SIIC IIT Kanpur
Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST), IIT Kanpur
आईआईटी कानपुर का इनक्यूबेटर, जो कानपुर और नोएडा परिसरों से राष्ट्रीय डीप-टेक, रक्षा, ड्रोन, AI और मेडटेक कार्यक्रम चलाता है।
SIIC IIT Kanpur at a glance
| Part of | Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST), IIT Kanpur |
|---|---|
| Established | 2000 |
| Address | Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre, IIT Kanpur, Kalyanpur, Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh 208016 |
| Programmes | 17 standing programmes · 4 open calls right now |
| Stages supported | Idea, Prototype, MVP, Early revenue, Growth |
| Fees | Free — all 4 programmes that state a fee policy |
| Equity | 0 of 2 programmes that state a policy take no equity |
| Official website | siicincubator.com |
| siic@iitk.ac.in |
Programs by SIIC IIT Kanpur
4 open now · 16 past · Filter all programs
आगे क्या?
यह हाल ही में बंद हुआ है। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, दोबारा खुलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
यह काफ़ी पहले बंद हुआ था और हमें नहीं पता कि यह फिर चलेगा या नहीं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, चलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
अभी आवेदन बंद हैं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, दोबारा खुलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
आगे क्या?
अभी आवेदन बंद हैं। "मुझे बताएँ" दबाएँ, दोबारा खुलने पर हम ईमेल करेंगे।
Which SIIC IIT Kanpur programme fits you
17 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
By stage
- Idea
- General incubation at SIIC, StartinUP — Uttar Pradesh startup scheme, 5G/6G Centre of Excellence, GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence, BFI-bioME & IIT Kanpur bioinnovation programme, FutureSecure AI Innovation (FSAI), IITK FinTech Spark Program
- Prototype
- General incubation at SIIC, SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startups, Advaya Plastic Circularity Innovation Launchpad, StartinUP — Uttar Pradesh startup scheme, AIIDE Centre of Excellence, 5G/6G Centre of Excellence, UDAAN — Drone Centre of Excellence acceleration programme, DST-NIDHI Centre of Excellence in MedTech Innovations, GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence, TIDE 2.0 Challenge Grant, BFI-bioME & IIT Kanpur bioinnovation programme, EngSUI — Engineers India Startup Initiative, FutureSecure AI Innovation (FSAI)
- MVP
- General incubation at SIIC, SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startups, Advaya Plastic Circularity Innovation Launchpad, StartinUP — Uttar Pradesh startup scheme, AIIDE Centre of Excellence, 5G/6G Centre of Excellence, UDAAN — Drone Centre of Excellence acceleration programme, DST-NIDHI Centre of Excellence in MedTech Innovations, TIDE 2.0 Challenge Grant, EngSUI — Engineers India Startup Initiative
- Early revenue
- General incubation at SIIC, GENESIS Matching Investment Funding, SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startups, Advaya Plastic Circularity Innovation Launchpad, StartinUP — Uttar Pradesh startup scheme, AIIDE Centre of Excellence, UDAAN — Drone Centre of Excellence acceleration programme, DST-NIDHI Centre of Excellence in MedTech Innovations
- Growth
- GENESIS Matching Investment Funding
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General incubation at SIIC | Founders who want space, labs and mentorship at IIT Kanpur or Noida | Idea – Early revenue | Rolling — no closing date | In person | — |
| GENESIS Matching Investment FundingWith Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), MeitY Startup Hub | Revenue-stage deep-tech and ICT startups in Tier-II and Tier-III cities that have already raised outside money | Early revenue – Growth | 12 months | — | Free, takes equity |
| SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startupsWith SIDBI, iDEX | iDEX challenge winners in defence referred to FIRST by iDEX | Prototype – Early revenue | Rolling — no closing date given | — | Free, takes equity |
| Advaya Plastic Circularity Innovation LaunchpadWith Pernod Ricard India Foundation | Startups tackling plastic waste, recycling and pollution | Prototype – Early revenue | — | — | — |
| StartinUP — Uttar Pradesh startup schemeWith Government of Uttar Pradesh | Startups registered in Uttar Pradesh | Idea – Early revenue | Rolling — no closing date | — | — |
| Design Component of the MSME Innovative SchemeWith Ministry of MSME | Registered MSMEs that need design help with a product | — | Rolling — no closing date | — | — |
| AIIDE Centre of ExcellenceWith FICCI, Government of Uttar Pradesh | AI and machine learning startups, including those applying AI in another sector | Prototype – Early revenue | — | In person | — |
| 5G/6G Centre of ExcellenceWith Government of Uttar Pradesh | Startups and MSMEs building 5G, 5G+ or 6G technology, incorporated in Uttar Pradesh | Idea – MVP | — | — | — |
| UDAAN — Drone Centre of Excellence acceleration programmeWith Government of Uttar Pradesh | Early-stage drone, UAV and UAS startups | Prototype – Early revenue | — | In person | — |
| DST-NIDHI Centre of Excellence in MedTech InnovationsWith Department of Science and Technology (DST) | Medtech and medical device startups and innovators | Prototype – Early revenue | — | In person | — |
| GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-ResidenceWith Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), MeitY Startup Hub | Individual innovators and very early founders from Tier-II and Tier-III cities | Idea – Prototype | — | In person | Free |
| TIDE 2.0 Challenge GrantWith Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) | ICT and electronics startups at product development stage | Prototype – MVP | — | — | Free |
| BFI-bioME & IIT Kanpur bioinnovation programmeWith BFI-bioME Network | Individual biomedical innovators and early biomedical startups | Idea – Prototype | — | — | — |
| EngSUI — Engineers India Startup InitiativeWith Engineers India Limited | Engineering, energy and infrastructure startups | Prototype – MVP | — | — | — |
| FutureSecure AI Innovation (FSAI)With Shibodhi Foundation | IIT Kanpur students working on AI or cybersecurity | Idea – Prototype | — | — | — |
| IITK FinTech Spark Program | IIT Kanpur undergraduate teams working on fintech | Idea | — | — | — |
| GRID-INDIA Power System Awards (GIPSA)With GRID-INDIA | Indian Master's and doctoral researchers in power systems | — | — | — | — |
Track record
What SIIC IIT Kanpur reports about its portfolio.
