Eligibility for Innovators for PRAYAS support

The PRAYAS program is focused to provide funding support to individual innovators. Innovators should use the PRAYAS grant, primarily to convert their ideas into prototype. The IP generated if any, should vest with the Innovator / Start up. It cannot, however, be used for supporting:

•  Innovators / Startup who do not / will not own the Project know how/ IP.
•  Funding research / student internship in Academic institution or R& D organisation.
•  Innovators /Team/ Startup who is already supported once under NIDHI PRAYAS.
•  Innovators who do not have the necessary NOC on IP, granting sufficient time to work on PRAYAS project from their respective organisation / institution.
•  Innovator supported under NIDHI-EIR in parallel with NIDHI-PRAYAS.
•  Innovators who do not have a roadmap / will towards commercialization.

The eligibility criteria for the applicants are as follows

Any individual applying for PRAYAS has to be an Indian Citizen with a government approved proof of nationality such as a valid passport, voter’s id etc. The applicant should be in the age group of minimum of 18 years, as on date of application.

1. Individual Innovator OR Team of Innovators: –

•  The innovator should have the knowhow of the PRAYAS project. For team of innovators there has to be –
•  An agreement among the team about the lead innovator who would apply, and the funds will be transferred to the lead innovator’s account (after selection)
•  IP generated would vest with the innovator / team and it would be further taken for commercialization

2. In case of Founders, Co -founders of Startup applying for PRAYAS:-

•  At the time of application, the period of existence of a Startup and its operations should not exceed 7 years from the Date of Incorporation,
•  Wants to develop the prototype for a new product, for which they may have not received similar kind of support.
•  Company should have annual turnover not exceeding Rs. 25 lakhs for any of the financial year since its inception.
•  IP generated would vest with the Startup

3. Innovators in employment OR Students with any R& D organisation/Academic Institution

•  It is mandatory that the innovators pursuing PRAYAS should have the Project know how and own the IP.
•  The innovator has to seek the NOC from their organisation / institution.
  The NOC should have the following
A. Permission to apply for PRAYAS and the innovator will be granted sufficient time to work on the PRAYAS project,
B. IP generated would vest with the innovator / team and it would be further taken for commercialization

4. Preference may be given to those innovators

•  Who have bootstrapped or have got co-investment commitment
•  Who have clear road map for commercialization or start up creation
•  Women innovators
•  Young innovators

5. NIDHI-PRAYAS grantee should be fully committed to work towards the prototype development for which the support is being sought and should not treat this as a stop gap arrangement to support any other pursuits.

6. The innovator can avail the NIDHI-PRAYAS support only once and they should not have sought the similar support previously, from other Government of India organisation/Institution for the same innovative concept as proposed in the application form.

Restrictions for PRAYAS

•  Student applicants pursuing long term research projects like doctoral research projects or similar projects will not be supported
•  Professors or Academicians engaged in teaching with any academic or R&D institute.
•  The projects relating to software development and those involving pure academic research are not eligible.