Patent Acquisition and Collaborative Research and Technology Development (PACE)
A programme by DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research)
DSIR support for industry, alone or with research institutions, to take a technology from proof of concept to pilot stage, mostly as a secured loan.
At a glance
| Best for | Companies taking a technology from proof of concept to pilot, alone or with a research partner |
|---|---|
| Stage | Prototype – MVP |
| Format | Hybrid |
About Patent Acquisition and Collaborative Research and Technology Development (PACE)
PACE supports new product and process technologies, whether acquired or developed in-house, on the way from laboratory or proof-of-concept stage to pilot stage so they can be launched commercially. Calls are issued in batches. The latest one we saw, the twelfth batch, had a last date of 14 November 2025.
What you get
- For an industry project on its own: support as a secured loan.
- For an industry project with a research organisation, academic institution, university or public funded research institution: the institution's share is supported as grant-in-aid, and the industry's share as a secured loan. The grant will not exceed the loan amount.
Who can apply
- Industries, alone or in collaboration with R&D organisations, academic institutions, universities or public funded research institutions.
- DSIR's page does not say whether early-stage start-ups qualify or what minimum company age applies.
How selection works: a domain expert peer reviews each proposal first. A Technical Advisory Committee set up by DSIR then recommends support.
How to apply: follow the PACE Guidelines and Application Format and the current call for proposals on DSIR's page.
Where to apply
Other DSIR programmes
- Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Start-ups and MSMEs (PRISM)DSIR project support for individual innovators and institutions, from a prototype through patenting and enterprise creation, applied for through TOCIC outreach centres.
- Technology Development and Utilization Programme for Women (TDUPW)DSIR financial assistance to organisations running technology projects for women, self-help groups and women-led enterprises, including Women Skill Satellite Centres.
- Common Research and Technology Development Hubs (CRTDHs)DSIR grant-in-aid to host institutions that set up shared research and technology facilities for micro and small enterprises.