These are SIIC's own published numbers. Its pages do not agree with each other: the startup total appears as over 200, over 300, over 500 and over 550 on four different pages, while the directory itself lists 261. The four counters on its home page never load and show zero.
All figures self-reported — siicincubator.com, as of Sept 2026.
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at SIIC IIT Kanpur, separate from the funding calls above.
SIIC runs named, funded programmes rather than one general cohort, and its programmes page lists 46 of them. Five were open when this page was checked. Most of the rest are between intakes rather than permanently gone, so check the programmes page before assuming a call is dead.
General incubation at SIIC
IncubationSIIC's open application for founders who want space, labs, mentorship and a portfolio manager at IIT Kanpur or Noida.
Best for: Founders who want space, labs and mentorship at IIT Kanpur or Noida
- Idea – Early revenue
- Rolling — no closing date
- In person
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
This is the way in if you are not applying to a specific funded call. Applications are open all year through SIIC's incubation portal, and you can apply as a company with a CIN or as an individual.
What you get
- A seat in SIIC's co-working space at IIT Kanpur or Noida, with 24-hour access, meeting rooms, printing, power backup and event space
- Shared access to IIT Kanpur's labs and instruments, booked through your portfolio manager
- An assigned portfolio manager, business mentorship, and industry and investor connects
- Eligibility to be put forward for SIIC's funded programmes as they open
Who can apply
- Founders from anywhere, not only IIT Kanpur people — the form's options are IIT Kanpur alumnus, FEP or External
- Individuals as well as registered companies
- Applicants are asked for a DPIIT recognition certificate
- You must declare any existing association with another incubator
How selection works: SIIC reviews the written application, the pitch deck and the video, then takes shortlisted teams forward.
How to apply: Fill the incubation application on SIIC's incubation portal, reachable from the Incubate Now button on its site. You will need co-founder CVs and KYC, a pitch deck, a video link and your DPIIT certificate. General questions go to siic@iitk.ac.in.
GENESIS Matching Investment Funding
Grant schemeMatching investment for DPIIT-recognised startups in Tier-II and Tier-III cities that have already raised outside money.
Best for: Revenue-stage deep-tech and ICT startups in Tier-II and Tier-III cities that have already raised outside money
- Early revenue – Growth
- 12 months
- Free, takes equity
- Grant support for selected startups
With Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), MeitY Startup Hub
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
A Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology programme that SIIC runs for startups outside the metros. It matches money you have already raised from investors, and the instrument is equity.
What you get
- Matching investment support, provided as equity
- Connections to industry leaders, CSR partners, venture capitalists, angel investors, customers and global markets
- Business mentorship on investment readiness, market access and scale-up
- Co-working space and technical mentorship with access to IIT Kanpur infrastructure
Who can apply
- Registered Indian private limited companies with at least 51% Indian ownership
- Registered in a Tier-II or Tier-III city
- Holding a valid DPIIT recognition certificate
- Building a technology product or software in electronic design and manufacturing, deep-tech software and products, or ICT — service-only platforms are discouraged
- With a market-ready product, preferably already earning revenue, and preferably with granted patents
- Having raised outside funding; government grants do not count towards the match
- Not in any legal dispute, and not previously supported under TIDE 2.0 Scale-up or SAMRIDH
How selection works: Apply on the MeitY portal, then eligibility screening, internal evaluation and announcement of grantees. The programme period is 12 months.
How to apply: Apply through the MeitY portal linked from the programme page. Questions go to tide2.0@iitkfirst.com.
Seed investment at FIRST, IIT Kanpur for defence startups that have won an iDEX challenge and been referred by iDEX.
Best for: iDEX challenge winners in defence referred to FIRST by iDEX
- Prototype – Early revenue
- Rolling — no closing date given
- Free, takes equity
- Grant support for selected startups
With SIDBI, iDEX
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
A standing SIDBI-backed fund for defence and related sectors, run at FIRST, IIT Kanpur. It is meant to take an iDEX winner from a funded trial to manufacturing and sales. Both startups already incubated at SIIC and those that are not can be considered, as long as iDEX referred them.
What you get
- Seed funding as equity or equity-like investment, released against milestones
- Support for testing, trials, prototype development and validation
- Support for pilot manufacturing, field trials, product launch and scale-up
- Access to the FIRST and SIIC defence innovation networks
Who can apply
- Indian private limited companies incorporated at least one year before applying
- iDEX challenge winners who have received grant support from iDEX
- Referred by iDEX for support to FIRST
- Recognised as a startup with DPIIT
How selection works: Applications open, then internal screening, an investment committee review, the selection announcement, due diligence, and disbursement against milestones.
