Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab
Government of Punjab
Punjab's Department of Industries & Commerce, which runs the Punjab Start-up Cell and the state's startup policy benefits, including registration and seed grants.
Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab at a glance
| Part of | Government of Punjab |
|---|---|
| Address | Udyog Bhawan, Sector-17, Chandigarh-160017 |
| Programmes | 8 standing programmes · 70 open calls right now |
| Official website | pbindustries.gov.in/startup |
| startup.pb@punjab.gov.in |
Programs by Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab
70 open now · 0 past · Filter all programs
Schemes implemented by Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab
1 scheme — each groups the funding calls run under it.
Which Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab programme fits you
7 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Startup Punjab registration | Startups that want benefits under the Punjab Startup Policy 2026. | — | — | — | — |
| Seed grant | Eligible startups registered with the Startup Punjab Cell. | — | — | — | — |
| Second tranche of seed grant (Scale-up Funding) | Startups that have already received a first seed grant. | — | — | — | — |
| Lease rental subsidy | Startups in Punjab that operate from an incubator, IT park or industrial cluster. | — | — | — | — |
| Interest subsidy | Eligible startups with interest-bearing loans. | — | — | — | — |
| Purchase preference in government procurement | Eligible startups that sell to government buyers. | — | — | — | — |
| Patent and quality certification reimbursement | Startups in Punjab that have registered a patent or obtained a quality certification. | — | — | — | — |
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab, separate from the funding calls above.
Benefits under the Punjab Startup Policy 2026 depend on registration with the Startup Punjab Cell. The second seed tranche is limited to 20 startups a year.
Startup Punjab registration
RecognitionStartups register with the Startup Punjab Cell. Registration is required before any benefit under the Punjab Startup Policy 2026.
Best for: Startups that want benefits under the Punjab Startup Policy 2026.
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Registration with the Startup Punjab Cell is the first step for every benefit under the Punjab Startup Policy 2026. Once registered, a startup can apply for the seed grant and the other financial benefits.
What you get
- A route to the seed grant, the second seed tranche, lease rent reimbursement, the interest subsidy and purchase preference
Who can apply
- Startups located or physically incubated in Punjab
- Startups with operations in Punjab
How to apply: Register on the state's online registration portal. After successful registration, fill in the SR form. The seed funding form can then be filled in.
Seed grant
Grant schemeA seed grant for eligible startups registered under the Punjab Startup Policy 2026.
Best for: Eligible startups registered with the Startup Punjab Cell.
- Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Punjab Startup Policy 2026 provides a seed grant to eligible startups. Startups must first register with the Startup Punjab Cell.
Who can apply
- Startups registered with the Startup Punjab Cell
- Startups that meet the eligibility conditions of the 2026 policy
How to apply: After registering, fill in the SR form. The seed funding form can then be filled in.
Second tranche of seed grant (Scale-up Funding)
Grant schemeA second seed tranche for performing startups, limited to 20 startups a year and given on a first come, first served basis.
Best for: Startups that have already received a first seed grant.
- Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
A second tranche of seed funding is available to startups that have already received a first seed grant and have performed well. The Startup Cell selects startups on performance and predefined criteria, and only 20 startups a year can receive it.
Who can apply
- Startups that received a first seed grant at least 18 months earlier, subject to State Level Committee approval
How selection works: Startups are selected by the Startup Cell on performance evaluation and predefined criteria, which will be notified separately. Applications are taken on a first come, first served basis, up to 20 startups a year.
How to apply: Use the Scale-up Funding – Second Tranche Form on the site, which is live now. The detailed procedure will be notified separately.
Lease rental subsidy
Subsidy or reimbursementPart of the lease rent is reimbursed for eligible startups in Punjab that operate from incubators, IT parks or industrial clusters.
Best for: Startups in Punjab that operate from an incubator, IT park or industrial cluster.
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Eligible startups established in Punjab that operate from an incubator, an IT park or an industrial cluster can have part of their lease rent reimbursed.
Who can apply
- Startups established in Punjab
- Startups operating from an incubator, an IT park or an industrial cluster
How to apply: Register first. The site form lists a rent deed or lease deed, along with proof of ownership, as an attachment.
Interest subsidy
Subsidy or reimbursementA subsidy on interest for eligible startups with loans, for three years, within an annual limit.
