Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme

About This Scheme

Technology Development Fund (TDF) has been established to promote self-reliance in Defence Technology as a part of the 'Make in India' initiative. It is a programme of the Ministry of Defence. This programme is executed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) to meet the requirements of the Tri-Services, Defence Production and DRDO. The Scheme encourages participation of public/private industries, especially MSMEs and startups, so as to create an ecosystem for enhancing cutting-edge technology capability in the defence sector. > Objective: - The Scheme aims to provide a major fillip to the defence manufacturing sector by encouraging the industry to innovate on defence technologies, in order to place India on the self-reliance trajectory. In addition to providing the grants-in-aid for the development of indigenous technology, the Scheme also provides the industry with various benefits. > Vision: Building an ecosystem for enhancing cutting-edge technology capability for defence manufacturing to meet the requirements of Tri-Services, Defence Production and DRDO. > Mission: Creating an ecosystem for promoting self-reliance by building indigenous state-of-the-art systems for defence applications. > Project Duration: Maximum development period will be four (4) years. > Focus Areas: - Significant upgradation/ improvements/developments in the existing products/processes/applications. - Technology readiness level upgradation from TRL 3 onwards to realization of products as per Tri-Services requirements. - Development of futuristic technologies/innovative products which can be useful for defence applications. - Import substitution of components whose technologies do not exist in the Indian industry. - The scheme will be limited to development of technologies or prototypes of products having potential use for National Defence.

Eligibility

- Public limited company, a private limited company, a partnership firm, a limited liability partnership, one-person company, sole proprietorship registered as per applicable Indian laws registered in India especially MSMEs and Startups. - Startup must be recognized by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as per Government of India (GOI) guidelines. - Startup incorporated for less than 3 years from date of submission of application will be considered as nascent startups. - Nascent Startup should be incubated at one of the Central/State government assisted incubators. - Startup should not have received any grants/grants-in-aid by any government scheme for a similar technology. - The startup must be owned and controlled by a Resident Indian citizen with a shareholding of at least 51%.

Benefits

> Funding Support: - The project cost of up to INR 50,00,00,000/- will be considered for funding. - The funding may be up to 90% of the total project cost. - Industry may work in collaboration with academia or research institutions. - The funding will be linked to mutually agreed milestones. - Funds will be released either in advance against a bank guarantee of the same amount as collateral, or reimbursement based on the completion of milestones. - Subsequent installments will be released on successful completion of milestones. > Purpose of Funding Support: - Aims to provide financial assistance to startups for prototype development and trials. - Proposes to target nascent startups for project requirements inclusive of funding support of up to 20% to the incubators associated with the startup. - Option to create partnerships with academia, where the contribution of the academia is up to 40% of the total project effort.

How to Apply

Where This Comes From

This scheme was sourced from myScheme, the Government of India's official Central+State scheme discovery portal, and reviewed by an editor before publishing. Use the button above to read the full details and apply directly on the official source.