International R&D Funding — SCPL

SCPL Funding Advisory

International R&D Funding
for Indian Businesses

Access government grants, bilateral programmes, and European funding to fuel your innovation journey. SCPL handles the entire application — end to end.

₹50 Cr+
Max RDI Grant
8+
Bilateral Partners
€95.5B
EU Horizon Budget
90–120
Days to Approval
🔬  RDI Funding 🌍  Bilateral Funding 🇪🇺  EU Horizon
🔬
Domestic Funding
RDI Funding — Research, Development & Innovation
Government of India grants for companies, startups & institutions to accelerate technology development and product innovation
Up to ₹50 Crore
Key RDI Funding Schemes
🛡️
DRDO — Technology Development Fund
Up to ₹50 Crore
Defence technology development for MSMEs and startups. Up to 90% of project cost is covered by the government with IP ownership retained by company.
Defence TechMSMEs90% GrantStartups
💡
DST — NIDHI Programme
Up to ₹10 Crore
Deep-tech startup support from idea to prototype stage. NIDHI-PRAYAS offers up to ₹1 Crore seed funding while NIDHI-SSS offers up to ₹10 Crore with incubation support.
StartupsDeep TechDPIIT Registered
🧬
DBT — BIRAC Funding
₹50L to ₹5 Crore
Biotech innovation and life sciences R&D support. Offers both grant-in-aid and equity funding in select schemes for biotech startups and SMEs.
BiotechLife SciencesPharmaSMEs
💻
MEITY — Digital India & Software Park
Up to ₹2 Crore
IT product development and digital innovation grants for tech startups and software product companies under the Digital India initiative.
IT ProductsDigitalSoftwareSaaS
🏭
MSME — TCSP Programme
Up to ₹5 Crore
Technology Centre Systems Programme for manufacturing technology upgradation. Provides subsidised loans plus grants for MSME manufacturers.
ManufacturingMSMETechnology
💊
CSIR — Open Source Drug Discovery
Up to ₹2 Crore
Research grants for pharma and drug R&D. Supports collaborative research between pharma companies, research labs, and academic institutions.
PharmaDrug R&DResearch Labs
Benefits of RDI Funding
💰
Zero-Equity Grants
Government grants with no equity dilution — you keep full ownership of your company.
📊
Up to 90% Cost Covered
Upto 90% of your R&D project cost is funded by the government under schemes like DRDO TDF.
📜
IP Ownership Retained
Your company retains full intellectual property rights on innovations developed under the grant.
🧾
100% Tax Deduction
Claim full tax deduction on in-house R&D expenditure under Section 35(2AB) of Income Tax Act.
Who is Eligible?
Entity Type DRDO TDFDST NIDHIBIRACMEITYMSME TCSP
Startups (DPIIT Registered)✓✓✓✓—
MSMEs✓—✓✓✓
DSIR-Recognised Companies✓✓✓✓✓
Private Limited Companies✓—✓✓✓
Academic Institutions—✓✓——
How SCPL Helps You
1
Eligibility Check
We assess your business model, R&D activities, and identify the best-fit RDI scheme.
2
Proposal Writing
Our experts prepare a compelling technical and financial project proposal.
3
Application Filing
We handle end-to-end submission on DRDO, DST, DBT, MEITY portals.
4
Agency Liaison
We liaise with funding agencies and respond to any queries or clarifications.
5
Compliance & Reporting
Post-approval milestone reporting, utilisation certificates and compliance management.

Ready to apply for RDI Funding?

SCPL manages the entire RDI application process — from eligibility check to final approval. Most approvals completed in 90–120 days.