How to apply: Apply through the form linked on the programme page.
A launchpad for startups working on plastic waste, recycling and pollution, now in its second cohort.
Best for: Startups tackling plastic waste, recycling and pollution
- Prototype – Early revenue
With Pernod Ricard India Foundation
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Advaya supports startups building circular solutions for plastic waste. The first cohort was run with the Pernod Ricard India Foundation; the second cohort is open, with applications going to the programme portal.
What you get
- Mentorship for circular-economy and sustainability ventures
- Access to SIIC IIT Kanpur's startup ecosystem
- Support for plastic circularity and impact-focused solutions
Who can apply
- Startups working on plastic circularity and waste management
- Solutions with measurable environmental or climate impact
How selection works: Apply on the programme portal, then screening and evaluation, selection and onboarding.
How to apply: Apply on the programme portal linked from the Advaya page.
StartinUP — Uttar Pradesh startup scheme
Grant schemeThe Uttar Pradesh government's own startup scheme, listed by SIIC and applied for on the state portal.
Best for: Startups registered in Uttar Pradesh
- Idea – Early revenue
- Rolling — no closing date
With Government of Uttar Pradesh
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
StartinUP is the state government's scheme to build startup activity across Uttar Pradesh. SIIC lists it among its open programmes, but you register and apply on the state portal rather than with SIIC.
What you get
- Financial assistance under the state's schemes
- Mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs
- Access to the Uttar Pradesh startup ecosystem and its networks
Who can apply
- Startups registered in Uttar Pradesh
- Working on innovation and emerging technologies, with employment-generation potential
How selection works: Register on the StartinUP portal, pick a scheme and apply, then evaluation and support.
How to apply: Register on the StartinUP portal.
Design Component of the MSME Innovative Scheme
Grant schemeDesign help for registered MSMEs, with IIT Kanpur as the scheme's implementation partner.
Best for: Registered MSMEs that need design help with a product
- Rolling — no closing date
With Ministry of MSME
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Under this Ministry of MSME scheme, experienced designers advise MSMEs on new products and on improving the ones they already sell. IIT Kanpur is the implementation partner for the design component.
What you get
- Specialised guidance from experienced designers
- Support towards the cost of design consultation
- Help with new product development and improving an existing product range
Who can apply
- Registered MSME units
- Manufacturing or product-based businesses with product development or improvement plans
How selection works: Register and apply as an MSME, then a design needs assessment, a designer is assigned, and the design work is carried out.
How to apply: Apply on the MSME Innovative Scheme portal.
AIIDE Centre of Excellence
Centre of ExcellenceA Noida centre for AI-driven entrepreneurship, set up by FIRST-IIT Kanpur with FICCI and now on its sixth cohort.
Best for: AI and machine learning startups, including those applying AI in another sector
- Prototype – Early revenue
- In person
- Grant support for selected startups
With FICCI, Government of Uttar Pradesh
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
AIIDE is a domain centre for AI and machine learning startups, established in Noida by FIRST-IIT Kanpur with FICCI and run under the Government of Uttar Pradesh. It takes cohorts, and the sixth has closed, so watch for the next call.
What you get
- Mentorship, networking, training and research and development support
- Infrastructure, including co-working space at the Noida centre
- Funding opportunities for selected startups
Who can apply
- Startups registered with DPIIT and with StartinUP
- Working in AI or machine learning, or applying it in medtech, agritech, edtech, fintech, cleantech, defence, IoT and similar fields
How selection works: Submit an application, then evaluation and shortlisting, a pitch presentation, and incubation and support for selected teams.
How to apply: Apply on SIIC's connect portal when a cohort opens. Questions go to aiidecoe@iitkfirst.com.
5G/6G Centre of Excellence
Centre of ExcellenceA Uttar Pradesh–backed centre for 5G and 6G startups, taking cohorts and entrepreneurs-in-residence.
Best for: Startups and MSMEs building 5G, 5G+ or 6G technology, incorporated in Uttar Pradesh
- Idea – MVP
- Grant support for selected startups
With Government of Uttar Pradesh
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Supported by the Government of Uttar Pradesh under its Startup Policy 2020, this centre backs work on 5G, 5G+ and 6G — as a launchpad for startups, a sandbox for researchers and a bridge between academia and industry. Its second cohort has closed. It also runs a 5G/6G Innovation Hackathon that is open more widely, including to students and individual developers.
What you get
- Support to develop and deploy 5G and beyond technologies
- Access to the centre and to IIT Kanpur's ecosystem
- Funding support for selected startups and entrepreneurs-in-residence
Who can apply
- Startups and MSMEs at ideation, prototype or MVP stage working on 5G, 5G+ or 6G
- Applicants at MVP stage need a working prototype; entrepreneur-in-residence applicants submit a concept note
- Incorporated applicants must be incorporated in Uttar Pradesh, and selected entrepreneurs-in-residence must register a company there within 60 days of funding being sanctioned
- Relevant areas include enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communications, ultra-reliable low-latency communication, edge computing, IoT, AI use cases, healthcare, smart cities, Industry 4.0, defence and transport
How to apply: Apply on SIIC's programme portal when a cohort opens. Questions go to coe5g-6g@iitkfirst.com.
