UPES DST-iTBI Ignition Grant 2.0 – Runway Incubator

The UPES DST-iTBI Ignition Grant 2.0 is a grant programme by Runway Incubator at UPES, under the Department of Science and Technology's National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) i-TBI scheme. The programme offers financial support of up to ₹10 lakh to early-stage innovators working in DeepTech, AI and ML, AgriTech, and Sustainability Technology , helping participants progress from ideation through proof-of-concept, prototype development, and validation to a Minimum Viable Product.

The programme is designed for students, researchers, and early-stage startups who have an innovation concept but need resources and guidance to develop and test it. The grant covers end-to-end support for early-stage R&D and product development , prototype building, PoC validation, and technical iteration , alongside structured mentorship from industry experts and incubation support from Runway Incubator's ecosystem at UPES, Dehradun.

Beyond the grant, participants gain access to Runway Incubator's mentor network, investor connections, and the institutional infrastructure of UPES , one of the few universities in Uttarakhand with a DST-supported Technology Business Incubator. This makes the programme particularly relevant for innovators from Uttarakhand and neighbouring regions, though it is open to applicants across India.

The Ignition Grant model under DST's NIDHI i-TBI scheme is one of India's most established grant frameworks for pre-revenue deeptech innovation, and the second edition of this programme at UPES reflects growing institutional commitment to the region's startup ecosystem. For founders at the idea or early prototype stage in the covered sectors, this grant provides both capital and credibility at a critical pre-commercial phase.