DST NIDHI i-TBI Ignition Grant

The Ignition Grant is the funding call KIT's IRF runs under DST's NIDHI i-TBI scheme. Rounds have run in 2023, 2024 and 2026. The 2026 round opened on 7 March and closed on 28 March, and its final evaluation was held in September, so it is between intakes rather than open — watch the incubator's notices for the next one.

What you get

• Grant support to take a science or technology concept to a working prototype or product
• Incubation and mentoring alongside the grant
• You keep ownership of any intellectual property the grant produces

Who can apply

• Individual innovators, or early-stage startups no more than two years old
• The startup must have kept annual turnover under the published ceiling since inception
• The proposal must be for a physical product rooted in technology or science, with a clear route to commercialisation
• The prototype must be completable in twelve to fourteen months
• Applicants are expected to have technical skills or a background relevant to the project

How selection works: proposals are called, shortlisted, put through an induction programme, and then judged in a final evaluation round. Both the 2024 and 2026 rounds ran that way.

How to apply: each round publishes its own guidelines and application form when it opens. Write to kitirf@kitcoek.in to be told when the next call goes live. The incubator notes that actual disbursal depends on funds being approved and released by DST.