Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme
Grants up to 90% of costs to Indian firms building indigenous defence technology.
Startups seeking nascent-startup treatment must already be recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under Government of India guidelines, and are counted as nascent if incorporated less than three years before the date the application is submitted. There is no service fee to apply, and an applicant can run multiple TDF projects at the same time rather than being li…
The scheme wants Indian public/private industry, especially MSMEs and startups, working on significant upgrades to existing defence products/processes, TRL upgrades from TRL 3 onward to Tri-Services-ready products, futuristic defence technologies, or import substitution for components India doesn't yet manufacture.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides →Grant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
Submit & reportGrant Reporting Requirements: Post-Award Reports and Compliance
Learn what grant reporting requirements cover, how financial and performance reports work, what to track after an award, and how to avoid post-award compliance mistakes.
Find grantsGovernment Grants for Startups: What Deeptech Founders Should Know
A practical guide to government grants for startups, including Grants.gov, SBIR/STTR, state programs, eligibility, fit, timelines, and when to apply.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →
ADITI 2 Re-Open — Adaptive Camouflage for A and B Vehicles
🇮🇳iDEX · India
Funds Indian startups, MSMEs and innovators up to Rs. 25 crore to develop adaptive camouflage for defence vehicles.
iDEX Prime Re Open
🇮🇳iDEX · India
Funds Indian MSMEs, startups and innovators up to Rs 10 crore to solve two Indian Air Force defence technology challenges under iDEX Prime.
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme
🇮🇳GoI · India
Funds DPIIT-recognized Indian startups developing technology products through incubator-disbursed seed support.
US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Broad Agency Announcement
AMC · United States
Funds Army research proposals across soldier feeding, protection, biomechanics and training technology on a rolling basis.
BUILD (Boeing's University Innovation Leadership Development Program)
🇮🇳Boeing · India
Offers Indian students and entrepreneurs mentoring and a shot at a ₹10 lakh grant.
SIDBI iDEX Startup Seed Fund
🇮🇳PIEDS · India
Gives Indian defense-tech startups up to ₹1.5 crore in seed funding to cover prototyping, trials and market entry.