Tech Innovation Grants

🚀 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 🚀 Starting up is tough. But you are not alone. The Indian government has many schemes to help you grow fast and stay strong. 1. 𝐃𝐏𝐈𝐈𝐓 & Startup India • Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) – Up to ₹20 L for proof of concept. Up to ₹50 L to scale. • Fund of Funds (@FFS) – ₹10,000 Cr corpus for VC funds. • Tax Holiday – 100% income-tax exemption for 3 years. • Angel Tax Exemption – No tax on fair‑value investments. • Fast‑track Exit – Close down in 90 days under IBC. 2. Department of Science, Technology and Innovation DST (Science & Tech) • Nidhi Prayas – ₹10 L for early prototypes. • nidhi eir dst goi – ₹20–30 K/month stipend for aspiring founders. • Seed Support – ₹25 L via incubators. • TBI & Accelerator – Soft loans or equity for growth. 3. MeitY Startup Hub (Electronics & IT) • TIDE 2.0 – Grants ₹4–7 L (ideation) and ₹7 L (PoC). • Samridhi Skilling Centre – ₹40 L matching fund plus mentor support. • GENESIS – Up to ₹1 Cr for deep‑tech in Tier II/III cities. 4. @𝐌𝐒𝐌𝐄 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 • Incubation – ₹15 L per idea; ₹1 Cr to incubators. • Aspire NZ Seed Fund (Aspire) & PMEGP – Seed funds and subsidy‑linked loans up to ₹25 L. • CGTMSE-India – Collateral‑free loans up to ₹2 Cr (75–85% guarantee). 5. DBT – Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) (Biotech) • BIG – ₹50 L grant for biotech PoC. • SBIRI & BIPP – ≥₹1 Cr grants/loans for SME R&D. • 74 Bio‑incubators – Labs, mentors, equipment. 6. NITI Aayog (AIM & WEP) • Atal Incubation Centre- BIMTECH Centres – Grants + infrastructure. • Atal New India Challenges – Funds for public‑sector solutions. • Women Entrepreneurship Platform – Networking + funding for women. 7. 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢 & 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 • RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubator, IIT (BHU)‑RAFTAAR – ₹25 L for agri‑startups. • Agri‑Clinics – Training + finance. • Pmfme Scheme & SAMPADA – ₹10 L grants for food processing. 8. 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 & 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 • iDEX – Up to ₹1.5 Cr for defence innovations. • TDF – Up to ₹10 Cr for indigenisation. 9. 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 & 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 • Swadesh Darshan & PRASHAD – Boost homestays, guides, apps. • Tourism Hackathons – Pitch ideas on heritage tech. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 "𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐃𝐅" 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚 𝐏𝐃𝐅 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 👉 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬: 1. Get DPIIT recognition. 2. Pick schemes that fit your stage. 3. Connect with incubators. 4. Apply early. - 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟕 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 - https://lnkd.in/dnAZwnqC Join my #WhatsApp Channel for live updates: https://lnkd.in/dzf-Gu2M Follow Utkarsh Mishra | Tag a @founder | #Grants2025 Tag a founder friend who must know this. Let’s build in India, for India! 🇮🇳 #StartupIndia #GovtSchemes #Entrepreneurs #Innovation #MakeInIndia

