Deeptech, Electronics & Robotics Startup Grants and Funding Programs in India — September 2026

As of September 2026, Deeptech, Electronics, and Robotics startups in India have access to ten active programs encompassing grants, seed funds, incubation support, and innovation competitions. These initiatives offer capital and resources for various stages of development.

The funding landscape for this sector is characterized by a mix of government-backed schemes, institutional incubation programs, and targeted competitions. These opportunities aim to foster innovation, product development, and market entry for advanced technological solutions across the country.

Active Deeptech, Electronics & Robotics Grants and Programs

iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway Prototype/PoC Funding Support (iCreate)

The iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway Prototype/PoC Funding Support provides funding and assistance for converting a proof-of-concept (PoC) or prototype into a market-ready product. iCreate, a government-recognised Technology Business Incubator, offers access to various government schemes from both national and state institutions.

Participants receive up to ₹30,00,000 in funding, coupled with holistic support. This includes business and technical mentorship, access to prototyping and digital innovation labs, and incubation support. The program facilitates connections with investors, industry partners, and the broader startup ecosystem, and provides hostel accommodation at the iCreate campus. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program at IITM Pravartak (IITM Pravartak)

The Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program at IITM Pravartak offers a pre-incorporation grant for innovators focusing on cyber-physical systems (CPS). IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, a Technology Innovation Hub under the NMICPS mission, administers this program from IIT Madras Research Park.

This program targets single innovators with a CPS idea, providing a grant of up to ₹4,20,000. The support includes runway and infrastructure to develop an idea into a working prototype or pilot. Successful EIRs are then channeled into Pravartak's incubation pipeline, which includes programs like PRAYAS and the Seed Support System, for follow-on funding once their company is established. This program operates with rolling applications.

NASSCOM CoE – IoT & AI Gurugram Incubation Program (NASSCOM)

The NASSCOM CoE – IoT & AI Gurugram Incubation Program, supported by MeitY and the Government of Haryana, accelerates technology startups in IoT and Artificial Intelligence. This subsidized incubation program focuses on infrastructure, ecosystem access, and enterprise integration rather than direct grant capital.

Selected startups gain access to co-working spaces and advanced prototyping labs, assisting with product development and technical validation. The program also provides shared complimentary GPU access, enabling AI-focused startups to train and test computational models. Applications are accepted continuously.

Soma Fellows (Soma)

Soma Fellows is an investment program from Soma, a firm with experience in building and investing in startups. Soma and the Ranadive family focus on supporting founders throughout their entrepreneurial journey, leveraging a global network and a track record that includes seeding over 30 unicorn companies across various technology sectors.

This program provides substantial funding for startups, with initial investments reaching up to ₹18.6 crore. Soma Fellows offers strategic guidance based on years of direct involvement in startup growth and investment. The program maintains rolling applications, accepting proposals from founders in diverse tech domains.

IHFC Startup Incubation Program (IHFC, IIT Delhi)

The IHFC Startup Incubation Program is an intensive incubation and acceleration initiative from I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC), hosted at IIT Delhi. IHFC, a Section 8 company under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NMICPS), aims to cultivate a globally competitive startup ecosystem for deep tech innovation in India.

The program focuses on advancing capabilities in Cyber Physical Systems (CPS), Robotics, Autonomous Systems, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This initiative supports startups in positioning India at the forefront of global technological leadership. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

CoE Innovation Challenge: AI-Powered Foreign Object Detection in Bulk Cargo Unloaders (nasscom CoE – IoT & AI)

The CoE Innovation Challenge: AI-Powered Foreign Object Detection in Bulk Cargo Unloaders is an initiative by the nasscom Centre of Excellence for IoT & AI, in partnership with MeitY and state governments. This challenge targets deep-tech startups to develop solutions for industrial problems.

The current focus, developed with a major port terminal operator, addresses detecting foreign objects in deep vessel holds during coal unloading. This problem poses safety and efficiency risks, as hidden debris can damage equipment and cause operational delays. The program seeks advanced AI solutions, operating with rolling submissions.

iDEX Open Challenge (Innovations for Defence Excellence)

The iDEX Open Challenge is a flagship initiative by the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) and iDEX. It aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in India's defence and aerospace sectors, connecting engineering talent with military requirements. The program seeks to harness advanced technological capabilities for national security.

This challenge offers up to ₹1,50,00,000 in funding. It targets engineers, startups, and MSMEs developing solutions in autonomous systems, intelligent machines, advanced materials, predictive algorithms, and rocket engines. The deadline for the current challenge is 30 September 2026.

Electropreneur Park OCP 3.0 Delhi (Electropreneur Park)

The Electropreneur Park OCP 3.0 Delhi is an Open Challenge Program (OCP) designed to support startups solving real-world problems in the Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) domain. It identifies and rewards early-stage tech entrepreneurs and innovators across India.

This program provides networking opportunities, seed funding, expert mentoring, and support for training, marketing, and patenting activities. Participants gain access to Electropreneur Park's Centers of Excellence (CoE) labs, specialized tools, software, and advanced incubation facilities. The deadline for applications is 6 October 2026.

Maruti Suzuki - NSRCEL Mobility Incubation Program (NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore)

The Maruti Suzuki - NSRCEL Mobility Incubation Program is a 6-month initiative from NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore's innovation hub, in partnership with Maruti Suzuki India Limited. It accelerates technology and mobility startups transforming the automotive sector.

This program provides up to ₹1,00,00,000 in funding. It targets ventures beyond the ideation phase, specifically those at the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or paid pilot stage, up to companies focused on growth and scale. The program fosters innovation in electric vehicles, advanced driver-assistance systems, data analytics, sustainable manufacturing, smart infrastructure, and IoT for mobility. Applications are processed on a rolling basis.

Social Alpha SpIN SpaceTech Innovation Program (Social Alpha)

Social Alpha's SpIN SpaceTech Innovation Program, supported by ISRO, is India's lab-to-market platform for SpaceTech entrepreneurs and startups. It aims to leverage space science and technology for sectors like aviation, transportation, urban planning, disaster management, and environmental monitoring.

SpIN fosters innovation and entrepreneurship in deep science and SpaceTech. The platform offers a support ecosystem including access to ISRO expertise and facilities, seed capital, and mentorship. It addresses the critical need for space-based solutions from grassroots level. Submissions for this program are accepted on a rolling basis.

Before Applying

Careful consideration of program-specific criteria is essential. For instance, the Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program at IITM Pravartak is specifically for pre-incorporation innovators with a Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) idea. The NSRCEL Mobility Incubation Program requires startups to be past the ideation stage, at MVP or paid pilot, focusing on specific mobility solutions.

Several programs have rolling deadlines, including iCreate Pro-Fund Gateway, IITM Pravartak EIR, NASSCOM CoE IoT & AI Gurugram, Soma Fellows, IHFC, NASSCOM CoE Innovation Challenge, and Maruti Suzuki - NSRCEL. However, the iDEX Open Challenge has a firm deadline of 30 September 2026, and the Electropreneur Park OCP 3.0 Delhi closes on 6 October 2026. Applicants should prioritize programs with imminent closing dates.