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Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Incubator

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Kharagpur, West Bengal, IndiaEst. 1951

ABIF, the agri-technology incubator hosted at IIT Kharagpur's Agricultural and Food Engineering department, takes outside founders. The institute's seed fund is for its own community.

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Official website

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur at a glance

Established1951
AddressIndian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India - 721302
Programmes3 standing programmes
Stages supportedIdea, Prototype
Official websitewww.iitkgp.ac.in

Programs by Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

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Past programs

The Arch : RAG and Agentic AI Hackathon

by Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

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Which Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur programme fits you

3 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.

By stage

Idea
Agri Business Incubation (ABIF IIT Kharagpur)
Prototype
Agri Business Incubation (ABIF IIT Kharagpur), MeitY SAMRIDH Accelerator
ProgrammeBest forStageDurationFormatCost
Agri Business Incubation (ABIF IIT Kharagpur)With NABARDOutside founders building agriculture and food-technology venturesIdea – Prototype—In person—
MeitY SAMRIDH AcceleratorWith Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)Tech startups with a working prototype and early tractionPrototype3-6 months——
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seed FundIIT Kharagpur students, faculty, staff and alumni———Takes equity

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Track record

What Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur reports about its portfolio.

140Startups supported
1,586Jobs created

All figures self-reported — abif.iitkgp.ac.in, as of Apr 2026.

Programmes they run

Standing programmes at Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, separate from the funding calls above.

Agri Business Incubation (ABIF IIT Kharagpur)

Incubation

Physical incubation for agriculture and food-technology ventures from idea to proof of concept, open to outside founders.

Best for: Outside founders building agriculture and food-technology ventures

  • Idea – Prototype
  • In person
  • Grant support for selected startups

With NABARD

What you get, who can apply and how to apply

The Agri Business Incubation Foundation IIT Kharagpur (ABIF) supports ideas in agriculture and food technology, from idea to proof of concept. It is a NABARD-funded section 8 company, incorporated on February 20, 2021 and hosted at IIT Kharagpur's Agricultural and Food Engineering Department.

What you get

  • Technology and business mentorship, and lab access at IIT Kharagpur
  • Access to funding opportunities, including matching grant support
  • Expert and corporate mentorship, and support with product development and testing

Who can apply

  • Individuals, proprietary concerns, FPOs, OFPOs, partnerships and LLPs
  • Entities registered under the Government of India or a state, at least 51% owned by Indian nationals, and incorporated within the last 10 years
  • Ventures that have not already been incubated elsewhere

How to apply: Applications go through the form linked from the ABIF apply page. The incubation form was shown as closed when we checked, so confirm before you plan around it. Queries go to office@abif.iitkgp.ac.in.

The sources disagree on length. ABIF's homepage describes 3-year physical incubation, and its programme page says up to 12 months, delivered in milestones. Ask ABIF which applies to you.

Full Agri Business Incubation (ABIF IIT Kharagpur) guide

MeitY SAMRIDH Accelerator

Accelerator

A 3-6 month acceleration programme for tech startups with a working prototype, with matching funding for selected startups.

Best for: Tech startups with a working prototype and early traction

  • Prototype
  • 3-6 months
  • Grant support for selected startups

With Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

What you get, who can apply and how to apply

SAMRIDH is the Startup Accelerator of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development and Growth, and ABIF IIT Kharagpur lists it among its programmes. It targets tech-based startups that have a prototype ready for market validation, some initial traction, and are raising private investment.

What you get

  • Tailor-made acceleration over 3-6 months
  • One-to-one matching funding, with additional grants for selected startups
  • Access to lab and prototyping facilities, mentoring from IIT faculty and industry leaders, and pitch opportunities with angels and VCs
  • Support with IP filing, legal compliance and go-to-market strategy

Who can apply

  • Startups registered under the Companies Act 2013, with at least 51% Indian shareholding
  • DPIIT-recognised startups

Status: The homepage shows applications closed for the current cohort, while the programme page says call for application. Check with ABIF before you apply.

Full MeitY SAMRIDH Accelerator guide

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seed Fund

Grant scheme

Seed funding for ventures started by IIT Kharagpur's students, faculty, staff and alumni. Outside founders cannot apply.

Best for: IIT Kharagpur students, faculty, staff and alumni

  • Takes equity
  • Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to apply

The institute's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seed Fund backs ventures that come out of IIT Kharagpur itself. It is open to students (UG, PG and PhD), faculty, staff and alumni.

What you get

  • Seed grants and soft loans, disbursed in milestones
  • Access to national schemes such as PRISM, SISFS and BIRAC
  • In return, equity-based IP licensing: 3% for technology the founder developed, and 5% for technology owned by others within the institute

Who can apply

  • IIT Kharagpur students, faculty, staff and alumni only

How to apply: Applications go through the portal with a pitch deck. Faculty and staff also attach a No-Conflict of Interest declaration. The most recent window closed on 11th June. The institute also says proposals are accepted on a rolling basis, so check the portal.

Official programme page

Incubation tracks

The routes into Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, and what each one includes.

TrackTypeSpaceIncludes
Agri-Business IncubationResident incubation——

Labs & facilities

Equipment and space on campus.

Lab and prototyping facilities

Support services

Help offered alongside funding and space.

