Innovation Voucher Program support

This is not AIIRF's own scheme, and it is worth being clear about that. The Innovation Voucher Program is a Government of Tamil Nadu grant-in-aid scheme for MSMEs in manufacturing, run by the Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Institute, Tamil Nadu and the Department of Industries and Commerce. It is built on a three-way model: the MSME, a knowledge partner such as an academic or research institution, and the government. AIIRF's role is to be that knowledge partner, and it offers guidance on applying.

What you get

• Grant support towards an approved innovation project, on a cost-sharing basis — the scheme pays a share of the approved budget and you cover the rest.
• Two routes: one for developing a prototype or minimum viable product, where the scheme covers the larger share, and one for developing the final product, where the split is even.
• AIIRF as the academic partner on the proposal, with its labs and its university's departments behind it.

Who can apply

• MSMEs in the manufacturing sector, partnered with a knowledge partner.
• Projects below a minimum estimate are not considered, and the grant cannot be transferred. Any cost above the ceiling, or any cost increase, is yours.

How selection works: the state institute assesses and approves proposals, not AIIRF. Activities and budgets have to be approved before spending counts.

How to apply: the application is made on EDII-TN's own innovation portal, which AIIRF links from its services page. AIIRF also has a seed funding facilitation form of its own if you want it to help you prepare the proposal first. Projects have to be finished within a year.