Overview

National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is an umbrella programme for nurturing knowledge-based and technology driven ideas and innovations into successful startups. Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR) Programme under NIDHI aims to inspire the best talents to be entrepreneurs and to partially set off their opportunity costs of high paying jobs. The NIDHI-EIR programme provides tremendous opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs to expand their networks and get critical feedback on their ventures in order to promote their entrepreneurial career goals and aspirations.

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

Focus Domains

Manufacturing

Agriculture

Healthcare

Cleantech

Water Energy

Internet Of Things

Eligibility

  • The EIR applicant should be citizen of India with a minimum 4 years of formal full time undergraduate/post graduate/ 3 years degree or diploma program and have 2 year full time work experience post degree or diploma. Basic degree or diploma should be in science or engineering.
  • Applicant should have a scaleable technology-based business idea in a prescribed format.
  • Applicant should be be willing to pursue the idea full-time. NIDHI-EIR cannot be concurrent with any other remuneration or fellowship.
  • NIDHI-EIR support recipient cannot be the promoter or significant (>10%) share holder / beneficiary of another company at the time of applying for and receiving the grant approval.
  • Preference shall be given for a technology business ideas with larger technology uncertainties and/ or long gestation periods, b) technology business ideas leveraging technology or IP from publicly funded research or academic organizations, c) technology business ideas with considerable potential for social impact.
  • Entrepreneurs pursuing business ideas with no or marginal technology innovation or those with very short journey (i.e less than 6 months) to commercialization are discouraged to apply.

Offerings

Application Process

  • Step 1

    NIDHI-TBI announces call for application locally

  • Step 2

    Applicants aaply for NIDHI-EIR support grant as per the prescribed format

  • Step 3

    Selection of the grantees based on the NIDHI-TBI mechanism

Months Program Duration

Total Startups Supported

Applications Received

NIDHI EIR Program

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

Frequently Asked Questions

List of documents required for submission after the program is selected?
Following documents are necessary for submission once the applicant is selected:
  • Duly filled application form
  • Formal business plan for the idea they intend to pursue
  • Business presentation including the investment proposal
  • Proof of citizenship (copy of passport)
Will the applicant receive any stipend?
The NIDHI-EIR support recipient will be eligible for a grant maximum of Rs.30,000/- per month with a minimum level of Rs.10,000/- per month for a period of 12 months extendable up to 18 months. In case of deserving candidates subject to the approval of the selection committee at respective NIDHI-TBI. However, total support for each NIDHI- EIR should not exceed Rs 360000