🚨 Global Development Funding Opportunity – DIV Fund Request for Proposals PLEASE READ EVERYTHING Are you an organization looking to build scalable solutions to address poverty and global development challenges? The DIV Fund is seeking evidence-based innovations with the potential to improve the lives of millions of people living in poverty across low- and middle-income countries. 💰 FUNDING LEVELS The DIV Fund offers tiered funding based on the stage of innovation: Stage 1: Piloting Up to $200,000 Stage 2: Testing & Positioning for Scale Up to $500,000 (Select projects may receive up to $750,000) Stage 3: Transitioning to Scale Up to $1.5 million 📌 WHAT THEY FUND The DIV Fund supports innovations that can meaningfully and measurably improve lives through: • Products • Services • Programs • Policies • Delivery Models • Process Improvements • Evidence Generation The fund is intentionally sector-agnostic and open to solutions across multiple industries and issue areas. 🌍 WHO CAN APPLY? Eligible applicants include: ✔️ Nonprofit organizations ✔️ Social enterprises ✔️ Universities & research institutions ✔️ Businesses ✔️ Technical assistance providers ✔️ Partnerships across sectors 🎯 CORE REVIEW CRITERIA Applications are evaluated based on three major principles: Evidence of Impact Organizations must demonstrate a credible theory of change grounded in evidence. Cost-Effectiveness The innovation should demonstrate strong impact relative to cost. Potential for Durable Scale The fund prioritizes solutions capable of reaching millions of people over time. The DIV Fund is looking for organizations and innovators capable of demonstrating: • Measurable outcomes • Long-term scalability • Strong implementation strategy • Data-informed decision making • Financial sustainability • Evidence generation and testing The fund heavily prioritizes innovations that could create large-scale systems impact over time. 🌎 GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS Projects must address challenges in low- and middle-income countries. ⚠️ STRATEGIC INSIGHT Competitive applicants will likely already have: • Pilot data or early evidence • A scalable implementation model • Strong partnerships • Market or public sector adoption strategy • A clear understanding of long-term sustainability This opportunity is especially aligned for organizations thinking beyond short-term programming and toward large-scale systems impact. Grant application link: https://lnkd.in/enRXcE5f REPOST AND SHARE!

Worth applying. Almost $2.1B in funding for climate and ESG technologies! Nine funding routes worth knowing if you're building in clean tech, sustainability or ESG right now. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programme - up to around $1.6 million across Phase I and II, recently reauthorised through 2031 after a five month lapse. https://lnkd.in/en3AziQe National Science Foundation (NSF) America's Seed Fund - up to $305,000 for Phase I, a strong low-friction entry point via their Project Pitch process. https://seedfund.nsf.gov Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) - non-dilutive funding for high risk, high reward energy technology, often several million dollars per award. https://lnkd.in/eBdJRt_K Third Derivative - RMI and New Energy Nexus's global climate tech accelerator, connecting hard tech startups to investors and corporate partners rather than writing a fixed cheque. https://lnkd.in/eHr55UtC European Union Innovation Fund - one of the world's largest clean tech programmes, with individual grants ranging from tens of millions to over a billion euros. https://lnkd.in/ew3KXYGn EIC - European Innovation Council Accelerator - pairs a grant of up to 2.5 million euros with optional equity investment of up to 10 million euros for deep tech SMEs. https://lnkd.in/ej-qXnHK Breakthrough Energy Fellows - catalytic, non-dilutive funding from $50,000 to $500,000 for early stage climate innovators. https://lnkd.in/e__iKQ49 Elemental Impact - a non-profit climate investor backing companies from pre-seed to Series C, including a Data Center Innovation Initiative funded by Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft. https://lnkd.in/ekPnxNRK New South Wales Clean Technology Innovation Grant - up to 5 million Australian dollars for Australian businesses piloting lab-proven clean technologies, applications close 8 September 2026. https://lnkd.in/ejSr4WzD A few things worth knowing before applying: some of these are non-dilutive grants as well as equity investments, deadlines and open/closed status shift constantly, and a handful (like the EU Innovation Fund) operate on a completely different scale to early stage programmes, so it's worth matching the opportunity to your stage rather than chasing the biggest number on the page.

The DoD just dropped its FY26 RDT&E budget—and it’s a $179B North Star for anyone building the future of national defense. Here’s what’s hot (and heavily funded): 🤖 Unmanned Systems & Physical AI – The budget is stacked with programs for launched effects, ground robotics, SUAS, TITAN, and AI-enabled C2. This is the golden hour for anyone working in cyber-physical systems, autonomous platforms, and real-world AI at the tactical edge. 🧠 AI/ML & Autonomy – From soldier lethality to ISR and C3I, embedded AI is showing up everywhere. Physical + digital fusion isn’t hype—it’s a requirement. 🚁 Future Vertical Lift & Next-Gen Combat Vehicles – Army and Navy are doubling down on transformational platforms, from long-range assault aircraft to hybrid-electric tracked systems. ⚔️ Hypersonics, Precision Fires & EW – Rapid, smart kill chains are in. Big money flows to hypersonic weapons, integrated fires, and resilient spectrum ops. 🧬 Biotech & Materials Science – Quietly accelerating: synthetic biology, survivability-enhancing materials, and warfighter performance R&D. Big implications for dual-use founders. 🛰️ Tactical Space & Multi-Domain Sensing – LEO, PNT, ISR nodes—space is tactical now, and the budget reflects it. 💻 Digital Pilots & Agile RDT&E – Software-defined everything. Over $1B in funding for digital pilot programs and agile prototyping. If you’re building fast, the DoD wants in. This isn’t just a spending plan—it’s a mission set for innovators. If you’re in unmanned systems, autonomy, biotech, robotics, or defense software… the signal is clear: let’s go. #DoDBudget #RDTandE #DefenseTech #UnmannedSystems #PhysicalAI #Robotics #Biotech #FutureVerticalLift #Hypersonics #DualUse #AgileRDTandE #ISR #GovTech #NationalSecurity

