What is the funding amount available?

Shortlisted startups can receive up to **₹25 lakh** in equity-linked funding, split into two parts: ₹2.50 lakh in Incubator Equity/Market Access Support and up to ₹22.50 lakh in Investment Equity/Growth Funding.

What stages of startups are eligible?

Startups at **ideation, validation, early-traction, or scaling stages** are eligible to apply.

Is DPIIT recognition mandatory?

While DPIIT registered startups are encouraged to participate, individual academicians, researchers, educators, entrepreneurs, partnership firms, and LLPs may also apply. If selected, they shall be required to register as a Private Limited Company.

What is the duration of the program?

The program involves a **two-month Proof-of-Concept (PoC) cycle** for selected startups, from the date of commencement.

Startups registered with DPIIT, individual academicians, researchers, educators, entrepreneurs, partnership firms, and LLPs can apply. However, non-company entities must register as a Private Limited Company if selected.

STPI CoE-EA: Schneider Electric Open Challenge Program 3.0 – Up to ₹25 Lakhs

The Centre of Excellence – Efficiency Augmentation (CoE-EA), hosted by Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), provides a specialized incubation and innovation platform. This platform focuses on enabling startups to leverage Industry 4.0 and other emerging technologies to enhance efficiency across various domains including industrial operations, service sectors, and government applications. CoE-EA operates in collaboration with Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), Government of Karnataka, and with support from industry and the broader ecosystem. Under this initiative, STPI CoE-EA, in partnership with Schneider Electric, is launching an Open Challenge Program (OCP) 3.0. This program aims to identify, select, support proof-of-concept (PoC) development, facilitate industry validation, and onboard startups in high-impact Industry 4.0 and enterprise technology use cases. It is structured as a focused two-month challenge offering mentorship, technical handholding, access to infrastructure, industry engagement, and a final demonstration opportunity for shortlisted startups.

The program seeks to support startups developing products and solutions that improve efficiency in industrial production, operations, service delivery, and public-sector applications. This includes leveraging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, IoT, Data Analytics, Robotics, Automation, Digital Twin, Computer Vision, and allied emerging technologies.

This program offers financial incentives of up to ₹25 lakh in total, structured as equity participation by CoE-EA. This includes Part I: ₹2.50 lakh in Incubator Equity/Market Access Support (linked to incubator equity at face value via SHA) and Part II: Up to ₹22.50 lakh in Investment Equity/Growth Funding (linked to market value of shares via an investment structure). Beyond funding, selected startups receive ready-to-work plug-and-play incubation space, high-speed internet, access to Innovation and Development Lab and ICT infrastructure, mentorship from domain experts, technical handholding, networking opportunities, market-connect, investor access, and advisory support in HR, legal, accounting, IPR, and patenting.

STPI CoE-EA: Schneider Electric Open Challenge Program 3.0

STPI CoE-EA: Schneider Electric Open Challenge Program 3.0

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