ADB Technology Innovation Challenge 2026
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Quick Answer
Grants of up to US$450,000 (about ₹4.28 crore) to pilot a proven technology on a development problem in India or another ADB developing country. 2026 concept notes have closed.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- Asian Development Bank
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
- Registrations needed
- trademark registration
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 20 October 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Asian Development Bank. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The 2026 round of the Technology Innovation Challenge (TIC) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is closed to new concept notes. The last window, for the steel challenge, closed on 19 October 2026 at 23:59 (UTC−11); that date comes from the listing's earlier record and was not re-checked, because neither the TIC page nor its Rules state any deadline. The Rules describe a second, full-application stage after the concept note. The page describes TIC as a returning programme, but it does not announce dates for a next round, so watch the ADB Challenges platform. TIC is not India-only: three of the 2026 challenges were set in India, and others in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Neither the page nor the Rules describe an in-person stage or a pitch.
TIC funds proof-of-concept pilots of new technology in real communities across Asia and the Pacific. It is for technology providers who already have a working solution and want to test it in a new market, with teams of one to ten people. The aim is to give governments and technology providers the evidence they need to scale a solution.
What the program offers
A selected project receives a grant of up to US$450,000 (about ₹4.28 crore). Payments are made on a milestone basis, subject to the final Grant Funding Agreement negotiations, and the Rules expect the project to run around 18 to 24 months. You must contribute at least 10% of the total project cost yourself, in cash or in kind. Besides money, the page lists testing in a new market, collaboration with ADB and local and international stakeholders, and visibility among governments and financiers.
The 2026 challenges
Each challenge sets out a specific problem. The six in 2026 were: improving steel production and cutting emissions in West Bengal, India; bridging the cold chain gap for small vendors in India; inclusive public transportation for visually impaired people in India; urban dengue control in Sri Lanka's cities; easing the laundry burden on women; and river and canal intelligence for fisheries management in Bangladesh.
Who can apply
For-profit companies, non-profits, civil society organisations, research institutions and legally autonomous government-owned enterprises can apply. The lead applicant and every project partner must be legally incorporated or registered in an ADB member economy when the concept note is submitted. An Indian startup is therefore a natural fit. The lead applicant or a partner must hold the rights to the technology, by ownership or licence. Applicants need ties to a local partner or a demonstrated understanding of the local operating environment, must have no conflict of interest with ADB or the host government, and must not be debarred by ADB or sanctioned under UN Security Council rules. The technology must be new to the country or context, or used in a new way.
This suits a startup with a working product that has been proven somewhere and needs a funded pilot in India or a neighbouring country. It does not suit an idea-stage team without a product, or a team that cannot find a co-funding share.
How to apply
You choose the challenge that matches your technology on the ADB Challenges platform, register as lead applicant and submit a concept note before that challenge's deadline. A lead applicant can submit only one application per challenge, and only one company from the same group may apply. The Rules describe a second, full-application stage; they do not say who is invited to it, what it requires or whether there is a pitch.
How applications are judged and what happens next
ADB screens each concept note for eligibility and completeness, and a technical committee then scores it: impact 50%, innovativeness 30% and scalability 20%. Full applications are scored on impact 30%, scalability 30%, pilot design 20% and team 20%. ADB also asks the government of the implementation country for a no-objection letter and may reject a proposal without it. Selected applicants negotiate a Grant Funding Agreement and start the pilot.
About ADB
The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank for Asia and the Pacific. TIC is financed by ADB's High-Level Technology Fund.
Things to check before you apply
Plan your 10% share and your local partner early. A practical tip: make the case for scale, because impact and scalability together carry most of the scoring. The government no-objection letter is requested by ADB and can affect timing. Check that every partner is registered in an ADB member economy before you apply.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Each selected pilot can receive a grant of up to US$450,000 (about ₹4.28 crore), and you co-finance at least 10% of the total cost in cash or in kind. The grant covers costs in the agreed budget, such as staff and consultants of the lead applicant and partners, equipment, travel, training for local counterparts and independent verification of results. Payments are made by milestone under a Grant Funding Agreement, over a project period of about 18 to 24 months. You also work with ADB and the government behind the challenge, and get visibility with governments and financiers across Asia and the Pacific.
- Disbursement
- Milestone Based
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
A technical committee evaluates applications in two stages. Concept notes are scored on impact (50%), innovativeness (30%) and scalability (20%). Full applications are scored on impact (30%), scalability (30%), pilot design (20%) and team (20%). ADB also seeks a no-objection letter from the government of the implementation country and may reject a proposal without it.
Application Process
- 1
Concept note
Register and submit a concept note for one challenge.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Indian startups apply for the ADB Technology Innovation Challenge?
Yes. India was an eligible implementation country, and three of the six 2026 challenges were set there. The lead applicant and partners must be legally incorporated or registered in an ADB member economy, and you need a working technology you hold the rights to.
How much is the TIC grant?
Up to US$450,000 (about ₹4.28 crore) per pilot project, paid on a milestone basis. You must co-finance at least 10% of the total project cost, in cash or in kind.
Is it a grant or equity?
It is a grant. The page mentions no equity. Selected applicants negotiate a Grant Funding Agreement with ADB.
Where must the pilot happen?
In 2026, projects had to be implemented in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, the Philippines or Sri Lanka, tied to a specific challenge for that country.
What was the deadline, and has it passed?
Yes. The 2026 concept-note windows have closed; the last, for the steel challenge, closed on 19 October 2026 at 23:59 UTC−11. That date was not re-checked: the TIC page and Rules state no deadlines. The Rules describe a full-application stage after the concept note, but do not say who is invited to it.
When is the next round?
The page does not announce one. ADB describes TIC as a returning programme, so watch the ADB Challenges platform.
What do I need to submit?
A concept note first, and then a full application at the second stage. ADB also asks the government of the implementation country for a no-objection letter. The page and Rules do not list every document, and do not mention a pitch.
Can I submit more than one application?
A lead applicant can submit only one application per challenge, and only one company from the same group may apply.
How are applications scored?
Concept notes are scored on impact (50%), innovativeness (30%) and scalability (20%). Full applications are scored on impact (30%), scalability (30%), pilot design (20%) and team (20%).
Do I have to travel?
The page and Rules do not say. They do not mention a pitch or any in-person step, and the pilot itself is carried out in the implementation country.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
