UDAAN Drone Acceleration Program – SIIC IIT Kanpur (Cohort 3)
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Quick Answer
Acceleration + ₹3L fellowship for DPIIT-registered drone/UAV startups at IIT Kanpur.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- SIIC IIT Kanpur
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
- Registrations needed
- DPIIT recognition, Private Limited company registration
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 25 April 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by SIIC IIT Kanpur. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
UDAAN — UAV/UAS/Drone Acceleration and Networking — is a joint acceleration program run by the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur, the Centre of Excellence for UAVs (an initiative of the Government of Uttar Pradesh and IIT Kanpur), and the Drone Federation of India. It targets high-potential drone startups ready to move from prototype to market.
The program selects 20 startups per year across two cohorts. Each cohort is incubated at SIIC on the IIT Kanpur campus, with direct access to the Drone CoE's testing infrastructure — including the Helicopter and VTOL Laboratory, Flight Laboratory, and National Wind Tunnel Facility. The top six startups in each cohort receive a fellowship of ₹3 lakh per annum to support continued R&D.
Beyond infrastructure, UDAAN provides technical mentorship from IIT Kanpur faculty and UAV domain experts, structured guidance on product development, regulatory approvals, and certification. Startups also get help navigating government funding schemes like iDEX, TDF, TIDE, Genesis, TDB, and Make-1 & 2 programs.
The program wraps up with a demo day featuring pitch sessions and networking with angel investors, VCs, and defence and industry leaders. Post-program, startups can access physical incubation space at SIIC for continued development and scaling. For drone founders who need serious testing facilities and institutional backing, UDAAN is one of the strongest accelerator options in India.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) is the startup incubator at IIT Kanpur. It was established in 2000 and now operates under the Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST), IIT Kanpur. It works from two sites: the IIT Kanpur campus at…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Up to six startups receive a ₹3 lakh fellowship. Benefits include incubation at IIT Kanpur, access to drone testing infrastructure (labs, wind tunnel), technical mentorship, guidance on product development and regulatory approvals, help navigating government funding, pitch sessions, and networking with investors/industry. Post-program, access to physical incubation space is provided.
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Online application submission. Initial screening for eligibility (DPIIT, turnover, sector fit). Shortlisted startups are evaluated on product readiness, innovation, and scaling potential. Selected startups are then onboarded.
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
