Research Development and Innovation Fund
Funds Indian companies and startups scaling RDI-intensive technologies through concessional loans and equity.
The Research Development and Innovation Fund is a funding route under the Department of Science and Technology and Anusandhan National Research Foundation, with Technology Development Board acting as a second-level fund manager for eligible technology entities. The instrument is not a grant; the TDB RDIF page states that the scheme provides long-tenure collateral-free loans and equity, and explicitly says the scheme does not provide grants.
RDIF supports private-sector enterprises, startups, and industries working in sunrise and strategic sectors. Eligible technology entities include legal entities registered in India under applicable Indian laws such as the Companies Act, Indian Partnership Act, and LLP Act, with RDI-intensive technology at TRL 4 and above, Indian control, and registered global headquarters in India. The TDB page states maximum funding of 50% of fund requirement with matching contribution from the company or private investors, and loan interest of 3% to 4% over a 12-15 year period depending on the project.
The active TDB calls table lists CFP RDIF 2026 with a 4 February 2026 start date and 4 February 2031 end date. Applications use the TDB RDIF registration portal. The official sources do not state a fixed per-company rupee cap or a published scoring rubric, so those fields are left null.
RDI-intensive technologies at TRL 4 and above in sunrise and strategic sectors, including energy transition and climate action, deep technology, AI, biotechnology, medical devices, digital economy, and digital agriculture.
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