Best for: Eligible startups with interest-bearing loans.
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Eligible startups can receive a subsidy on interest for three years. The subsidy is the lower of a set annual rate or the actual interest charged, and it is subject to a maximum amount per year.
Who can apply
- Eligible startups under the 2026 policy that pay interest on loans
How to apply: Register first. Beyond registration, the steps are not set out on the Department's pages.
Purchase preference in government procurement
Policy benefitEligible startups get a purchase preference in government procurement, for up to three orders per startup.
Best for: Eligible startups that sell to government buyers.
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Eligible startups get a purchase preference when government buyers procure from them. The preference applies to orders up to a set value, and a startup can use it for at most three orders.
Who can apply
- Eligible startups under the 2026 policy that supply to government procurement
How to apply: The steps are not set out on the Department's pages.
Patent and quality certification reimbursement
Subsidy or reimbursementReimbursement of expenses for patent registration and for quality certifications, up to a set limit.
Best for: Startups in Punjab that have registered a patent or obtained a quality certification.
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Department reimburses expenses a startup incurs on patent registration, and on quality certifications, up to a set limit for each.
Who can apply
- Startups in Punjab that have registered a patent or obtained a quality certification
How to apply: The Industrial and Business Development Policy 2022 names the reimbursement form for patent registration expenses. The steps for quality certifications are not set out on the Department's pages.
A startup hub at STPI Mohali, set up with support from MeitY and the Government of Punjab, with co-working space and a data centre.
With STPI Mohali, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), ISB Mohali, Punjab Technical University
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
NEURON is the Startup Punjab Hub, a Centre of Entrepreneurship at STPI Mohali. It was set up with the support of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Government of Punjab, through the Startup Punjab programme of the Department.
What you get
- Co-working space at the STPI Mohali facility, with the seat count given two ways on the Department's pages
- A Tier-III data centre with 160 racks
How to apply: The Department's Startup Punjab pages are the place to check for how to apply to the hub.
Labs & facilities
Equipment and space on campus.
The NEURON hub operates from STPI's facility at Mohali.
Co-working space at NEURON, STPI Mohali
Access via STPI Mohali
The startup page gives 600 co-working seats. The 2026 policy document refers to around 500 plug-and-play seats. The two counts are not reconciled here.
Support services
Help offered alongside funding and space.
IP & patents
Reimbursement of expenses for patent registration, up to a set limit.
Market access
Purchase preference in government procurement, for up to three orders per startup.
How to apply to Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab
Choosing the right programme
- Register with the Startup Punjab Cell first. Benefits under the 2026 policy depend on it.
- If you already hold a first seed grant, the second tranche needs 18 months from its sanction.
- Startups that operate from an incubator, IT park or industrial cluster can check the lease rent reimbursement.
- Startups with interest-bearing loans can check the interest subsidy.
- Startups that sell to government buyers can check the purchase preference.
- Startups that have registered a patent or obtained a quality certification can check the reimbursement.
How applications work
- Register on the state's online registration portal.
- After registration, fill in the SR form. The seed funding form comes next.
- The second tranche uses a form labelled Scale-up Funding – Second Tranche Form. The site says it is live, and the detailed procedure will be notified separately.
- For the lease rent reimbursement, the site form asks for a rent deed or lease deed with proof of ownership.
- Patent reimbursement uses the reimbursement form named in the 2022 policy.
How selection works
- The second tranche is limited to 20 startups a year, on a first come, first served basis.
- The Startup Cell selects second-tranche startups on performance evaluation and predefined criteria. The criteria will be notified separately.
- The second tranche also needs approval from the State Level Committee.
About Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab
The Department of Industries & Commerce is the Government of Punjab's department that runs the Punjab Start-up Cell. The Cell is headed by the Director of Industries and Commerce and acts as a single point of contact for the state's startup policy. The department is based at Udyog Bhawan, Sector-17, Chandigarh.
How programmes work
The Punjab Startup Policy 2026 sets out the state's current startup benefits. The Department's startup page also calls it the Startup Punjab Policy, 2026. Registration comes first. A startup must be registered with the Startup Punjab Cell before it can claim any benefit under the policy. After registering, it fills in an SR form, and can then fill in the seed funding form.