Get Free RDI Assessment →
🌍
International Collaboration
Bilateral Funding — India's Global R&D Partnerships
Government-to-government co-funded research programmes. Both India and the partner country fund the project — reducing your financial burden while giving you global reach.
Up to $500,000
How Bilateral Funding Works
Step 01
MOU Between Governments
India and a partner country sign a formal Science & Technology cooperation agreement.
Step 02
Joint Call Issued
Both countries issue a simultaneous joint call for proposals with aligned themes.
Step 03
Parallel Applications
Indian entity applies to DST/DBT while the foreign partner applies to their agency.
Step 04
Joint Evaluation & Funding
Both agencies evaluate jointly and co-fund approved 2–3 year projects.
Active Bilateral Programmes
🇩🇪
India – Germany
IGSTC / DST-BMBF Programme
Up to ₹2 Crore
Annual calls for collaborative R&D between Indian and German companies or research institutions.
Focus: Smart manufacturing, AI, renewable energy, healthcare
Annual2-3 Years
🇮🇱
India – Israel
I4F — India-Israel Industrial R&D Fund
Up to $500,000
Joint innovation fund supporting industrial R&D between Indian and Israeli companies.
Focus: Agritech, water technology, cybersecurity, medtech
AnnualIndustry
🇫🇮
India – Finland
Team Finland — India Innovation Programme
Up to €200,000
Rolling basis programme supporting clean technology and digital innovation partnerships.
Focus: Clean tech, digital health, smart cities, EdTech
RollingClean Tech
🇬🇧
India – United Kingdom
Newton-Bhabha Fund / UK-India Tech Partnership
Up to £200,000
Annual calls via Innovate UK supporting innovation in clean energy, health, and fintech.
Focus: Net zero, healthcare, fintech, advanced materials
AnnualNet Zero
🇺🇸
India – USA
IUSSTF / Indo-US Science & Technology Forum
Up to $500,000
Joint DST-NSF programme for cutting-edge science and technology collaboration.
Focus: AI, quantum computing, clean energy, agriculture
AnnualDeep Tech
🇰🇷
India – South Korea
IKST / Indo-Korean Science & Technology Centre
Up to ₹1 Crore
NRF-DST joint programme for electronics, clean energy and biotech collaboration.
Focus: Electronics, semiconductors, clean energy, biotech
AnnualElectronics
Benefits of Bilateral Funding
🌐
Global Technology Access
Partner with world-class foreign companies and research institutions to access cutting-edge technology.
🤝
Co-Funded Projects
Both countries co-fund the project — significantly lowering the financial burden on your company.
📋
Negotiated IP Rights
Intellectual property is jointly owned or negotiated between partners as per the project agreement.
📈
Export Market Entry
Bilateral projects open doors to global supply chains and export markets in partner countries.
How SCPL Helps You
1
Partner Matching
We connect you with suitable foreign partners from our global network across 8+ countries.
2
MOU Drafting
We draft the formal MOU between Indian and foreign entities as required by funding agencies.
3
Proposal Writing
Joint project proposals aligned with the specific call requirements of both agencies.
4
Dual Submission
We navigate both the Indian agency portal and guide the foreign partner on their submission.
5
Joint Reporting
Post-award milestone and financial reporting management for both sides of the partnership.

Find Your Bilateral Funding Opportunity

SCPL identifies the right bilateral programme for your sector, connects you with a foreign partner, and manages the full application process.