An acceleration and networking programme for drone and UAV startups, run with the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Best for: Early-stage drone, UAV and UAS startups
- Prototype – Early revenue
- In person
With Government of Uttar Pradesh
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
UDAAN is SIIC's drone programme, run with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and IIT Kanpur. It connects users, developers, researchers, manufacturers and service providers, and gives selected startups access to the Drone Centre of Excellence.
What you get
- Access to the Centre of Excellence facilities
- UAV and UAS testing
- Mentorship from IIT Kanpur experts
- Support with product development, test and design verification, and technical consultancy
Who can apply
- Early-stage startups with a product that is ready enough to test
- Teams with at least two full-time co-founders
- Working on unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned aircraft systems or drones
- DPIIT-registered startups must be incorporated as a private limited company
- Annual turnover must stay under the ceiling stated on the programme page
How to apply: Apply on SIIC's connect portal when the call is open. Questions go to the drone centre's inbox listed on the programme page.
DST-NIDHI Centre of Excellence in MedTech Innovations
Centre of ExcellenceSIIC's medical technology centre on the Kanpur campus, supported by the Department of Science and Technology.
Best for: Medtech and medical device startups and innovators
- Prototype – Early revenue
- In person
With Department of Science and Technology (DST)
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The MedTech Centre of Excellence sits in the Diamond Jubilee Academia Complex on the IIT Kanpur campus. It exists to help medical technology innovators turn a device into a product that can be sold, and it is supported by the Department of Science and Technology.
What you get
- Dedicated office space and medtech infrastructure
- A preclinical testing facility and clinical validation support
- IP and regulatory support
- Technical mentorship and healthcare industry connections
- Funding and investment support, and help with commercialisation and market access
Who can apply
- Startups and innovators working on medical technologies
How to apply: Apply through the centre's own site. Questions go to medtech.coe@iitkfirst.com.
GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence
FellowshipA MeitY-funded residency for early-stage innovators from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, now between cohorts.
Best for: Individual innovators and very early founders from Tier-II and Tier-III cities
- Idea – Prototype
- In person
- Free
- Grant support for selected startups
With Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), MeitY Startup Hub
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
GENESIS EiR backs individual innovators and very young startups in electronics, IT, ICT and deep tech, from towns outside the metros. Selected entrepreneurs-in-residence are incubated in person and get help turning an idea into a proof of concept, a prototype and then an MVP. The third cohort has closed.
What you get
- Structured incubation and mentoring to build a proof of concept, prototype or MVP
- Financial assistance for selected entrepreneurs-in-residence
Who can apply
- Indian citizens, as early-stage innovators or founders
- A registered entity must be no more than two years old
- You must come from or operate in a Tier-II or Tier-III city
- You must be physically incubated with the implementing agency for the residency
- DPIIT recognition is verified where it applies
- You must not have had GENESIS EiR or an overlapping MeitY scheme before, and not have had significant government support for the same idea
How to apply: Apply through the MeitY Startup Hub portal when a cohort opens, choosing FIRST IIT Kanpur. Questions go to tide2.0@iitkfirst.com.
TIDE 2.0 Challenge Grant
Grant schemeA MeitY-funded grant for ICT and electronics startups. Closed at SIIC — watch for the next call.
Best for: ICT and electronics startups at product development stage
- Prototype – MVP
- Free
- Grant support for selected startups
With Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
TIDE 2.0 is the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's scheme for ICT-enabled products, and SIIC has run both its Challenge Grant and its MVP Grant. Both calls are closed.
What you get
- Grant support and mentorship to develop a scalable technology product
Who can apply
- Startups in ICT and electronics with an innovative technology solution
- DPIIT-registered, at product development stage, with a scalable business model
How to apply: Applications ran through SIIC's own portal. Questions go to tide2.0@iitkfirst.com.
A fellowship and kickstarter for medical device, diagnostics and surgical technology innovators. Closed.
Best for: Individual biomedical innovators and early biomedical startups
- Idea – Prototype
- Grant support for selected startups
With BFI-bioME Network
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Run with the BFI-bioME Network, this programme had two parts: a fellowship for individual innovators and a kickstarter for biomedical startups. The last call closed in February 2025.
What you get
- A fellowship or kickstarter grant
- Mentorship, incubation support, workshops and networking
- Access to IIT Kanpur facilities
Who can apply
- Fellowship: Indian nationals aged 21 or over, working on medical devices, in-vitro diagnostics or surgical technology at an early technology readiness level, with at least four years of science or engineering education after school, willing to work full-time without other income, and willing to incubate with SIIC under the institute's incubation policy
- Kickstarter: startups registered in India within the past seven years, with at least 51% of equity held by Indian citizens
How to apply: Applications ran through the programme page when open.
EngSUI — Engineers India Startup Initiative
Grant schemeA programme with Engineers India Limited for startups in engineering, energy and infrastructure. Closed.
Best for: Engineering, energy and infrastructure startups
- Prototype – MVP
- Grant support for selected startups
With Engineers India Limited
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
EngSUI is Engineers India Limited's startup initiative under Startup India, run with SIIC. The last call closed in September 2025.
What you get
- Incubation and support for ideas EIL considers worth backing
Who can apply
- DPIIT-registered startups in engineering and infrastructure
- Working in energy, infrastructure or related fields that match EIL's areas
- With a commercialisable idea
How to apply: Applications ran through SIIC's portal when open.
