Startup India Portal Now Links to I-STEM: How DPIIT-Recognised Startups Can Find Research and Testing Facilities

On 6 November 2026, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) launched an API integration between the Startup India Portal and the Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map (I-STEM) portal. The aim is to help DPIIT-recognised startups find existing research and testing facilities instead of building their own.

This is a discovery tool, not a grant. The sources do not announce any funding with it, and several details a founder will want, such as fees and booking steps, have not been announced. Here is what is confirmed, and what is not.

What was launched

The launch took place under the chairmanship of Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB) release, the initiative seeks to strengthen links between the startup ecosystem and the country's research infrastructure by enabling DPIIT-recognised startups to discover and access existing scientific and testing facilities.

In plain terms, the two portals are now connected by software. PIB says the integration will allow "API-enabled interoperability" between them, and that automated verification of DPIIT recognition status and linking between the portals will streamline onboarding and help startups discover scientific equipment and research facilities.

Why the government says it matters

Three officials spoke at the launch, and each made a slightly different point.

• Prof. Sood said the integration is an institutional convergence that goes beyond a digital interface, connecting startup requirements with the scientific infrastructure and technical capabilities available across the country. He pointed to lower R&D costs, less duplication of capital-intensive facilities and better use of publicly funded infrastructure. He also stressed access to specialised facilities for deep-tech startups across technology development, prototyping, testing and validation.
• Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary in the Office of the PSA, said the integration would simplify the discovery of relevant facilities for DPIIT-recognised startups and help address infrastructure-related barriers to technology development and innovation.
• Shri Ateesh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary at DPIIT, said startups would get better visibility of specialised research, testing and prototyping facilities. That should let them identify suitable infrastructure and reduce the need for independent capital investment in expensive equipment.

The numbers: two sources, two counts

The figures differ depending on where you read them, so it helps to keep them apart.

• PIB release: as of 6 November 2026, I-STEM listed 31,540 equipment items across 4,044 registered institutions.
• Startup India's I-STEM page: the banner cites "30,000+" advanced equipment and "4,000+" research facilities.

The page figures are rounded and are worded differently. PIB counts registered institutions, while the page says research facilities, so do not treat them as the same measure. The page also does not state how many institutions take part. If you need a figure for a deck or application, use the PIB number and say it is as of 6 November 2026.

What the Startup India page says

The page describes I-STEM as a national platform that connects users with research and testing infrastructure across India. Based on that page:

• Stated use cases are R&D testing, prototyping, validation and material testing.
• Users can search and book advanced equipment, research facilities and technical expertise.
• Incubators and facilities can list their equipment and facilities so they can be found.
• Digital MoUs enable preferential or subsidised rates where agreed. The page does not say which facilities have such agreements.
• There is a Register your Startup/Incubator link.

The same page does not state fees, eligibility criteria, booking steps or the number of participating institutions.

Host institutions still decide

The integration makes it easier to identify and request access, but it does not guarantee access. PIB states that individual requests will continue to be evaluated and approved by the respective host institutions. They will decide based on technical suitability, availability, applicable charges, safety requirements and institutional permissions.

So "applicable charges" means you should expect that some facilities charge. Nothing in the sources says the access is free, and no rates have been announced.

What is still ahead

PIB says the proposal is to add Single Sign-On (SSO) in subsequent phases. The idea is that DPIIT-recognised startups could then directly access I-STEM's scientific infrastructure and research facilities through the Startup India Portal. No timeline for that has been announced. PIB also says wider onboarding of research facilities, regular updating of infrastructure information and continued engagement with startups and host institutions will be essential to the initiative's reach.

What this means for you

• Only DPIIT-recognised startups are named. Eligibility beyond DPIIT recognition has not been announced, so do not assume anything further, in either direction.
• Deep-tech and hardware teams gain the most. If you need testing, prototyping or validation equipment you cannot afford to buy, start by listing what you need and checking what is available.
• Budget for charges and delay. Host institutions approve requests on availability and safety requirements as well as technical fit, so build waiting time into your product plan.
• Ask before you plan around a price. Digital MoUs may bring preferential or subsidised rates where agreed, but no rates are published in the sources.
• Do not wait for SSO. It is only proposed for later phases, so expect separate sign-ups for now unless the portals say otherwise.
• Incubators can list facilities too. If you run or sit inside an incubator with equipment, the Startup India page says facilities can list it to be discoverable.

Sources: PIB press release from the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser and DPIIT on the launch; Startup India's I-STEM page; Sahyadri Startups coverage of the launch.

Cover photo: Bhupathi Srinu on Unsplash