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Ministry of Science & Technology | Technology Development Board (TDB) | Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)
The Government of India has opened the first funding window of the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. Launched on February 4, 2026, this initiative marks a significant departure from traditional government models by providing direct, long-term financing to private enterprises for scaling high-risk, indigenous technologies. The fund specifically targets projects at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 and above, focusing on strategic sectors like space, nuclear energy, and deep-tech.
Financing Framework and Operational Metrics The RDI Fund introduces a structured approach to innovation financing designed to lower financial risk for developers:
Fund Corpus: The RDI Fund operates with a total corpus of ₹1 lakh crore, providing concessional loans at interest rates between 2–4 per cent.
Long-Term Tenure: Developers can access financing for up to 15 years, including moratorium provisions to ensure sustainable commercial deployment.
Risk Sharing: The framework offers up to 50 per cent project funding through loans, equity, or hybrid instruments, requiring matching contributions from private investors.
Collateral-Free Access: To encourage participation, the financing is collateral-free, with no requirement for personal or corporate guarantees.
What is “Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4” in the context of innovation financing? Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 refers to the stage where a technology has been validated in a laboratory environment. It is the transition point from basic research (TRL 1-3) to a “proof-of-concept” where the individual components of a system are integrated to demonstrate that they work together. The TDB’s focus on TRL 4 and above ensures that government financing is directed toward technologies that have already moved beyond the theoretical phase and are ready for high-risk prototype development and commercial scale-up.
Policy Relevance
The launch of the RDI Fund call signals a transition toward direct government partnership in private sector R&D. By providing affordable, long-term capital for high-risk sectors, the government is filling the “missing middle” in technology commercialisation that private venture capital often avoids.
Strategic Impact:
Democratising Deep-Tech: The collateral-free and concessional nature of the loans ensures that startups in capital-intensive sectors like AI and Green Energy can scale without the burden of immediate debt servicing.
Strategic Autonomy: Financing indigenous technologies at TRL 4+ reduces India’s dependence on imported critical technologies in strategic sectors like Space and Nuclear Power.
Institutional Risk Sharing: Shifting from grants to equity-linked options ensures that the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) remains a sustainable stakeholder in the success of the innovations it funds.
Market-Ready Evaluaiton: 평가(Evaluation) timelines of 8 weeks and merit-based commercial assessment bring a professional, private-sector pace to government scientific funding.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Technology Development Board (TDB) ensure that the nearly 191 received proposals are integrated into a national ‘Technology Tracker’ to prevent duplication of R&D efforts across different ministries?
Follow the full news here: Dr. Jitendra Singh launches first RDI Fund call