dst - GDC

Announcements

DST-GDC I-NCUBATE Program – Open House :
Date: 8th November
Time: 4.00 PM to 5.30 PM

OPEN HOUSE
RECORDING

APPLICATION FORM

About the Program

The DST-GDC I-NCUBATE Program is a joint initiative of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, in partnership with the Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GDC), IIT Madras, to identify and nurture the most promising deep-tech startups based on STEM research in Indian Universities and Labs. The DST-GDC I-NCUBATE program was launched by the Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Science & Technology (Independent Charge) in New Delhi on 6th September 2024.

DST was established in May 1971 to promote new areas of Science & Technology and play the role of a nodal department for organising, coordinating, and promoting S&T activities in the country. DST’s vision is to continuously shape a seamless science, technology, and innovation ecosystem that is cutting-edge, collaborative, inclusive, relevant, and aligned to India’s national aspirations and priorities and build a vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

GDC is a center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IIT Madras, India’s leading engineering and technology institution. GDC works with faculty, researchers, students, and budding entrepreneurs in STEM colleges across India to enable them to commercialise their research-based ideas and create positive socio-economic outcomes at scale.

The DST-GDC I-NCUBATE Program aims to catalyse STEM research and technologies from universities, research labs, and incubators across India by transforming innovations into deep-tech startups that create socio-economic impact at scale. It reflects DST’s and GDC’s deep commitment and shared vision to fostering and amplifying the talents of Indian researchers and startups, creating technology-inspired ventures across multiple domains, and accelerating the path to a developed India.

The first cohort under the DST-GDC Program (a cohort is a batch of about ten startup teams) will start on 8th December 2024 and end on 27th January 2025. A cohort will last for eight calendar weeks.

Lab to Market Journey

Who should apply?

Applicants could be Translational Research Projects or Early-Stage Startups

Stage of Evolution: Applicant teams/startups should be at the TRL 3, TRL 4, or TRL 5 stage of technology maturity, with a working prototype or any other acceptable proof of technology. The team should have either founded a startup or should be seriously considering founding a startup and taking their innovation to market.
Domain: The applicant startup/project team can be from any domain of science and technology and should be basing their startup on an idea that has its roots in their STEM research..
Team Composition: Each applicant startup/project team must include a Technology expert (a university faculty member, scientist, or a principal investigator at a lab) and at least two entrepreneurs (who could be researchers or students at a university or employees in a lab or corporate). The team members must have been working on the research/innovation together for at least six months before the date of application and be thoroughly familiar with the technologies underlying the innovation.
Intellectual Property: The startup/project team should have valid registered intellectual property (IP) or have the intent and capability to create IP.

What benefits can you expect by participating?

Ignite the entrepreneur in you and learn the scientific method of building deep-tech startups
Prepare to scale up your technology with business mentorship from one of India’s leading entrepreneurship training entities.
Prepare to scale up your technology with business mentorship from one of India’s leading entrepreneurship training entities.
Gain exposure to one of India’s leading technology institutions and startup ecosystems

How to apply

1. Application

Click the Application link to start the process. Fill out the Application Form with all required details and submit

2.Interview

Our team will review your submission. If you meet our selection criteria, our selection committee will invite you for an interview.

3.Selection and Onboarding

Upon selection, teams will receive a Selection Letter, and once accepted, they will be onboarded into the cohort.

Interested in participating?

Applications are now OPEN for DST-GDC I-NCUBATE Program Cohorts

Cohort Details

There will be 10 Cohorts under the First Phase of the DST-GDC I-NCUBATE Program. The cohort will be held in bootcamp style. The details for the first two cohorts are as follows:

Starting on:

Duration:

Program Mode:

Hybrid Format:

Travel and Accommodation Costs Guidelines for In person Workshop at IIT Madras.