FutureSecure AI Innovation (FSAI)
FellowshipAn AI and cybersecurity programme for IIT Kanpur students, backed by the Shibodhi Foundation. Closed.
Best for: IIT Kanpur students working on AI or cybersecurity
- Idea – Prototype
- Grant support for selected startups
With Shibodhi Foundation
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
FSAI is for IIT Kanpur student innovators working on AI, cyber security and fields that combine the two. It gives them mentorship and industry exposure to turn an idea into a startup. A related 2026 programme supports IIT Kanpur undergraduate teams with prototype funding for two winners.
What you get
- Structured mentorship and industry immersion
- Prototype funding for the winning teams in the undergraduate edition
Who can apply
- Student innovators from IIT Kanpur only
- Working on AI, cybersecurity, or interdisciplinary areas that use them
How to apply: Applications ran through SIIC's connect portal. Questions go to fsai@iitkfirst.com.
IITK FinTech Spark Program
CompetitionA fintech programme for IIT Kanpur undergraduate teams. Closed.
Best for: IIT Kanpur undergraduate teams working on fintech
- Idea
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
FinTech Spark supports IIT Kanpur undergraduate teams building fintech products, with the aim of turning the best of them into startups. It is supported by a donor, Mr. Lokvir Kapoor. The last call closed in March 2026.
Who can apply
- IIT Kanpur undergraduates who have completed their fourth semester
- Any department
- Teams of two or three students
How to apply: Applications ran through SIIC's connect portal.
GRID-INDIA Power System Awards (GIPSA)
CompetitionAn annual national award for Master's and doctoral research in power systems, implemented by SIIC.
Best for: Indian Master's and doctoral researchers in power systems
With GRID-INDIA
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
GIPSA recognises Indian postgraduate and doctoral research in power systems, and SIIC implements it for GRID-INDIA. The 2026-27 round was the fifteenth edition, so it recurs every year. This is a research award, not an incubation programme.
Who can apply
- Indian citizens only
- Research in power systems or allied fields, including system operations, electricity markets, renewable energy integration and data-driven power system technologies
- Master's applicants must have received their degree in the award year; doctoral applicants must have completed three years, submitted their thesis or received their degree
- Previous winners cannot reapply in the same category
How to apply: Apply on SIIC's programme portal when the round opens. Questions go to gipsa@iitkfirst.com.
Labs & facilities
Equipment and space on campus.
The labs belong to IIT Kanpur and are made available to SIIC startups; the co-working space is SIIC's own. Booking goes through your portfolio manager and a facility request, usually confirmed within 24 to 48 hours.
Electronics and PCB Lab
Access via IIT Kanpur
Oscilloscopes, signal generators, soldering stations and PCB fabrication tools for hardware prototyping.
Fabrication and Workshop
Access via IIT Kanpur
CNC machines, laser cutters, welding stations and precision tools for mechanical parts.
3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping
Access via IIT Kanpur
FDM, SLA and SLS printers for going from CAD to a physical part.
Computing and Software Lab
Access via IIT Kanpur
High-performance workstations, GPU clusters and licensed software for AI, simulation and development.
Biotech and Life Sciences Lab
Access via IIT Kanpur
Biosafety cabinets, centrifuges, microscopy and cell culture facilities.
Testing and Characterisation
Access via IIT Kanpur
Thermal imaging, spectrum analysers, material testing and quality assurance equipment. Named instruments include a scanning electron microscope, an atomic force microscope, an X-ray diffractometer, HPLC, a UV-Vis spectrophotometer and a thermal gravimetric analyser.
Cleanroom and Microfabrication Bay
Access via IIT Kanpur
Listed among the notable equipment open to resident startups, alongside a wind tunnel and aerodynamics rig, an RF and microwave test bench and an environmental testing chamber.
Co-working space at Kanpur and Noida
150,000 sq ft across the two campuses, with 24-hour access, flexible workstations, high-speed internet and printing, meeting and conference rooms, breakout zones, power backup, secure access, event space and startup accommodation.
MedTech Centre of Excellence facilities
Dedicated office space, medtech infrastructure, a preclinical testing facility and clinical validation support at the DST-NIDHI CoE on the Kanpur campus.
Support services
Help offered alongside funding and space.
Mentorship, investor and industry connects come with the programmes. IP, regulatory and clinical support are offered through the DST-NIDHI Centre of Excellence in MedTech Innovations.
Business advisory
Business mentorship on investment readiness, market access, growth strategy and scale-up planning, plus a portfolio manager for each incubated startup.
IP & patents
IP support through the DST-NIDHI MedTech Centre of Excellence. SIIC also has a patents page.
Regulatory support
Regulatory support for medical device ventures through the MedTech Centre of Excellence.
Clinical trial support
Preclinical testing and clinical validation support through the MedTech Centre of Excellence.
Market access
Industry, CSR and investor connects, and commercialisation and market access support through the Centres of Excellence.
Recognitions & empanelments
Official approvals this incubator holds.
Each of these is stated on SIIC's own pages. SIIC also lists NIDHI Seed Support System, NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence, the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme and BIRAC schemes among its past programmes, but no page states that SIIC holds those designations, so they are not claimed here.
DST-NIDHI Centre of Excellence in MedTech Innovations
SIIC's MedTech CoE site describes it as an initiative supported by the Department of Science and Technology. The site does not say for what period it is funded.
