NIDHI-PRAYAS Grant – Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring Technology Entrepreneurs (India)

DST-NIDHI’s Promoting and Accelerating Young and A Spiring Technology Entrepreneurs (PRAYAS) is specifically to support young innovators turn their ideas into PoC. This support shall allow the innovators to try their ideas without fear of failure, hence allowing them to reach a stage where they have a ready product and are willing to approach incubators for commercialization.

The STBI PYARAS CENTER (PC) will support innovative ideas to convert them into prototypes by providing a prototype grant, physical space, Lab infrastructure, technical guidance and business mentorship. The STBI PRAYAS Center has dedicated fab-lab and working space for the innovators. A STBI FabLab is well equipped with Latest instruments like 3D Printer (SLA & FDM), 3D scanner, Laser Cutting and Engraving Machine,  PCB Milling and Drilling with  Basic Electronics equipment’s, Mechanical power Tools, basic hand Tools  and machineries to facilitate mechanical and digital fabrication. The STBI Prototyping facilities supported under NIDHI-PRAYAS will be called as “STBI PRAYAS SHALA” which would enable innovators to go through a cycle of imagination, design, prototyping, reflection, and iteration as a part of the process to find solutions to challenges or bring their ideas to reality.

Priority Areas

• The priority technology areas are manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, clean-tech, energy, water and Internet of Things (IoT). Other technology areas may also be considered on strength or merit of the idea.

Funding Information

• The Innovators can apply thorough the STBI PRAYAS Center for PRAYAS Grant Support which is up to Rs. 10 Lakhs. In addition, Innovators has the access of lab infrastructure, working space, mentorship and programs run by STBI.

Eligibility Criteria

• An individual innovator without having a startup/founder of a startup can apply for PRAYAS grant.
• The applicant should be minimum of 18 years of age, as on the date of application.
• PRAYAS grant is Proof-of-concept grant for converting idea and innovations into a prototype. Proposals for the products having crossed the prototype level are not eligible for support under NIDHI-PRAYAS.
• The ideas and innovations should be based on technology and science.
• The product prototype has to be a physical product.
• Applicants can be individual innovators or early stage startups.
• Applicants will have ownership of the Project knowhow or IP of the proposed products or right to use knowhow or IP if it is owned by a third party.
• Prototype must be capable of being completed within 12 months.
• Innovators should have technical skills or background.
• Idea or Innovations should have a roadmap towards commercialization.

For more information, visit STBI.