What is the primary objective of the India-UK InnoXchange Programme?

The program aims to facilitate the exchange of technology-led startups and promote cross-border entrepreneurship between India and the United Kingdom, fostering collaboration among innovation ecosystem stakeholders in both countries.

Who can apply for this programme?

Applications are invited from eligible DST-supported and other technology incubators with at least seven years of experience. Startups cannot apply directly; they must be nominated by an eligible incubator.

What kind of support do participants receive?

Selected Indian participants will receive approved round-trip airfare, visa, and medical insurance costs from DST. The UK counterpart will provide local hospitality, including accommodation, local transportation, and meals during the delegation visit.

What are the priority sectors for the first programme cycle?

For the first cycle, Advanced Manufacturing is the priority sector, with a specific emphasis on Advanced Battery Manufacturing and Advanced Semiconductors and Electronics Manufacturing.

What are the eligibility criteria for nominated startups?

Nominated startups should preferably operate at Technology Readiness Level 4-6, be deep-tech and technology-led, have at least 51% equity held by Indian citizens, and comply with DPIIT age and recognition norms. The nominated participant must be an Indian citizen founder/co-founder.

Is there an age limit for startups?

Startups must comply with the prevailing age norms prescribed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which typically limits startup age to 10 years from incorporation.

India-UK InnoXchange Programme (2026): Results & Updates

Grant providers

Provider

FITT, IIT Delhi

New Delhi · Delhi · India

FITT, IIT Delhi — Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer The Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) is the primary industry-academia interface of IIT Delhi. Established on 9 July 1992 as a registered society by the IIT Delhi Board of Governors, FITT…

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Application Process

1
Incubator Application
Eligible incubators submit their application online, nominating representatives and deep-tech startups.
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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.
Open draft workspace
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.

About this grant

The India-UK InnoXchange Programme is a significant bilateral initiative jointly driven by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and Innovate UK, which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). On the Indian side, the program's implementation is managed by the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at IIT Delhi. This program is a cornerstone of the broader India–UK partnership on research and innovation, specifically designed to foster cross-border entrepreneurship and facilitate the exchange of technology-led startups.

The core aim of the InnoXchange Programme is to build stronger collaborative bridges between innovation ecosystems in both countries. It seeks to connect startups, incubators, accelerators, universities, research institutions, industry, and other key stakeholders. Through a series of carefully structured exchanges, the program provides participating startups and incubation professionals with invaluable exposure to the partner country's innovation landscape. This exposure is critical for identifying potential collaborators, gaining a nuanced understanding of international markets, and exploring avenues for technology partnerships, joint product development, strategic investments, and market access opportunities.

Key objectives include:

Facilitating bilateral exchange and exposure visits for deep-tech startup founders, innovators, and incubation professionals.
Strengthening knowledge-sharing mechanisms between the Indian and UK innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Enabling participating startups to comprehend the technology, business, and regulatory environments prevalent in the partner country.
Promoting robust collaboration among startups, incubators, academia, research institutions, industry, and investors.
Exploring opportunities for collaborative research and development, joint product development, technology transfer, and business partnerships.
Supporting international market access strategies, business-to-business matchmaking, and identifying potential investment opportunities for startups.
Promoting the exchange of best practices in critical areas such as incubation management, deep-tech commercialisation, intellectual property management, and startup financing.
Developing and sustaining institutional and mentorship networks between incubators and innovation ecosystem stakeholders in both India and the UK.

The selection process for the India-UK InnoXchange Programme is multi-staged, focusing on identifying highly impactful incubators and relevant deep-tech startups. Initially, applications are invited from eligible incubators. A preliminary scrutiny and programme-fit assessment is then conducted by FITT, IIT Delhi, to evaluate the applying incubator, their nominated representative(s), and the nominated startups against the stated eligibility and priority criteria. This assessment ensures alignment with the program's objectives. The final selection of incubators, incubation representatives, and startups is subsequently undertaken by an Expert Committee specially constituted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Selected participants will then undergo a comprehensive due diligence process and must fulfill all prescribed onboarding requirements before their official participation in the programme.

India-UK InnoXchange Programme

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