DST-NIDHI PRAYAS centre
SIIC's PRAYAS page states that SIIC, IIT Kanpur is one of the PRAYAS centres. That page is a closed call from 2021, so whether the designation is current cannot be told from the site.
Government of Uttar Pradesh — 5G/6G and AIIDE Centres of Excellence
The 5G/6G Centre of Excellence is described as supported by the Government of Uttar Pradesh under its Startup Policy 2020; the AIIDE cohorts are run under the state government, and the Drone CoE in collaboration with it.
MeitY GENESIS implementing agency
SIIC runs the GENESIS Matching Investment and GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence programmes funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the MeitY application portal names FIRST IIT Kanpur as the source.
SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startups
Run at FIRST for startups referred by iDEX.
Design Component of the MSME Innovative Scheme
SIIC's page states that IIT Kanpur is the implementation partner for this scheme in partnership with the Ministry of MSME.
How to apply to SIIC IIT Kanpur
Start with the right door
SIIC has two ways in and they are not interchangeable.
- General incubation. The "Incubate Now" button on SIIC's site opens its incubation application. Use this if you want space, labs, mentorship and a portfolio manager rather than a specific funded call.
- A named programme. Each of SIIC's programmes has its own page, its own eligibility rules and its own portal. Several of them send you to a government site, not to SIIC.
If you are chasing money for a particular kind of work — defence, drones, plastic waste, AI, 5G, medtech — go to the programme page first. The general form will not put you in a funded cohort.
What the general form asks for
- Whether you are applying as a company with a CIN, or as an individual.
- Whether you are an IIT Kanpur alumnus, an FEP applicant, or External. Outside founders are an expected category, so do not be put off by the IIT Kanpur name.
- Whether you are already with another incubator, and since when.
- Co-founder details, CVs and KYC for each founder.
- A one-line problem statement, your solution, your vision, your business model, your IP and patent status, and how the business scales — most fields are capped at a few hundred words.
- Funds raised to date, split into equity, debt and grant.
- A video link, a pitch deck, and a DPIIT recognition certificate.
Get DPIIT recognition before you start. It is asked for on the general form and on most of the funded programmes.
Check the eligibility gates before you write anything
SIIC's programmes are gated in ways that are easy to miss:
- Where you are registered. GENESIS wants a Tier-II or Tier-III city. The 5G/6G Centre of Excellence wants incorporation in Uttar Pradesh, and gives selected entrepreneurs-in-residence 60 days to register there. StartinUP is for startups registered in Uttar Pradesh.
- How you got there. The SIDBI defence fund only takes iDEX challenge winners who have been referred to FIRST by iDEX and have already had an iDEX grant.
- Company age and shape. Several programmes want a private limited company, at least 51% Indian-held, and under a stated age.
- Prior support. GENESIS Matching excludes startups already supported under TIDE 2.0 Scale-up or SAMRIDH, and GENESIS EiR excludes anyone who has had significant government support for the same idea.
- Student-only programmes. FutureSecure AI and IITK FinTech Spark are for IIT Kanpur students. GIPSA is for researchers.
How selection works
Most SIIC programmes follow the same four or five beats: you apply on a portal, SIIC screens you for eligibility, an internal or investment committee evaluates you, selected teams are announced, and funding is released against milestones after due diligence. Some add a pitch presentation — AIIDE does. Expect the evaluation to look at the technology and whether it is really a product, at whether you can commercialise it, and at the team.
What reviewers look for
- A product, not a service. GENESIS says plainly that service-only platforms are discouraged.
- Evidence the technology works: a prototype, a pilot, a trial, granted IP. Preference goes to startups with patents.
- A clear path to customers and revenue. Several programmes prefer applicants who are already selling.
- A committed full-time team. Fellowships expect you not to be drawing a salary elsewhere; UDAAN wants two full-time co-founders.
- Nothing outstanding against you — a clean legal position is an explicit condition on at least one programme.
Practical notes
- Closing dates are short and the programmes page marks each call Active or Closed. Check it rather than relying on a page you saw earlier.
- Several Centres of Excellence run repeat cohorts, so a closed call often reopens. AIIDE is on its sixth cohort, the 5G/6G CoE on its second, and the GRID-INDIA awards on their fifteenth edition.
- Once you are incubated, lab and equipment bookings go through your portfolio manager and a facility request, usually confirmed within 24 to 48 hours.
- General questions go to siic@iitk.ac.in. Programme pages carry their own inbox — for example aiidecoe@iitkfirst.com for AIIDE, coe5g-6g@iitkfirst.com for the 5G/6G Centre of Excellence, gipsa@iitkfirst.com for the GRID-INDIA awards and medtech.coe@iitkfirst.com for the MedTech Centre of Excellence.
About SIIC IIT Kanpur
The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) is the startup incubator at IIT Kanpur. It was established in 2000 and now operates under the Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST), IIT Kanpur. It works from two sites: the IIT Kanpur campus at Kalyanpur, Kanpur (208016), and a Noida Outreach Centre in Sector 62 (201309).
SIIC's own startup directory lists 261 companies, in agritech, AI and machine learning, cleantech, cybersecurity and fintech, defence, energy storage, IoT, medtech and biotech, and quantum. Its other pages claim different totals, so the count below is the one you can check against the list itself.
