Research Development and Innovation Fund by DST, Government of India

Research Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF) is a flagship initiative under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Designed to accelerate investment in India's R&D and Innovation ecosystem. Shall support private sector enterprises, startups, and industries working in sunrise and strategic sectors to transform ideas into globally competitive technologies and products Approved by the Union Cabinet on 1 July 2025, the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme aims to catalyse private sector investment in R&D with a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore over six years, including ₹20,000 crore in FY 2025-26.

Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme will be a game changer in the world of research and innovation. This scheme, with a corpus of Rs.1 lakh crore will have a major impact on emerging and sunrise sectors. It will also boost private sector participation in the world of R&D.

Objective
• Encouraging Private Sector Involvement: Incentivize active participation from industry players in cutting-edge research and innovation.
• Promoting Strategic Technologies: Focus on mission-critical areas that are vital for national development and global competitiveness, including :
Energy security and transition, and climate action;
‘Deep technologies’ including quantum computing, robotics and space;
Artificial intelligence and its applications to Indian problems including in agriculture, health, and education
Biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, pharma, and medical devices;
Digital economy including digital agriculture
• Fostering Self-Reliance and Economic Security: Support technologies where indigenization is essential for strategic or economic reasons, in line with the vision of Atmanirbharta.
• Ensure Flexibility in Sectoral Support: Allow support for any additional sectors or technologies deemed essential for public interest.

Who Can Apply
Eligibility Criteria for Receiving RDIF Funds via SLFMs.
• RDIF funds shall be provided by SLFMs to Eligible Technology Entities, which are defined as any legal entity registered in India, and duly incorporated and governed under the applicable laws of India including:
o The Companies Act, 2013.
o The Indian Partnership Act, 1932.
o The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008,
• This to include startups as defined in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade Notification G.S.R. 127(E) dated 19 February 2019, as may be modified from time to time); with principal place of business/operations in India; engaged in developing RDI-intensive technology at Technology Readiness Level 4 and above.
• Are under the control of resident Indian citizens, as defined in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)’s Consolidated FDI Policy (2020);
• Have their registered global headquarters in India. This ensures that global revenues and profit would be consolidated under the Indian- registered entity

RDIF Priority Sectors :
The sectors listed below have been identified for funding under the scheme :
Biotechnology & Life Sciences
• Genomics, genome editing, and next-generation sequencing
• Multi-omics platforms: transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics
• Functional and systems biology
• Bioinformatics and computational/AI-driven life sciences
• Cellular reprogramming and stem cell technologies
• Environmental biotechnology (bioremediation, wastewater treatment)

Biomanufacturing & Bioengineering
• Microbial, plant, and mammalian cell factories for biosynthesis
• Metabolic pathway engineering for optimized production
• Sustainable bioprocesses using agro-waste and CO₂ conversion
• Advanced fermentation technologies and downstream processing
• Scale-up and production of bio-enzymes, biosurfactants, and biopolymers
• Biomanufacturing of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutic proteins

Synthetic Biology & Industrial Biotech
• Design and synthesis of genetic circuits and minimal cells
• Biofoundry development for high-throughput strain engineering
• Chassis organism engineering (bacteria, yeast, microalgae)
• Biosensors for environmental and medical applications
• Biodesign automation and use of AI in strain design/pathway optimization
• Synthetic biology solutions for sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials

Pharmaceuticals & Drug Development
• Pre-clinical and clinical pharmaceutical R&D
• AI/ML-driven drug discovery and target identification
• Development of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and biosimilars
• Structure-based drug design and high-throughput screening
• Next-gen vaccine development (mRNA, recombinant, vector-based)
• Pharmacogenomics, personalized medicine platforms, and drug repurposing
• Orphan drug development and advanced therapeutics

Medical Devices & Diagnostics
• Indigenous diagnostic kits (point-of-care, rapid, multiplexed)
• Wearable health monitors and implantable biosensors
• Image-guided and robotic surgical systems
• Smart prosthetics and rehabilitation technologies
• AI/ML-powered diagnostic and imaging devices
• Advanced drug delivery systems and biocompatible materials
• Devices for cancer care/radiotherapy, radiology, nuclear imaging, anesthesia, cardiorespiratory, and renal care
• Implants (bone, cochlear, pacemaker), neural chip implants, and wound healing materials
• Platform technologies for infectious disease detection and management

Advanced Biomaterials & Regenerative Medicine
• Multi-functional, very low-toxicity biomaterials
• Advanced 3D bioprinting and biofabrication technologies
• Biomaterialomics platforms using AI for discovery and prediction
• Automated preclinical validation and regulatory compliance (in vitro/in vivo, highthroughput)
• Smart and personalized implant design (patient-specific CAD/CAM, embedded sensors, functionalized implants)

Advanced Therapeutics & Biologics
• Broad-spectrum antibiotics targeting antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
• Microbiome-based therapeutics
• Sustainable biologics for agriculture, aquaculture, and animal health