Govt targets disbursing Rs 500 cr under Research Development and Innovation Scheme by September: TDB Secretary
New Delhi, July 7
The government is targeting the disbursement of around Rs 500 crore under the Research Development and Innovation Scheme by September as it steps up implementation of the flagship initiative aimed at boosting private sector-led research and innovation, Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, Technology Development Board, said.
Speaking to ANI on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 'Research, Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF), Industry Outreach Program organised by FICCI, Pathak said the scheme, announced in the Union Budget and launched on November 3, 2025, has been designed to support startups, MSMEs and established companies over the next six to seven years.
He said the government has been conducting outreach programmes, including events with industry bodies such as FICCI and several online interactions, to address apprehensions among potential applicants and increase awareness about the scheme.
"We expect the programme to pick up further in the coming months as more platforms come on board," he said.
Pathak said the scheme is not sector-specific at present and is open to projects across the priority sectors identified by the government.
According to him, the scheme covers five broad sectors, including deep-tech, biotechnology and AI-based technologies, along with their sub-sectors.
"We have already disbursed around Rs 50 crore to a company in Bengaluru, and our target is to achieve around Rs 500 crore of disbursement by September," he said.
He said the government has kept the scheme sector-agnostic to ensure that eligible research and development projects from any of the identified sectors receive financial support.
Pathak said strengthening deep-tech capabilities would be crucial for achieving the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047, adding that the Rs 1 lakh crore RDI Scheme would serve as a milestone in building a stronger innovation ecosystem in the country.
He also said the scheme would support research and development projects in areas such as critical minerals, reiterating that it is designed to fund eligible projects across all identified priority sectors.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great initiative but 50 crore disbursed to one Bengaluru company? Hope smaller cities and tier-2 towns also get a fair share. Innovation isn't just in metros, yaar. We have brilliant minds in places like Coimbatore, Nagpur, and Guwahati too.
As someone who works in biotech, this is encouraging. India has the talent but we've lagged in funding. 1 lakh crore over 6-7 years is no joke - hopefully it creates a real ecosystem. Would love to see more clarity on how MSMEs can apply without getting lost in red tape though.
Good move by the government, but I'm a bit skeptical. We've seen many schemes announced with great fanfare but implementation is always the challenge. Rs 500 crore by September sounds ambitious - let's see if they actually meet the target. Also, critical minerals focus is much needed given our import dependence.
This is exactly the kind of policy India needs to move from being a services hub to a manufacturing and innovation powerhouse. The deep-tech & AI focus is spot on for 2047 vision. Just hope disbursement is transparent and timely - startups can't afford bureaucratic delays.
As an entrepreneur who has dealt with government schemes before, my only worry is the ease of access. The outreach programmes are good, but the application process needs to be simplified. Also, please ensure payment doesn't get stuck in government files for months. Otherwise, promising initiative! 👏
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