How programmes work
SIIC does not run one general cohort. It runs a long list of named programmes, most of them funded by a ministry, a state government, a bank or a corporate foundation, and each with its own eligibility rules, portal and closing date. Its programmes page lists 46 in all. Five were open when this page was checked, and the other 41 are finished or between intakes.
The open ones are the GENESIS Matching Investment Funding programme for startups in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, the second Advaya cohort for plastic circularity, the SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for defence startups referred by iDEX, the Uttar Pradesh government's StartinUP scheme, and the Design Component of the MSME Innovative Scheme, for which IIT Kanpur is the implementation partner.
SIIC also runs four Centres of Excellence, each with its own cohorts: a DST-NIDHI Centre of Excellence in MedTech Innovations on the Kanpur campus, a 5G/6G Centre of Excellence backed by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the AIIDE Centre of Excellence for AI-driven entrepreneurship in Noida, set up with FICCI, and a Drone Centre of Excellence behind the UDAAN programme. These reopen for new cohorts, so a closed call is usually worth watching rather than writing off.
Who can apply
You do not need to be from IIT Kanpur. The general incubation form asks whether you are an IIT Kanpur alumnus, an FEP applicant or External, so outside founders are an expected category. It also lets you apply as an individual rather than as a company, though it asks for a DPIIT recognition certificate, a pitch deck and a link to a video, and asks you to declare any association with another incubator.
Programme by programme the rules are tighter, and they differ a lot. GENESIS Matching is only for DPIIT-recognised private limited companies registered in a Tier-II or Tier-III city that have already raised outside money. The SIDBI defence fund is only for iDEX challenge winners referred to FIRST by iDEX, incorporated at least a year. The 5G/6G Centre of Excellence expects incorporated applicants to be incorporated in Uttar Pradesh, and gives selected entrepreneurs-in-residence 60 days to register a company there. AIIDE asks for both DPIIT and StartinUP registration. UDAAN wants at least two full-time co-founders and a turnover under its stated ceiling.
Two of SIIC's programmes are open only to IIT Kanpur students: the FutureSecure AI Innovation programme and the IITK FinTech Spark programme, the latter for undergraduate teams of two or three past their fourth semester. The GRID-INDIA Power System Awards are for Master's and doctoral researchers, not for startups at all. Read each page before you apply; the general form is not a route into a specific programme.
Facilities
Startups get shared access to IIT Kanpur's research infrastructure rather than to labs SIIC owns. The labs page describes more than 50 specialised labs across electronics, biotech, materials science, software and advanced manufacturing, with more than 500 instruments and 24-hour access. Named equipment includes a scanning electron microscope, an atomic force microscope, an X-ray diffractometer, HPLC, a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, a thermal gravimetric analyser, a wind tunnel, an RF and microwave test bench, a cleanroom and microfabrication bay, and an environmental testing chamber. There are also grouped facilities for electronics and PCB work, fabrication and machining, 3D printing, high-performance and GPU computing, biotech and life sciences, and testing and characterisation.
Access runs through your portfolio manager: you tell them what you need, submit a facility request on SIIC's connect portal, and the lab coordinator confirms a slot, usually within 24 to 48 hours. You turn up with your ID and any safety training certificates the lab requires.
The co-working side is stated as 150,000 sq ft across Kanpur and Noida, with round-the-clock access, meeting and conference rooms, printing, power backup, secure access, breakout areas, event space and startup accommodation. The MedTech Centre of Excellence adds dedicated office space, a preclinical testing facility and clinical validation support.
Scale
SIIC's startups directory lists 261 companies, among them Offgrid Energy Labs, Ananant Systems, Curadev, Phool, EndureAir, Noccarc Robotics, Kritsnam Technologies, Aereo, GEOKNO India, Lenek Technologies, LCB Fertilizers, E Spin Nanotech and Cluix. Its other pages give the number of startups supported as over 200, over 300, over 500 and over 550, so treat any single figure with care. The four counters on its home page are broken and show zero to every visitor. Its partners page lists 62 partners, and its team page lists 60 people.
Who runs it
Prof. Deepu Philip is Professor In-Charge, Dr. Ashutosh Agnihotri is Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Piyush Mishra is COO and CFO. The board is chaired by Prof. Manindra Agrawal, with Prof. Braj Bhushan, Prof. Deepu Philip, Prof. Tarun Gupta, Mr. Srikant Sastri and Mr. Norbert Fernandes as directors. Below them the team is organised by domain, with a general manager for medtech, for defence and aerospace, for greentech and cleantech, for CSR and agritech, for quantum and cybersecurity, and for AI and machine learning, plus a separate operations side covering finance, legal, IT, administration, investment, portfolio management and outreach. Several staff are posted at Noida.
Locations, careers and events
The main address is the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre, IIT Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016; the Noida Outreach Centre is in Sector 62, Noida 201309. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. SIIC has a careers page with three routes — working at SIIC, working for one of its startups, and the Young Professional Program for graduates with up to two years of experience — and it showed no open roles when this page was checked. Upcoming events and news are listed on the site, and SIIC also has pages for joining as a mentor or as an investor.
Get in touch
Send a message to SIIC IIT Kanpur — we'll forward it on your behalf.
