Stories
Govt's Rs 1 Lakh Crore Deep-Tech Fund Paused, TDB Halts New Applications
- •The Technology Development Board (TDB) has stopped accepting applications for the government's Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, citing "administrative reasons."
- •The RDI Fund, approved by the cabinet in July 2025 with a six-year outlay, aims to boost private-sector investment in deep-tech areas like AI, robotics, and biotechnology.
- •TDB and BIRAC were designated as initial Second-Level Fund Managers (SLFMs), with TDB having approved 22 projects totaling Rs 4,744 crore, including Rs 2,192 crore in RDI support, as of July.
- •The scheme provides long-term financing for technologies at "Technology Readiness Level 4" or above, with RDI support capped at 50 percent of project costs.
- •Questions regarding potential conflicts of interest arose in the first funding round, with 15 of 22 supported companies having links to TDB Investment Committee members, though the government defended its governance framework.
Key Questions Answered
The Technology Development Board stopped accepting new applications under the RDI Fund due to administrative reasons, closing the invitation window after September 30. The notification did not specify exact reasons for the pause or when the funding window will reopen.
The RDI Fund was approved by the cabinet in July 2025 with a financial outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore spread over six years. It is designed to boost private-sector investment in research and development across sectors like artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum technologies, biotechnology, and space.
As of July, the Technology Development Board had approved 22 projects with a combined project cost of Rs 4,744 crore, which included Rs 2,192 crore in RDI support. Additionally, the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) had shortlisted eight projects involving Rs 390.35 crore.
