups in the State of Karnataka N/A Investments in companies catering to Semiconductor, Electronics System Design & Manufacturing.
KITVEN Fund-3 (Biotech) Life Sciences & Biotechnology Early and growth stage start-ups in the State of Karnataka N/A Investments in companies catering to Biotechnology and allied sectors within the State of Karnataka.