The policy provides support in stages, with a special focus on the ideation and prototyping stage, as well as sustainable growth. Its main benefits are a seed grant, a second tranche of seed funding for a limited number of startups, reimbursement of part of lease rent, and a subsidy on interest. It also gives startups a purchase preference in government procurement, which is a non-cash benefit. The Department's pages also describe reimbursement of patent registration and quality certification expenses. Each of these is listed as a separate programme on this page.
Who can apply
A startup must be located or physically incubated in Punjab, or have operations in Punjab. Registration is the first step for every benefit. The second seed tranche is open only to startups that have already received a first seed grant. They become eligible 18 months after that grant is sanctioned, subject to approval by the State Level Committee.
Facilities
The Startup Punjab Hub, called NEURON, operates from STPI's facility at Mohali. The Department's startup page describes it as the Startup Punjab Hub, Centre of Entrepreneurship, established with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Government of Punjab. The hub has a Tier-III data centre with 160 racks and offers co-working space.
The seat count is given two ways. The startup page gives 600 co-working seats, while the 2026 policy document refers to around 500 plug-and-play seats. This page does not decide between them.
The founding year is also given two ways. One startup page says NEURON was established at STPI Mohali in 2019. The 2026 policy document says it was established in 2018, under a hub-and-spoke model with STPI, ISB Mohali and Punjab Technical University. This page does not settle which year is correct.
Scale
The startup page reports figures for the NEURON hub. It says that since its inception the hub has nurtured 114 startups. It also says supported startups have developed 158 products and 171 prototypes, have been granted 46 patents or IPs, and have contributed nearly 2,700 direct and indirect jobs. The page does not date these figures, and this page reports them without verifying them.
The state's stated goal is to facilitate 1,000 startups in five years and to set up 10 incubation centres or accelerators. These are goals, not results.
The startup page also publishes a numbered list of startups that have been disbursed seed money. The page does not date the list.
Incubators and earlier policies
Some figures on the Department's pages come from the Industrial and Business Development Policy 2022, including figures for incubators. The 2026 policy text does not contain incubator capital or operating subsidy lines. The 2022 policy also set different periods for some of the same benefits. Its interest subsidy for startup units ran for five years, where the 2026 policy gives three. Check which policy applies before relying on either.
Punjab Innovation Fund and start-up corpus
The startup page describes a Punjab Innovation Fund that would invest in early-stage startups. In one paragraph it calls the fund both 'established' and 'proposed'. The 2022 policy says it is to be set up, and the 2026 policy text does not mention it. Its status is not settled, so it is not listed as a programme here.
The page also describes a separate start-up corpus for scale-up funding, with special emphasis on women and SC entrepreneurs, as set up. The page describes that corpus separately from the Innovation Fund.
Locations
The Department is at Udyog Bhawan, Sector-17, Chandigarh-160017. The NEURON hub is at STPI Mohali.
Get in touch
Send a message to Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab — we'll forward it on your behalf.
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Frequently asked questions about Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab
What does Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab do?
The Department of Industries & Commerce is the Government of Punjab's department that runs the Punjab Start-up Cell. The Cell is headed by the Director of Industries and Commerce and acts as a single point of contact for the state's startup policy. The department is based at Udyog Bhawan, Sector-17, Chandigarh.
Where is Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab located?
Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab is located at Udyog Bhawan, Sector-17, Chandigarh-160017.
What programs does Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab run?
Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab currently has 70 open programmes: Punjab Startup Policy: Seed Funding for DPIIT Startups, Punjab Startup Policy: Interest Subsidy Scheme, Punjab Startup Policy Lease Rental Subsidy and Punjab SGST Reimbursement Subsidy 2022, and 66 more.
Does Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab provide funding?
Selected startups in some Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab programmes can receive grant support, including Seed grant and Second tranche of seed grant (Scale-up Funding). 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 stage of startup does Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab support?
Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab supports startups at the Ideation, Prototype and Growth stages.
What facilities does Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab offer?
Incubatees also get access to Co-working space at NEURON, STPI Mohali through its host institution.
How do I apply to Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab?
- Register with the Startup Punjab Cell first. Benefits under the 2026 policy depend on it. - If you already hold a first seed grant, the second tranche needs 18 months from its sanction. - Startups that operate from an incubator, IT park or industrial cluster can check the lease rent reimbursement. - Startups with interest-bearing loans can check the interest subsidy.
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