DSIR Technopreneur Promotion Programme (TePP) innovation fund

TREC-STEP was the first outreach centre in the country for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research's Technopreneur Promotion Programme, and its page is written in the past tense: the programme is currently being renewed by DSIR, so treat it as between rounds and ask before planning around it.

What it did, and would do again, is take an individual with a new product or process idea to a built prototype. TREC-STEP identifies the innovator, has the technology vetted by experts in the field, then mentors and funds the work of turning the idea into an actual prototype or process model. Innovators who get there are moved on into TREC-STEP's own incubation to scale the product up.

What you get

• Technology vetting by outside experts.
• Mentoring and financial support to build a prototype or process model.
• Support from the Technology Angel Network — faculty from NIT Tiruchirappalli, regional research institutions and centres of excellence including coal research centres and Bharathidasan University.
• A route into TREC-STEP's incubation once the prototype works.

Who can apply

• Individual innovators. TREC-STEP describes the scheme as open to the citizens of India.
• Idea-stage innovators without a company.

How to apply: there is no separate form. TREC-STEP says it identifies innovators itself, so call the Trichy office and ask whether the renewed programme is taking proposals.