Participation Fee: Participation is free for teams/startups.
Funding: No funding is provided as part of the program.
Travel Reimbursement: Participants will be reimbursed for travel expenses to IIT Madras up to a maximum of Rs.10,000/- each.
Lodging and Boarding: Complimentary lodging and boarding will be provided on the IIT Madras campus.

3 Dimensions of learning

Business Tools and Techniques

Value Proposition
Business Model Canvas
Industry Analysis
Build-Measure-Learn Loop

Interviewing and Communication Skills

Clarity of Thought
Validating Assumptions
Connecting to People
Analysing Inputs from Customers
Presentation Skills

Entrepreneurial Skills

Dealing with Ambiguity
Creative / Non-Linear Thinking
Overcome Fear of Failure
Teamwork
Getting Things Done

Business Tools and Techniques

Value Proposition
Business Model Canvas
Industry Analysis
Build-Measure-Learn Loop

Interviewing and Communication Skills

Clarity of Thought
Validating Assumptions
Connecting to People
Analysing Inputs from Customers
Presentation Skills

Entrepreneurial Skills

Dealing with Ambiguity
Creative / Non-Linear Thinking
Overcome Fear of Failure
Teamwork
Getting Things Done

Time Commitment from Selected Teams/ Startup Applicants

Faculty leads should expect to devote at least 40 hours of their time over the cohort (8 weeks duration). The bulk of this time will be for three (3) in-person workshops (at IIT Madras), five (5) weekly online webinars (about 3 hours each) and some time for interaction with their own team members.
Entrepreneur leads should expect to devote at least 50 hours of instruction time/office hours PLUS 50% of their working hours each week for stakeholder interviews and other preparatory work.This level of commitment is required for the entire 8-week duration.

Cohort Outcomes

Participants teams will be able to:

Gain a comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurship, encompassing essential knowledge for building a startup based on their lab research.
Develop insights into how competitive businesses function, focusing on target customer segments, refining problem statements, developing value propositions, customer acquisition strategies and revenue models.
Gain an appreciation of how startups can identify early-adopter customer segments and further formulate strategies for building a customer base.

Understand what it means to build a scalable startup and the next steps in formulating a scalable business model, covering areas such as technology scaling, product-market fit, business plan and fundraising.
Increasing awareness and capabilities in areas such as building organisational skills, including identifying co-founders, enhancing communication skills, and understanding the motivations of other stakeholders of your startup.

OPEN HOUSE RECORDING

We look forward to receiving your applications for the DST-GDC I-NCUBATE Program 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Sharing Confidential Information

DST and GDC, IIT Madras recognize and appreciate that research teams and startups may possess proprietary information and technologies. We respect the applicants’ IP rights and their need to maintain the confidentiality of their proprietary information. Kindly exercise due care and discretion while sharing confidential information as part of the application process. Neither DST nor GDC, IIT Madras will be responsible for any IP or proprietary information breach of any applicant.

The Department of Science & Technology (DST), under the Ministry of Technology, Government of India, is entrusted with promoting new areas of Science & Technology and plays the role of a nodal department for organising, coordinating and promoting S&T activities in the country. As part of its Mission, DST leads in the creation of S&T infrastructure and manpower, supports basic science research along with S&T-led innovation and startups, technology development, and seeds futuristic areas of S&T by devising suitable programs, schemes and technology missions to address socio-economic challenges of the country.

National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) is an umbrella programme conceived and developed by the Technology Translation and Innovation (TTI) Division, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, for nurturing ideas and innovations (knowledge-based and technology-driven) into successful startups.

The Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (GDC) is a philanthropic initiative at IIT Madras. GDC focuses on enhancing entrepreneurial capabilities within leading STEM institutions across India. Its primary objective is facilitating a ‘lab to market’ transition of science-based research into impactful deep-tech startups. GDC achieves this by actively engaging with faculty and researchers involved in innovative technologies within laboratory settings, empowering them with essential skills for developing an entrepreneurial mindset and business acumen and reinforcing institutional processes to support the commercialization of research through robust startups.