VITTBI PRAYAS Centre (DST NIDHI-PRAYAS)

NIDHI PRAYAS is a Department of Science and Technology scheme for idea-stage entrepreneurs with a physical product who need help getting to a prototype. VITTBI is a PRAYAS Centre under the scheme, which is managed as a programme management unit by SINE at IIT Bombay. It runs in annual fund cycles and the call was closed when we last checked.

What you get

• Grant support to turn an idea into a prototype within eighteen months
• Access to infrastructure, a prototype development facility and strategic mentorship
• Shared common facilities and co-working space
• Selected applicants are also considered for pre-incubation or incubation at VITTBI

Who can apply

• An individual Indian innovator, at least eighteen years old on the date of application, with government-approved proof of nationality
• A team, provided it agrees on one lead applicant who applies and receives the support on the team's behalf
• An existing incubatee of VITTBI or another incubator under co-incubation, not more than seven years from incorporation, developing a prototype for a new product it has not had similar support for, and under the scheme's turnover cap
• Not eligible: software-development projects, pure academic research, doctoral research projects, and anyone converting an institute's own intellectual property into a prototype without the intellectual property moving to them
• If you study or work somewhere, you need a no-objection certificate from that institution; institute-owned intellectual property needs its own no-objection certificate
• You can take this support only once, and not if you have had similar support for the same idea from another government body

How selection works: Preference may go to innovators who have bootstrapped or hold a co-investment commitment, who have a clear roadmap to commercialisation or creating a startup, to women innovators and to young innovators. Grantees must register for VITTBI's pre-incubation or incubation programme for the whole duration and work on the prototype full time.

How to apply: Download the application from the PRAYAS Centre page and email the completed form to vittbi.grants@vit.ac.in.