IP & patents

Support with IP filing

Legal & finance

Support with legal compliance

Business advisory

Go-to-market strategy support

How to apply to Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Choosing the right route

  • Outside founders building in agriculture or food technology: start with ABIF incubation.
  • Tech startups with a working prototype and early traction: check whether SAMRIDH is open.
  • IIT Kharagpur students, faculty, staff or alumni: the seed fund is the route open to you.

Before you apply

  • Check the status first. ABIF's apply page shows the incubation form as closed, and its homepage has shown open and closed labels for different programmes.
  • Confirm the programme length with ABIF. The sources give 3-year and up to 12 months.
  • Have your registration, incorporation date and shareholding details ready. Eligibility depends on them.

How selection works

  • ABIF's pages do not describe its selection process beyond the eligibility rules.
  • Once accepted, ABIF's incubation is delivered in milestones.

Contact

  • ABIF queries: office@abif.iitkgp.ac.in

About Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, founded in 1951 and based in Kharagpur, West Bengal, supports startups through several bodies rather than a single incubator. Its agri-technology incubator, ABIF, is the main route for founders from outside the institute. The institute's own seed fund is limited to its students, faculty, staff and alumni.

How the programmes work

ABIF, the Agri Business Incubation Foundation IIT Kharagpur, is a section 8 company incorporated on February 20, 2021 and hosted at the institute's Agricultural and Food Engineering Department. It is funded by NABARD. Its incubation supports ideas in agriculture and food technology from the idea stage to proof of concept, with mentorship, access to the institute's labs and matching grant support.

ABIF also lists the MeitY SAMRIDH accelerator among its programmes. SAMRIDH runs for 3-6 months and offers matching funding to tech startups that already have a prototype and early traction.

Seed funding sits separately. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seed Fund, set out in the institute's 2026 entrepreneurship policy, backs ventures started by the institute's community and takes equity-based IP licences in return.

Who can apply

ABIF's incubation is open to individuals, proprietary concerns, FPOs, OFPOs, partnerships and LLPs, so students are not required. Entities must be registered under the Government of India or a state, be at least 51% owned by Indian nationals, and have been incorporated within the last 10 years. Startups already incubated elsewhere are not eligible.

SAMRIDH takes startups registered under the Companies Act 2013, with at least 51% Indian shareholding, and DPIIT-recognised startups. The seed fund is for IIT Kharagpur's own students, faculty, staff and alumni only.

Equity and terms

ABIF's pages do not say whether its incubation takes equity. The seed fund's IP terms are stated: 3% for technology the founder developed, and 5% for technology owned by others within the institute. The sources also disagree on how long ABIF incubation lasts. Its homepage describes 3-year physical incubation support, while its programme page says up to 12 months, delivered in milestones.

Facilities and services

Incubatees work with IIT Kharagpur's testing labs and research facilities. SAMRIDH adds lab and prototyping facilities, support with IP filing, legal compliance and go-to-market strategy, and connections to investors and international markets.

Scale

ABIF's homepage reports its own figures, dated April 2026: 140 incubatees enrolled, 42 startups graduated, 28 IP registered, 1,586 jobs generated, and 21,129 farmers impacted. These are self-reported.

Who runs it

ABIF is hosted by a department of the institute and is a separate section 8 company. The seed fund's policy is administered through the institute's Dean of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Locations

The main campus is in Kharagpur, West Bengal. The institute's Research Park at Rajarhat, New Town, Kolkata, describes an incubation hub that aims to promote engineering and social entrepreneurship in the region. No programme details for that hub were found. The institute's 2026 entrepreneurship policy also lists STEP among its incubation hubs. No programme details for STEP were found, so this page does not describe it.

Who they work with

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Frequently asked questions about Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

What is Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur?

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur is an incubator based in Kharagpur, West Bengal.

What does Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur do?

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, founded in 1951 and based in Kharagpur, West Bengal, supports startups through several bodies rather than a single incubator. Its agri-technology incubator, ABIF, is the main route for founders from outside the institute.

Where is Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur located?

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur is located at Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India - 721302.

What programs does Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur run?

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur runs Agri Business Incubation (ABIF IIT Kharagpur), MeitY SAMRIDH Accelerator and Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seed Fund.

Which Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur programme should I apply to?

It depends on how far along your startup is. Idea stage: Agri Business Incubation (ABIF IIT Kharagpur). Prototype stage: Agri Business Incubation (ABIF IIT Kharagpur) and MeitY SAMRIDH Accelerator. Check the programme's own eligibility before applying — several programmes are sector-specific.

Does Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur provide funding?

Selected startups in some Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur programmes can receive grant support, including Agri Business Incubation (ABIF IIT Kharagpur), MeitY SAMRIDH Accelerator and Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seed Fund. 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 facilities does Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur offer?

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur offers Lab and prototyping facilities.

How do I apply to Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur?

- Outside founders building in agriculture or food technology: start with ABIF incubation. - Tech startups with a working prototype and early traction: check whether SAMRIDH is open. - IIT Kharagpur students, faculty, staff or alumni: the seed fund is the route open to you. - Check the status first.

When was Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur founded?

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur was founded in 1951. It is an incubator.