NIDHI-PRAYAS: A Grant for Hardware and Product Start-ups to Bridge the Lab-to-Market Gap

The National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) – PRomoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring technology entrepreneurs (PRAYAS) is a flagship scheme designed to help innovators turn their ideas into tangible prototypes. By providing critical early-stage financial support, the scheme aims to reduce the risk for hardware-based start-ups, allowing them to bridge the gap between initial concepts and market-ready products.

What is this scheme?

NIDHI-PRAYAS is an umbrella program under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. It specifically targets the 'valley of death' in product development by providing hardware innovators with a PRAYAS Grant to build prototypes and a PRAYAS Centre to access technical infrastructure and mentorship.

Who is eligible?

• An individual innovator or a start-up company incorporated in India.
• The applicant must be a citizen of India with a valid government ID.
• The innovator must be at least 18 years of age.
• The start-up should not have completed more than 7 years from the date of incorporation.
• The idea must be hardware-based (physical product development), not purely software.
• Innovators should be affiliated with a PRAYAS Centre (DST-recognized incubators).

How much money?

A grant of up to ₹10 Lakhs is provided for prototype development, typically over a period of 12 to 18 months.

Documents needed

1. Aadhaar Card of the innovator.
2. Company Registration Certificate (if applicable).
3. Detailed Project Report (DPR) explaining the technical feasibility.
4. Bank Account details (linked to Aadhaar).
5. Self-declaration regarding no previous grant for the same idea.
6. Proof of intellectual property (if any filing has been done).

How to apply (step by step)

1. Identify a DST-supported PRAYAS Centre (Incubator) near your location.
2. Wait for the call for applications issued by the specific PRAYAS Centre site.
3. Register on the PRAYAS portal or the incubator's internal application link.
4. Submit a detailed proposal outlining the problem, the proposed hardware solution, and the budget for prototyping.
5. Present the idea before the Local PRAYAS Monitoring Committee (LPMC).
6. If selected, sign the agreement and begin the prototyping phase with milestone-based funding.

Important dates

Conclusion

The NIDHI-PRAYAS scheme is a cornerstone for the 'Make in India' and 'Startup India' initiatives. By providing both financial aid and access to fabrication labs, it empowers physical product innovators to overcome high R&D costs. Interested entrepreneurs should keep a close watch on the official DST and Startup India portals for active calls for proposals.