FIST (Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure)
Supports Infrastructure grants to universities and research institutions for upgrading science and technology facilities.
FIST, the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Support, sits under the Department of Science and Technology in India and is aimed at strengthening the research base of universities and research institutions. The program backs equipment, laboratory upgrades, and other capital investment that improve the quality of scientific work inside established institutions. Its role is institutional rather than entrepreneurial, and the available material places it inside DST's wider research support system under the Ministry of Science and Technology. The source material identifies DST as a national department established in May 1971, with a FY 2021-22 budget of ₹6,067.39 crore. For FIST specifically, the funding route is a grant to institutions, not to individuals, and the public description points to universities and research organizations with strong research output and future potential. No award bands are stated in the material used here, but the use case is clear: infrastructure that lets a lab work at a higher technical level. Applicants fit best when they can show a serious research environment and a practical need for upgraded facilities. The program is not a startup seed route or a personal fellowship line; it is a facility-strengthening instrument for institutions that need durable scientific infrastructure. That makes it a good match for campuses and research bodies that can turn equipment and lab investment into stronger output over time.
No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: Annual.