TDB Launches First RDI Call to Fund High-Risk Technologies

10 Feb 2026 CW Team

The financing framework offers concessional interest rates of two to four per cent and tenures of up to 15 years, including moratorium provisions, and incorporates equity-linked options to share risk. The TDB said support will be provided through loans, equity or hybrid instruments rather than grants, and that the maximum funding support will be up to 50 per cent of total project cost with matching contributions by companies or private investors. Collateral-free financing is available with no requirement for personal or corporate guarantees.

The first call targets projects at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) four and above and will be delivered via Second Level Fund Managers (SLFMs). Proposal evaluation will be based on scientific, technological, financial and commercial merit with defined timelines for assessment and disbursement and an approval aim within an eight-week timeframe. The initiative is designed to enable sustainable commercial deployment of technologies while maintaining financial discipline and accountability.

Officials noted a robust early response, with 191 proposals received and a significant majority from the private sector, which was taken to reflect growing confidence in government support for innovation-led growth. The RDI Fund received Cabinet approval in July 2025 and was launched by the Prime Minister in November 2025 as part of a long-term vision to build indigenous capabilities. Senior stakeholders at the launch included the Secretary of the Technology Development Board and the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.

The Technology Development Board (TDB) launched the first open call under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), aiming to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem by supporting commercialisation of indigenous technologies. The call was unveiled by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and is intended to provide structured, long-term financing to enable private enterprises to scale technologies previously confined to the public domain. The RDI Fund has a total corpus of Rs one trillion (Rs 1 tn). The financing framework offers concessional interest rates of two to four per cent and tenures of up to 15 years, including moratorium provisions, and incorporates equity-linked options to share risk. The TDB said support will be provided through loans, equity or hybrid instruments rather than grants, and that the maximum funding support will be up to 50 per cent of total project cost with matching contributions by companies or private investors. Collateral-free financing is available with no requirement for personal or corporate guarantees. The first call targets projects at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) four and above and will be delivered via Second Level Fund Managers (SLFMs). Proposal evaluation will be based on scientific, technological, financial and commercial merit with defined timelines for assessment and disbursement and an approval aim within an eight-week timeframe. The initiative is designed to enable sustainable commercial deployment of technologies while maintaining financial discipline and accountability. Officials noted a robust early response, with 191 proposals received and a significant majority from the private sector, which was taken to reflect growing confidence in government support for innovation-led growth. The RDI Fund received Cabinet approval in July 2025 and was launched by the Prime Minister in November 2025 as part of a long-term vision to build indigenous capabilities. Senior stakeholders at the launch included the Secretary of the Technology Development Board and the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.

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