Who they work with
Stage
Sectors
Technology
Tags
Notable alumni
The team
Prof. Deepu Philip
Professor In-Charge; also a Director on the board
Dr. Ashutosh Agnihotri
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Piyush Mishra
COO and CFO
Prof. Manindra Agrawal
Chairman and Director
Prof. Braj Bhushan
Director
Prof. Tarun Gupta
Director
Mr. Srikant Sastri
Director
Mr. Norbert Fernandes
Director
Dr. Deepti Chugh
General Manager, MedTech
Dr. Sarvesh Sonkar
General Manager, Defence & Aerospace and the DST MedTech Centre of Excellence
Dr. Neelakshi
General Manager, GreenTech, CleanTech, SocialTech and MSME
Surbhi Awasthi
General Manager, CSR and AgriTech (Noida)
Dr. Amruta Gadge
General Manager, Quantum and Cybersecurity (Noida)
Dr. Gopal Krishna Dixit
General Manager, AI/ML and the AIIDE Centre of Excellence
Dr. Amrita De Adhikari
Senior Manager, IoT and Energy Storage Devices
Arohi Singh
Senior Manager, Portfolio Compliance and Mentorship Management
Frequently asked questions about SIIC IIT Kanpur
What does SIIC IIT Kanpur do?
The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) is the startup incubator at IIT Kanpur. It was established in 2000 and now operates under the Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST), IIT Kanpur.
Where is SIIC IIT Kanpur located?
SIIC IIT Kanpur is located at Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre, IIT Kanpur, Kalyanpur, Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh 208016.
What programs does SIIC IIT Kanpur run?
SIIC IIT Kanpur currently has 4 open programmes: Youth Entrepreneurs Challenge 2027, UDAAN Drone Center of Excellence Program, StartinUp and Rooma Ajay Dubey HII Healthcare Immersion. 16 further programmes have run in the past.
Which SIIC IIT Kanpur programme should I apply to?
It depends on how far along your startup is. Idea stage: General incubation at SIIC, StartinUP — Uttar Pradesh startup scheme, 5G/6G Centre of Excellence and GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence and others. Prototype stage: General incubation at SIIC, SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startups, Advaya Plastic Circularity Innovation Launchpad and StartinUP — Uttar Pradesh startup scheme and others. MVP stage: General incubation at SIIC, SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startups, Advaya Plastic Circularity Innovation Launchpad and StartinUP — Uttar Pradesh startup scheme and others. Early revenue stage: General incubation at SIIC, GENESIS Matching Investment Funding, SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startups and Advaya Plastic Circularity Innovation Launchpad and others. Growth stage: GENESIS Matching Investment Funding. Check the programme's own eligibility before applying — several programmes are sector-specific.
Do SIIC IIT Kanpur programmes charge a fee?
No. Every SIIC IIT Kanpur programme that states a fee policy is free to join, including GENESIS Matching Investment Funding, SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startups, GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence and TIDE 2.0 Challenge Grant.
Does SIIC IIT Kanpur take equity?
It depends on the programme. and undefined take no equity, while GENESIS Matching Investment Funding and SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startups take equity.
Does SIIC IIT Kanpur provide funding?
Selected startups in some SIIC IIT Kanpur programmes can receive grant support, including GENESIS Matching Investment Funding, SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startups, AIIDE Centre of Excellence, 5G/6G Centre of Excellence and GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence and others. Grant amounts are set per programme and cohort, and selection into a programme does not guarantee a grant — check the programme's own page for current terms.
What sectors does SIIC IIT Kanpur support?
SIIC IIT Kanpur works with startups in Deeptech, MedTech, AgriTech, CleanTech, IoT and AI/ML and other sectors.
What stage of startup does SIIC IIT Kanpur support?
SIIC IIT Kanpur supports startups at the Ideation, Validation and Early Revenue stages.
What facilities does SIIC IIT Kanpur offer?
SIIC IIT Kanpur offers Co-working space at Kanpur and Noida and MedTech Centre of Excellence facilities. Incubatees also get access to Electronics and PCB Lab, Fabrication and Workshop, 3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping, Computing and Software Lab, Biotech and Life Sciences Lab and Testing and Characterisation through its host institution.
Is SIIC IIT Kanpur government recognised?
SIIC IIT Kanpur holds the following recognitions and affiliations: DST-NIDHI Centre of Excellence in MedTech Innovations, DST-NIDHI PRAYAS centre, Government of Uttar Pradesh — 5G/6G and AIIDE Centres of Excellence, MeitY GENESIS implementing agency, SIDBI Seed Fund Programme for iDEX-supported defence startups and Design Component of the MSME Innovative Scheme.
How do I apply to SIIC IIT Kanpur?
SIIC has two ways in and they are not interchangeable. - General incubation. The "Incubate Now" button on SIIC's site opens its incubation application. Use this if you want space, labs, mentorship and a portfolio manager rather than a specific funded call. - A named programme. Each of SIIC's programmes has its own page, its own eligibility rules and its own portal.
Who runs SIIC IIT Kanpur?
Prof. Deepu Philip (Professor In-Charge; also a Director on the board), Dr. Ashutosh Agnihotri (Chief Executive Officer) and Prof. Manindra Agrawal (Chairman and Director).
Who is the CEO of SIIC IIT Kanpur?
Dr. Ashutosh Agnihotri is the CEO of SIIC IIT Kanpur.
When was SIIC IIT Kanpur founded?
SIIC IIT Kanpur was founded in 2000. It operates as an academic.
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