Check Bilateral Eligibility →
🇪🇺
European Union
EU Horizon Europe — World's Largest R&D Programme
€95.5 billion (2021–2027). Indian entities can participate as third-country partners in collaborative EU research projects across science, technology, health, climate and digital sectors.
€95.5 Billion Budget
Funding Instruments Available to Indian Entities
Pillar 2 — Global Challenges
Research & Innovation Actions (RIA)
€3 – 10 Million
Collaborative research with EU consortium. Indian entity joins as a consortium partner. Projects run for 3–4 years with full EU funding for the consortium.
Consortium3-4 YearsPartner Role
Pillar 2 — Industrial Competitiveness
Innovation Actions (IA)
€5 – 20 Million
Close-to-market innovation projects. Indian company participates as technology or implementation partner in a 3–5 year project with EU industry.
Near-market3-5 YearsIndustry
Researcher Mobility
MSCA — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Up to €50,000 per researcher
Researcher secondments from Indian R&D companies and institutions to EU laboratories. Duration 1–24 months. Ideal for academic-industry collaboration.
Researchers1-24 MonthsAcademic
Pillar 3 — Innovative Europe
EIC Accelerator
€2.5M grant + €15M equity
For deep-tech startups and SMEs. Requires an EU-registered entity (Indian parent company eligible). Quarterly cut-off deadlines. Breakthrough innovation focus.
Deep TechEquityQuarterly
Pillar 1 — Excellent Science
EIC Pathfinder
Up to €4 Million
High-risk, high-gain science with transformative potential. Indian entities join as consortium partners. For early-stage breakthrough research.
High-RiskScienceBreakthrough
Pillar 1 — Excellent Science
ERC — European Research Council Grants
Up to €2.5 Million
Frontier research grants for individual researchers. Indian researchers based in EU institutions or visiting fellows are eligible. Annual calls in October–January.
Frontier ResearchAnnual
Thematic Areas Open to Indian Partners
🏥
Cluster 1 — Health
Cancer research, infectious diseases, digital health, medical devices, pandemic preparedness, and health systems transformation.
MedTechDigital HealthPharma
💻
Cluster 4 — Digital, Industry & Space
Artificial intelligence, manufacturing 4.0, robotics, semiconductors, quantum computing, cloud and space technologies.
AIQuantumManufacturing
🌱
Cluster 5 — Climate, Energy & Mobility
Clean energy, renewable fuels, electric vehicles, smart grids, carbon capture, and sustainable transport systems.
Clean EnergyEVsNet Zero
🌾
Cluster 6 — Food, Bioeconomy & Environment
Sustainable agriculture, food systems, biodiversity, water management, circular bioeconomy and natural resources.
AgritechBioeconomyWater
🔐
Cluster 3 — Civil Security
Cybersecurity, disaster risk management, border security, critical infrastructure protection and crisis management technologies.
CybersecurityDefence
🤝
Cluster 2 — Culture & Inclusive Society
Education, cultural heritage, democracy, governance, migration, social innovation and inclusive digital transformation.
EdTechSocial Innovation
Step-by-Step: How Indian Companies Join
Step 01
Find an EU Call
Identify relevant open calls on the Horizon Europe Funding & Tenders Portal across your sector.
Step 02
Find EU Partners
Form a consortium of minimum 3 entities from 3 EU member states + your Indian entity.
Step 03
Submit Joint Proposal
Submit a joint proposal on the EU Participant Portal before the call deadline.
Step 04
Grant Negotiation
If selected, negotiate the Grant Agreement with the European Commission.
Benefits for Indian Entities
🏛️
€95.5B EU Ecosystem
Access the world's largest publicly-funded R&D programme and collaborate with top EU institutions.
🔄
Technology Transfer
Co-develop and transfer cutting-edge technology from EU research institutions to your Indian business.
🏆
Global Investor Credibility
EU Horizon participation signals world-class R&D capability to global investors and clients.
📑
DSIR & Tax Benefits
EU-funded R&D activities are eligible for DSIR recognition and Section 35(2AB) tax deductions in India.
How SCPL Helps You
1
Call Monitoring
We continuously monitor Horizon Europe calls relevant to your sector and alert you to opportunities.
2
EU Partner Network
We connect you with EU universities, SMEs and research institutes from our European partner network.
3
Proposal Writing
Full EU-standard proposal writing aligned with evaluation criteria and work programme objectives.
4
Portal Registration
EU Participant Portal registration, PEPPOL setup, and end-to-end submission management.
5
Post-Award Management
Financial planning, milestone reporting, and EU audit-ready documentation throughout the project.

Explore EU Horizon for Your Business

SCPL identifies the right EU Horizon call, connects you with European consortium partners, and manages the entire proposal and reporting process.

R&D funding advisory
Confused about R&D funding? We navigate it for you.
SCPL guides you through the complex R&D funding landscape — whether it is non-returnable grants, returnable grants or soft loans. Our experts walk you through the process and share upcoming access to the world's largest funding programme.
🎁 Non-returnable
Grants
Government grants you keep — no repayment, full IP ownership retained by your company.
↻ Returnable
Returnable grants
Grants repaid only on commercial success — zero risk if the project does not reach market.
💰 Soft loans
Soft loans
Low-interest, long-tenure government loans at 3–4% for R&D-intensive projects.
EU Horizon Europe is opening to Indian companies. Our experts will share sample calls for proposals and upcoming access to the world's largest R&D funding programme — immensely beneficial for Indian companies, academic institutions and research organisations.
Ready to start your R&D funding journey?
Book a slot with our team — we will map out every funding option available to you
Book a Slot
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