The UK just committed £40 million to solve the problems AI still cannot. To fix the fundamental flaws that limit every model that already exists. On 4 March 2026, the government announced the creation of a new Fundamental AI Research Laboratory. This is backed by £40 million over six years, with access to substantial computing power worth tens of millions of pounds more. The lab will tackle the basic problems that still plague AI models, including hallucinations, short memory, and unpredictable reasoning. Most AI funding goes to scaling what already works. This funding goes to solving what nobody has solved yet. The work will rethink how AI tools are built rather than simply scaling up existing systems and training them on more data, opening the door to capabilities that do not exist yet. Here's why this matters for public services. → AI that hallucinates cannot be trusted in healthcare decisions. → AI with short memory cannot handle complex case histories. → AI that reasons unpredictably cannot be deployed in justice or benefits systems. Addressing these challenges head on will lay the foundations for AI that supports → earlier medical diagnoses → more resilient infrastructure → faster scientific discovery, and better day to day tools for people and public services. The UK already has proof this approach works. UKRI backed work on AI is already making a difference. From the RADAR AI system that detects faults on the railway network in real time, to the IXI Brain Atlas which is supporting more than 40 clinical trials into degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's by helping to analyse brain scans. This lab bets that the next generation of breakthroughs comes from researchers solving problems others assume are permanent limitations. Applications are open now, with the government calling on the country's AI experts to bring their boldest and most ambitious proposals forward. The organisations that benefit most will not be the ones waiting to deploy whatever gets built. They will be the ones already building the capability to use it. What fundamental AI limitation is holding your organisation back from deployment at scale? #AI #GovTech #AIResearch #UKTech

The UK’s AI Opportunities Action Plan: A Bold Vision for the Future of AI This week, the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) presented the AI Opportunities Action Plan, a transformative strategy to position the UK as a global leader in artificial intelligence. The ambitious plan is built on three pillars: enabling AI development, embracing AI adoption, and securing the UK’s future with homegrown AI. Here’s why this matters: 🔑 Key Highlights: - Infrastructure & Talent: A 10-year investment plan to expand AI infrastructure, unlock valuable datasets, and address the skills gap through scholarships, fellowships, and proactive talent recruitment. - AI Adoption: Government-led initiatives to scale AI adoption across public services and industries, boosting productivity and improving citizen experiences. - Homegrown Innovation: Creation of "UK Sovereign AI" to support startups, scale-ups, and frontier research, ensuring the UK has national champions in critical AI capabilities. 💡 Why It’s Important: AI is set to revolutionise industries, drive economic growth, and transform public services. With this plan, the UK aims to lead globally in shaping AI’s future while ensuring its benefits are shared across society. 📈 For Innovators: This plan is a game-changer for AI innovators like Predictiva. We hope the plan will provide the support, recognition, and R&D boost needed to lead specialised AI innovations across multiple sectors like the public sector, healthcare, finance, and creative industries. By fostering collaboration and offering access to cutting-edge infrastructure and funding opportunities, we are optimistic that the plan will ensure that AI companies can thrive while driving the UK's economic growth and technological leadership.

