What are Schemes?

National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India is supporting Technology Business Incubators primarily in and around academic, technical and management institutions to tap innovations and technologies for venture creation by utilizing expertise and infrastructure already available with the host institution. Accelerator is a typically a 3-6 months’ fast track structured program helping ideas get accelerated to the next orbit. An accelerator aims at achieving one or more of the following objectives - introduction to entrepreneurial development to identify business opportunities (real problems that require real solutions), validate product ideas, engage with potential customers, build a scalable business model, build a product demonstration, manage team dynamics and pitch to investors. The Accelerators can be used to boost the Incubator’s existing activities to build attractive high quality startups, and have a customer centric validation model which enhances investment readiness as well as worthiness.

The Software Technology Park (STP) Scheme is a 100 percent Export Oriented Scheme for the development and export of computer software, including export of professional services using communication links or physical media. This scheme is unique in its nature as it focuses on one product / sector, i.e. computer software. The scheme integrates the government concept of 100 percent Export Oriented Units (EOU) and Export Processing Zones (EPZ) and the concept of Science Parks / Technology Parks, as operating elsewhere in the world.

Technology Development Programmes (TDP) is to convert proof-of-concepts for development of pre-competitive/commercial technologies/ techniques/ processes. The commercialization of these technologies needs further assessment/incubation, which does not fall in the scope of the Technology Development Programme. Transfer of technology developed under the project to the industry should ideally be the onus of the host institutions. Proposals of incremental R&D over the existing technologies may be considered for support. Theme based concept proposals for proof of feasibility will not be considered under TSDP-DST. Only full fledged complete proposals for development of technology/process/product will be considered under TSDP. Projects related to design and development of Software/IT, as required for products and processes, as a part of technology development project shall be considered. Pure software development does not fall in the scope of the programme

The scheme aims at creating sustainable entrepreneurship development in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) especially first generation entrepreneurs by fostering nurturing the innovative ideas to commercially viable business prepositions. Entrepreneurs harness the expertise of NSIC in extending hand holding of start-up companies to become successful small enterprises. The scheme also caters to networking between R&D and Industry beneficiaries to create successful commercial ventures.

The Programme extends partial support on a selective basis, for organizing seminar / symposia/ training programmes / workshops / conferences at national as well as international level. The support is provided to Research Institutes/ Universities/Medical and Engineering Colleges and other Academic Institutes/ Professional Bodies who organize such events for the scientific community to keep them abreast of the latest developments in their specific areas. The support is generally given for encouraging participation of young scientists and research workers in such events and publication of proceedings / abstracts for wider dissemination. The Programme also supports S&T Professional bodies.

Sustainable Finance Scheme for funding sustainable development projects that contribute energy efficiency and cleaner production but not covered under the international or bilateral lines of credit. All sustainable development projects such as renewable energy projects, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) star rating, green microfinance, green buildings and eco-friendly labelling, etc. are applicable for the scope of this scheme.

Swarojgar Credit Card (SCC) Scheme was introduced in September 2003 for providing adequate, timely and uninterrupted credit, i.e., working capital including consumption needs and/or block capital requirements to the small artisans, handloom weavers and other self -employed persons including micro-entrepreneurs, SHGs, etc., from the banking system in a flexible, hassle free and cost effective manner.

SFURTI is a Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries. Ministry of MSME has launched this scheme in the year 2005 with the view to promote Cluster development. KVIC is the nodal Agency for promotion of Cluster development for Khadi as well as for V.I. products. As on date, a no. of 76 Clusters have come up as per the scheme and many of these clusters have been completed. The Revamped SFURTI Cluster will intensify the sustainability of the programme beyond the project period through creation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) or deemed SPV. Further, the revamped guideline has added many new features for all round development of SFURTI clusters

Chunauti, the pandemic-influenced scheme, is a government of India initiative named CHUNAUTI'(Challenge Hunt Under NGIS for Advanced Uninhibited Technology Intervention), to invite Startups to develop solutions for problems amid pandemic. Launched in August 2020, Chunauti is a start-up challenge initiative under the Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS)

This scheme is for individual beneficiaries and is implemented through the SCAs.

Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme is aimed for domestic companies and institutions involved in technology design, development, commercialization of telecommunication products and solutions, to enable affordable broadband and mobile services in rural and remote areas.Telecommunication technology products require significantly large funding and long gestation periods for R&D and commercialization including the additional efforts and resources for the products to move from prototype to commercial grade. Government is willing to support industry to build high impact deep tech projects at affordable cost to enable state of the art services for rural areas in the country.

SPRS is a developmental scheme managed by the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) for supporting MSE. Undoubtedly, the Indian government is the single largest purchaser of a large array of goods. The objective behind this scheme was to increase the number of purchases from the small-scale sector. By opting for this scheme, NSIC registers the eligible MSEs for participation in government purchases without any Earnest Money Deposit (EMD), which is the money taken from bidders before they place any bid, as a security deposit for ensuring their seriousness in the project.

TIDE 2.0 will promote tech entrepreneurship through financial and technical support to incubators engaged in supporting ICT startups primarily engaged in using emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, Block-chain, Robotics etc. in pre-identified areas of societal relevance. The Scheme will be implemented through empowering 51 incubators in India and handholding close to 2000 tech start-ups over a period of 5 years. The scheme envisions creating a holistic ecosystem to support technology startups and incubation centers through identifying and creating necessary linkages.

The Interest Subsidy Eligibility Certificate (ISEC) Scheme is an important mechanism of funding khadi programme undertaken by khadi institutions. It was introduced to mobilise funds from banking institutions for filling the gap between the actual fund requirements and availability of funds from budgetary sources.

The NIDHI-EIR programme provides tremendous opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs to expand their networks and get critical feedback on their ventures in order to promote their entrepreneurial career goals and aspirations. The opportunities under NIDHI-EIR Programme includes guidance from experienced, innovative and highly successful entrepreneurs on the business concept, strategy or venture and insight into specific industries or markets, best practices for starting a business and broaden the professional network; and co-working spaces for developing the idea into a marketable product.

BIRAC aims to promote and foster cutting-edge technologies in the field of medical electronics through this scheme. The project IIPME is a partnership project between the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India, and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, a public sector undertaking of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

The Procurement and Marketing support Scheme would promote and educate MSMEs by organising trade fairs/awareness programs about GeM portal, Online services and other services. The scheme also encourage Micro and Small Entreprises to develop domestic markets and find new ways of  promotion of new market access initiatives. It will also cover activites required to facilitate market linkages for effective implementation of Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order of 2012.

The objective of the Scheme is to facilitate technology up-gradation in MSEs by providing an upfront capital subsidy of 15 per cent (on institutional finance of upto Rs 1 crore availed by them) for induction of well-established and improved technology in the specified 51 sub-sectors/products approved. In other words the major objective is to upgrade their plant & machinery with state-of-the-art technology, with or without expansion and also for new MSEs which have set up their facilities with appropriate eligible and proven technology duly approved under scheme guidelines.

In order to nurture a culture of applied research and need-oriented (societal or industry) innovation among researchers and to catch them young, provide professional mentoring and support needed, it is imperative that there be a focus on fostering local ecosystems. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has developed a focused strategic action plan to foster the culture of innovation and techno-entrepreneurship in Indian Universities, leveraging the University Innovation Cluster (UIC) and Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC) model. Five University clusters as mentioned below have been identified to establish Cluster Innovation Centres: 1. Anna University, Chennai 2. Panjab University, Chandigarh 3. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 4. University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 5. University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad Cluster Innovation Centre in Biotechnology (CIC-B), hosted in these University, are acting as the nerve centre to manage the University Innovation Cluster activities. Along with facilitating the creation of networks, partnerships between stakeholders to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, the CIC-B is providing pre-incubation support to innovative ideas, innovators for effective translation into products thereof.

To setup Idea to Prototype support, NIDHI-PRAYAS program has been launched. It is positioned as a pre-incubation initiative. Under NIDHI PRAYAS, 10 PRAYAS Centres have been setup at various TBIs along with support for establishing PRAYAS Shala and Proof of Concept Grant support for innovators/ entrepreneurs as Prayasee. To inspire the best talents to be entrepreneurs, minimise the risk involved in pursuing start-ups and to partially set off their opportunity costs of high paying jobs.

SETU will be a Techno-Financial, Incubation and Facilitation Programme to support all aspects of start up businesses, and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas. It aims to create around 100,000 jobs through start-ups.