UKG INDIA – Venture Center CSR Collaboration aims to support entrepreneurs / start ups working on technologies with potential social impact.

Under its Corporate Social Responsibility activities UKG INDIA has provided funding for promising ideas in the domain of healthtech at Venture Centre.

Objective

• To support technology incubation and technology entrepreneurs associated with Venture Center, an incubator approved by the Central Government (DST-NSTEDB and DBT – BIRAC of Ministry of Science and Technology).
• Promote innovation of modern/advanced technologies to socio-economic problem solving

Scope

The grant program aims to validate the technology/product by supporting development of prototypes/pilot studies/field trials, exploring potential markets, assessing viability of specific applications, to capture investor interest in the Startup Company or licensors of technology. The program will also focus on building a strong network of peers with expertise and the duration will be up to 9 months.

The program will cover:

• Technology Advancement Grants (TAG): Grant funding to refine and enhance an early prototype, explore potential markets, assess commercial viability of the specific applications, secure necessary approvals/certifications etc. with the goal of interesting investors for a startup company or licensors for the technology.
• Pilot Grants: Pilot / demonstration funding to help entrepreneurs build a stronger case for the technical and commercial feasibility of the technology idea.
• Ecosystem: Create a powerful network of mentors, investors and other service partners to support and promote the growth of entrepreneurs across various sectors.

The program aims to develop and implement transformative solutions that address pressing challenges in the domains of sustainability, healthcare, rehabilitation, and assistive tech, nurturing innovators from early- to growth-stage technology readiness levels (TRL) and building scalable models that can be replicated across sectors and geographies.

Domain Areas

The following areas are the key focus areas for this program:

1. Solutions for healthcare frontline workers
   
   Who are Healthcare Frontline Workers-
   - Emergency medical technicians & Paramedics
   - Midwives
   - Community health workers
   
   
2. Scalable and affordable assistive tech for Manufacturing
   Frontline Workers
   
   Who are manufacturing frontline workers-
   - Assembly line workers
   - Machine operators
   - QC inspectors
   - Maintenance technicians
   - Logistics personnel
   - Welders & machinists
   - Shift supervisors

Nature of Projects Supported

Eligible

• The project needs to define a technology solution to a well-defined problem
• The technology should be innovative/ novel
• Project should be focused on conducting POC studies / prototype development / prototype validation or conducting pilot studies
  
  

Not eligible

• Pure software development with no IP potential
• Pure academic research

Eligibility of Applicants and Project Leaders for Projects

• Every project proposal will need to identify a Project Leader and an Applicant/ Grantee
• The Project Leader (PL) will be an individual who will take responsibility for executing the project.
• The Applicant or Grantee can be either of the following:

              Case 1: Applicant is an individual

              Case 2: Applicant is a private limited company/limited liability Partnership (LLP)

• PL has to be an individual (one person).
• PL is required to be at least 21 years of age as on the date of call for applications.
• PL is required to be Indian Citizen. An Indian citizen is defined as one who is in possession of a government approved proof of nationality such as a valid passport, voter’s id etc. Exceptional cases of foreign nationals with potential for impact in India will be considered.
• PL has to pursue the project or startup full time with no other concurrent commitments during the project duration.
• PL cannot be pursuing a long-term academic/research project (like doctoral students) with significant obligations during the project duration.
• PL must have completed basic undergraduate training in natural sciences/engineering/ medicine. 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 company/LLP should be owned by resident Indian citizens i.e. minimum 51% of the capital is beneficially owned by resident Indian citizen(s) and / or Indian companies, which are ultimately owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens

Selection Criteria

• Technical soundness & do ability
• Potential for social impact
• Potential business opportunity
• Team capabilities & background
• Knowledge intensity or novelty or IP potential
• Exceptional cases may be considered on its merit by the committee
• Any others as decided by the committee

Additional Criteria

• If selected, the applicant will become an incubatee of Venture Center after fulfilling the admissions criteria.
  Venture Center will execute appropriate agreements with the grantee.
• The applicant should be an incubatee of Venture Center for the entire duration of the Project.
• The applicant should be engaged in the projects related to focus areas mentioned.
• The PL and Applicants should not have received another grant for the same objective and scope of the project.
• Maximum grant support will be Rs 10 lakh per grantee.
• Project duration: Maximum of 9 months
• Release of funds: in tranches as per discussion with the selected grantee

The grant can be used for the following indicative heads:

• Outsourcing charges for R&D/ design engg/ consultancy/ testing/ experts
• Raw materials/ consumables/ spares
• Fabrication/ synthesis charges of working model or process
• Manpower (Max 10% of approved project cost)
• Patent filing costs, PCT (Max 10% of approved project cost)
• Contingency (Max 10% of approved project cost)

The grant cannot be used for the following heads:

• Pay/ repay any loans/commitments made before signing the project agreement
• Pay rent or related costs for own accommodation
• Creation of new infrastructure facility, shed etc
• Expenses incurred before the start date of the project

The Grantee has to ensure that he/she/they have all required IP rights (if applicable) (including any license or assignment) to take the technology ahead.

The Grantee may also be required to ensure that they will have Freedom to Operate. This requirement may be a Condition Precedent to release of the Grant. Grant funds cannot be used to seek/procure a technology license/assignment.

•      Venture Center announces the Call for Application for start-ups & entrepreneurs for the UKG INDIA CSR Grant

• Call Open: 4 Aug 2026 to 25 Aug 2026, 5:30 PM

• The maximum support that can be provided per project is upto Rs. 10 lakh
• Duration of the project should be only upto 9 months.
• Applicants are requested to go through the guidelines and eligibility criteria before applying.
• All applicants will apply by filling the online application form.
• Fill the online application form here 

  • Documents to be submitted as attachment in the application form : 

  • Appendix 1 : Attach CV or Resume

  • Appendix 2 : Presentation introducing your business venture

  • Appendix 3 : Proposal describing the specific project for which you require funding and the milestone breakup for 9 months (please include budget details)

• The selection of the grantees shall be done by Venture Center through a Project Oversight Committee.
• The shortlisted candidates have to present their project proposal in front of the Project Oversight Committee.
• The selected grantees shall be informed by the Venture Center.