• Applicants should be citizen of India.

    • Applicants must have completed basic undergraduate training in natural sciences/engineering/ medicine.

    • Applicant can apply as an individual or as a company.

    • If applying as a company,the date of incorporation of Company /LLP should be less than 1 year at the time of applying for the grant.

    • Essential qualification is PhD/MTech/BTech/BPharm/MD/MBBS/BDS/ MSc / MPhil/ M Des / MPH /MBA / MSW and equivalents, with under‐ graduate training in Science, Medicine, Engineering. Applicants with a BSc degree with at least 1 year of full-time work or research experience shall also be eligible.

    • The EIR is expected to be committed to exploring a business idea. Typical NIDHI-EIR needing the support is a first generation innovative entrepreneur, who has no prior source of income. NIDHI-EIR support recipient should not treat this support as a stop gap arrangement to support them in their academic pursuits or transition between jobs.

    • NIDHI-EIR is full time commitment. Cannot be concurrent with any other remuneration or fellowship.

    • NIDHI-EIR seeking the support should demonstrate his ability to build a scalable technology business startup.

    • Preference will be given for the following focus areas (this has been based on Venture Center’s strengths in mentoring and the quality of support available in the ecosystem for converting the idea into a business):

      1. Health, solutions for the disabled/elderly etc

      2. Energy, environment, resource optimization etc

      3. Engineering products, appliances, electronics etc (Hardware)

      4. Agriculture, animal husbandry, rural industries (but knowledge -intensive products)

      5. Consumer products

      6. Others as decided by the NIDHI-EIR-PEP committee

  • Preferences will be given for the following:

    1. Women entrepreneurs

    2. Innovators under the age of 35

    3. Business plan that can result in manufacturing jobs

    4. Professionals with relevant work/ industry experience

    5. Applicants with a history/ track record of invention/tinkering solutions etc or volunteering with organizations to address/solve problems.

  • Applicants shall be evaluated also for:

    1. The potential the applicant has for confidently and clearly and convincingly pitching ideas to potential funders and investors.

  • Needs to register for pre-incubation or incubation program at Venture Center for the entire duration of NIDHI-EIR support.

  • Preference shall be given for

    • technology business ideas with larger technology uncertainties and/ or long gestation periods,

    • technology business ideas leveraging technology or IP from publicly funded research or academic organizations,

    • technology business ideas with considerable potential for social impact.

  • Entrepreneurs pursuing business ideas with no or marginal technology innovation or those with very short  journey (i.e less than 6 months) to commercialization are discouraged to apply

  • Should have a formal business plan for the idea, a business presentation including the investment proposal.