Cummins CSR Grant for Climate & Sustainability Tech – Venture Center
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Quick Answer
Up to ₹20L CSR grant for early-stage startups working on climate, clean energy, waste management, and sustainability solutions , Venture Center & Cummins.
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹20 Lakhs
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- Venture Center
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 20 May 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Venture Center. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
Venture Center has announced a Call for Applications for the Cummins CSR Grant , a grant of up to ₹20 lakh for early-stage technology entrepreneurs and startups working on environmental sustainability and climate change solutions. The grant supports pilot trials, field testing, technology implementation, proof-of-concept development, and prototyping efforts in clean energy and sustainability domains.
The grant is funded through Cummins India's corporate social responsibility programme and administered by Venture Center, a CSIR-NCL incubator based in Pune with a long track record of supporting science and technology-based startups. Cummins India's focus on sustainable power solutions makes this CSR grant particularly oriented toward real-world deployment and validation of clean technology innovations , the grant is specifically designed to fund the last-mile implementation and field testing stage, not just desktop R&D.
Eligible domains include energy efficiency, renewable and alternative energy, air pollution solutions, provisions for clean drinking water, waste-to-value and waste management, circular economy innovations, biomass utilisation, and carbon capture and utilisation. This covers a broad range of hardware and software solutions across the energy and environment stack , from solar and bioenergy technologies to industrial pollution control, water treatment, and carbon management platforms.
Venture Center's institutional infrastructure at NCL Innovation Park, Pune provides grantees with access to laboratory facilities, technical expertise from CSIR-NCL scientists, and a network of clean energy and sustainability startups. For early-stage climate tech founders looking to move from prototype to field-validated solution, this grant provides both the capital and the institutional support to do so.
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
Venture Center is a not-for-profit technology business incubator in Pune, hosted by CSIR's National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) on its 100-acre Innovation Park. Registered legally as Entrepreneurship Development Center, it is sector agnostic but concentrates on science-based…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Amount
- Up to ₹20 Lakhs
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Selected startups receive a CSR grant of up to ₹20 lakh to fund pilot trials, field testing, technology implementation, or prototyping in environmental sustainability and climate change domains. The grant is administered by Venture Center and funded through Cummins India's CSR programme.
- Application fee
- Free
- Funding source
- CSR funded
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Application Fee
Free
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
See the questions before you start
Download every question this programme's application form asks, so you can prepare your answers offline before opening the portal.
- 3
Line up your documents
Keep every document from the checklist ready in one folder. Missing docs are the #1 reason applications get bounced.
- 4
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 5
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the grant amount?
Up to ₹20 lakh per selected startup. The grant is funded through Cummins India's CSR programme and administered by Venture Center.
What domains are eligible?
Energy efficiency, renewable and alternative energy, air pollution solutions, clean drinking water, waste-to-value and waste management, circular economy, biomass utilisation, and carbon capture and utilisation.
What can the grant be used for?
Pilot trials, field testing, technology implementation, proof-of-concept development, and prototyping efforts. The grant is designed to fund real-world validation and deployment, not just desktop R&D.
What is the application window?
The call is open from 7 May to 20 May 2026. Applications must be submitted via the Google Form before the deadline.
Who should I contact for queries?
Contact Sneha Kulkarni at sneha.kulkarni@venturecenter.co.in or call +91-9960171623.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
