ICAR-CIRCOT R-ABI

ICAR-CIRCOT R-ABI is the RKVY-RAFTAAR Agri Business Incubator housed at the Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT) in Mumbai. CIRCOT, originally established in 1924 as the Technological Laboratory, is one of ICAR's premier research institutes focused on cotton and fibre technology. The R-ABI program was sanctioned under ICAR's National Agricultural Innovation Fund in 2016 to facilitate incubation of agri-startups and promote sustainable business ventures in agriculture and allied fields.

The incubator provides need-based physical, technical, business, and networking support to entrepreneurs developing innovative technologies. Current focus areas include antimicrobial textile finishing, degossypolised cottonseed meal for poultry feed, cotton-rubber composites, and nanocellulose applications in paper and composites. The R-ABI offers funding support of up to Rs 25 lakhs along with mentoring, expert sessions, prototype validation, and market and investor connectivity.

Who Benefits

Agritech and textile technology startups, particularly those working on cotton-based innovations, fibre technology, biomaterials, and nanocellulose applications. Entrepreneurs in the Mumbai region looking for domain-specific incubation in agricultural post-harvest technology and value-added cotton products.