US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF)

Closed Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, for DST India and the US Department of State India

Grant

About ₹1.5 crore per project (2026 call)

Visit the official site

What it funds: Joint India-US grants to take technologies to market in rotating themes
Who can apply: Joint team with at least one Indian and one US partner
Team includes a commercial partner that takes the product to market
Indian partner at least 51% owned by Indian nationals
When you can apply: ClosedNew call announced on the IUSSTF site. Dates not published
How to apply: Build a joint India-US team and submit through the USISTEF portal when a call is open
Best for: Prototype, Early revenue stage
Sectors: DeepTech
Run by: International programmes

Open now for the same stage

Make-I (Government Funded) under the Defence Acquisition ProcedureUp to 70% of prototype development cost, capped at ₹250 crore per development agency Open all year
NM-ICPS Technology Innovation Hubs: Startup and Fellowship SupportSet by each hub Open all year
ONGC Start-up FundInvestment amount set per startup from a ₹100 crore fund Open all year
Social Alpha Entrepreneur in Residence Fellowship₹60,000 a month, plus a chance to pitch for up to ₹50 lakh Open all year
Design Linked Incentive (DLI) SchemeUp to 50% of eligible design costs, capped at ₹15 crore; plus 6% to 4% of net sales for 5 years, capped at ₹30 crore Open all year
Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS)Up to ₹10 lakh early stage; up to ₹50 lakh for pilots; up to ₹1 crore for deep tech Open all year
EIC Accelerator (Horizon Europe)Grant under €2.5 million, plus optional equity up to €10 million Closes 4 Nov 2026
James Dyson Award₹6.46 lakh (national winner) up to ₹36.5 lakh (international winner) Closed

DeepTech grants for startups

Starter opens 30 grants in full. Pro opens every one.