New UK Robotics report by techUK! 📢 This report sets out how the UK can build, deploy, scale & export the next wave of #robotics - including delivery robots, autonomous machines, industrial robots, drones, autonomous vehicles & more. Great to see UK picking up on the #robotics opportunity since end of last year with series of government announcements, reports like this and working groups. There are great companies here, fantastic university hubs (#robotics, #mechanicalengineering, #internetofthings, #artificiaintelligence, etc) and lots of experience on how to commercialize technology and bring it to the world. The report includes 9 #recommendations for government that #TechUK members believe will enable the UK to seize the robotics opportunity: 1. #Recognise robotics as a frontier technology 2. Strengthen Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s robotics capacity 3. Develop a Robotics Opportunities Action #Plan 4. Ensure the robotics adoption #hubs central convening body has sufficient power and influence to drive alignment and delivery 5. Drive the #domestic development of robot hardware 6. Work with civil society to tell a compelling #story about the robotics opportunity 7. Ensure the #Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) has the resource, tools, influence and long-term focus to get things done 8. Use public #procurement strategically to drive adoption 9. Ensure robotics is an explicit priority within the Government’s #ScaleUp Support Service Kudos to Luke Lightowler and Rory Daniels who worked on this report, getting inputs from across the Tech UK members and robotics ecosystem in UK. It is great to see that #PhysicalAI and #Robotics is taking key role in techUK's agenda and actively supported also by the CEO, Julian David OBE. I had the pleasure to attend the launch event and hear first hand the insights from the report, from a diverse panel and meet new people from across the UK robotics value chain. Great discussion by the panelists Agnes Wamagui (Innovate UK Business Connect), Mike Wilson (MTC - Manufacturing Technology Centre) & David Bisset regarding how UK can move from insight to action. From the event, the UK regulation was discussed a lot, becoming from a blocker to an opportunity of adopting the existing robotic offerings across UK industries and cities. This is a complex topic that requires collaboration among academia, government, citizens and private sector. In general, I think UK has a big opportunity to play a big role in robotics, leveraging the very good local universities, the local business ecosystems and the extrovert mentality of the companies here. At the same time, there are lots of good practices from other countries and hubs to be explored. 👉 You can read the report here: https://lnkd.in/eyUDd-G3 🗞️ You can find more about TechUK here: https://www.techuk.org/ #Roboticsreport #TechUK #UK #UKrobotics #PhysicalAI #AutonomousMachines #UKopportunity #IoT #AIoT #DimitriosIoT

Great shout out today for Synthesia from Matt Clifford, Peter Kyle and Keir Starmer during the launch of the AI Opportunities Action Plan. We’re happy to see a government plan that addresses key industry needs: data access, computational resources, supportive infrastructure, and a balanced regulatory framework. This blueprint not only supports existing AI scaleups like ours but also paves the way for new startups to thrive, contributing to a dynamic AI ecosystem in the UK. ℹ️ Let’s start with data. The commitment to establish a National Data Library, providing access to anonymized public datasets, directly addresses the industry's call - including our own - for data availability. This initiative will empower startups to train models more effectively, creating more innovation and competitiveness in the market. 🧠 Secondly, compute. The plan to increase public sector compute capacity by a factor of at least 20, including the development of new data centres, will also help meet the computational demands of AI research and development. Once these data centres are built, we hope that the government will also work with the private sector to offer startups access through compute credits, enabling them to scale and innovate without prohibitive costs. 📈 Thirdly, growth. The introduction of AI Growth Zones, designed to expedite planning permissions and provide necessary infrastructure, mirrors successful models from other regions such as the Middle East. This approach will attract more investment and talent, stimulating economic growth and establishing the UK as a global leader in AI. 🧑⚖️ Finally, regulation. By adopting a distinctively British approach to AI regulation—prioritizing evidence-based, proportionate measures grounded in science—the government is creating a stable and pragmatic environment for investors and innovators. This strategy balances the need for safety and ethical considerations with the imperative to foster innovation. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

