NIDHI-PRAYAS: Grant for Hardware and Product Start-ups

National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations - Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring Innovators and Startups (NIDHI-PRAYAS) is a flagship scheme of the Department of Science and Technology. It focuses on addressing the gap between idea and prototype by providing financial support to innovators for building their proof-of-concept. The program is specifically designed for hardware-based product innovations, helping individual innovators and early-stage startups to transform their creative ideas into tangible physical prototypes. By providing access to PRAYAS Centers and funding, the scheme reduces the financial risk for innovators before they seek full-scale commercialization or venture capital. It operates through various incubators across India, offering technical guidance, fabrication facilities, and a supportive ecosystem for deep-tech hardware development.