UK goes big on AI Artificial intelligence will be "mainlined into the veins" of the United Kingdom, with the government this week announcing its ambitious plan to become an AI superpower by endorsing the recommendations of the AI Opportunities Action Plan; it's expected to deliver a multi-billion-pound investment in the 2025 spending review in March. What's the deal? 🔵Back in July 2024, UK Gov commissioned tech entreprenur Matt Clifford to develop an AI Opportunities Action Plan to drive economic growth and deliver better outcomes for people across the UK. 🔵The government published Matt's plan on Monday (an earlier version also leaked via POLITICO); and also published its response. What's in the plan? The plan is structured around three core goals, and recommends a number of steps to achievement, including: 1️⃣Lay the foundations to enable AI 🟢Investing in computing power, both through the expansion of the publicly funded AI Research Resource (AIRR), and through the creation of “AI Growth Zones” to attract private investment in data centres 🟢Creating a National Data Library (NDL) to provide researchers with access to valuable datasets (both public and private) 🟢Expanding training programs to equip workers for an AI-driven economy, focusing on attracting top researchers and promoting diversity. 🟢Developing pro-innovation regulations that balance risk mitigation with fostering AI growth, supporting the AI Safety Institute, clarifying IP uncertainties, and equipping regulators for AI challenges. 2️⃣Change lives by embracing AI Under this goal, the plan proposes a Scan ⮕ Pilot ⮕ Scale approach to AI deployment within government, which involves: 🟢Continuously scanning the horizon for promising AI capabilities and matching them to the government strategic priorities 🟢Rapidly piloting AI solutions in high-impact areas, with an emphasis on agility and learning 🟢Scaling up successful pilots across departmental boundaries to maximize their impact on productivity, effectiveness, and citizen experience The plan also emphasises the importance of close collaboration between public and private sectors, with the government acting both key customer and market shaper for AI innovation and translation. 3️⃣Secure the UK's future with homegrown AI This section is ambitious, and effectively palces the UK's economic future on "homegrown AI" through things like: 🟢Establishing a UK Sovereign AI unit to strengthen frontier AI by partnering with industry and leveraging AI Growth Zones, data, talent, and security connections. 🟢Developing UK-based AI companies to position the UK as an "AI maker" capable of global competition. 🟢Creating "national champions" in key AI sectors through government support to ensure economic benefits and influence in AI governance. What's everyone think?

🔍 Spring Statement 2025: What It Means for the UK Tech Sector 🚀 The Spring Statement 2025 brings significant policy shifts and funding opportunities for tech businesses, startups, and investors. Here are the key highlights shaping the future of UK tech: 🔹 Defence Innovation 🛡️ 💰 £2.2B increase in defence spending—driving investment in emerging tech solutions 🚀 Launch of UK Defence Innovation (UKDI)—a new initiative to support high-tech defence startups 🤖 10% of the MoD’s equipment budget is now earmarked for cutting-edge technologies (AI, cybersecurity, autonomous systems) 💡 This signals a major opportunity for AI, robotics, and deep tech firms to secure government contracts and R&D partnerships 🔹 Digital Transformation & AI Growth 💻 🏛️ £3.25B Transformation Fund—aimed at AI-driven digital upgrades in public services 🚀 £42M for Frontier AI projects—focused on pioneering AI innovations in healthcare, finance, and infrastructure 📈 Increased government demand for GovTech, AI-driven automation, and cybersecurity solutions 🔹 R&D Tax Credits: Key Developments 💰 🧪 Ongoing consultations on R&D tax credits—ensuring they better support UK tech innovators ⚖️ Government committed to reforming & optimizing the tax credit system to drive business growth 💡 Tech firms should stay alert for potential updates impacting tax relief on software, AI, and deep tech R&D 🔹 Regulatory Environment: Less Red Tape 📜 ✅ The Regulation Action Plan is designed to simplify compliance and reduce administrative costs 🚀 Pro-business regulatory changes could create a more agile environment for startups & scaleups 📊 Digital regulatory frameworks may evolve—helping innovative companies navigate AI, data privacy, and fintech regulations 🔹 Taxation & Fiscal Updates 💡 📢 Changes to R&D tax credits & non-dom tax rules—tech founders & investors should review potential impacts 📊 The government is assessing corporate tax structures to enhance the UK's appeal for high-growth startups & venture capital 🔥 What This Means for UK Tech Businesses: ✅ Expansion & Growth: Defence, AI, and GovTech offer new revenue streams for innovative firms ✅ Investment Opportunities: Stronger R&D incentives & AI investments may attract VC funding & foreign capital ✅ Operational Efficiency: Simplified regulations & digitization could create a faster, more scalable business environment 🚀 The 2025 Spring Statement underscores the UK government’s focus on tech-led innovation—opening up exciting new opportunities for founders, investors, and scaleups. 👉 What are your thoughts? How will these updates impact your business? #SpringStatement #UKTech #Innovation #AI #GovTech #TechPolicy #Startups #VentureCapital #DigitalTransformation #RDtaxcredits #RegTech #FutureOfTech #InnovateUK #HMGovernment #UKStartups #TechFunding #LinkedinNews #Newable #InnovateUK #UKRI