FAQs

The TDB provides equity capital, subject to such conditions as may be determined by regulations, or any other financial assistance to Indian industrial concerns and other agencies, attempting development and commercial application of indigenous technology, or adapting imported technology to wider domestic applications.

Commercial enterprises companies incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 (excluding sole entrepreneur/sole proprietorship/partnership concerns) cooperatives and other agencies are eligible to seek money from the Board for the development and application of technology-based product or service.

If the project is for the commercialization of technology, developed by a domestic R&D institution, the enterprise should apply, along with an agreement signed by the R&D institution willing to transfer the technology. The R&D institution shall be any one of the following:-

• National laboratory
• State laboratory
• Academic institution
• Co-operative Research Association
• Registered R&D Foundation/Trust/Society
• In-house R&D unit in industry recognized by Government (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research)
• Organization recognized by Government (DSIR)
• Commercial R&D company recognized by DSIR

If an enterprise has developed the technology with the assistance of an R&D institution (listed in 2.2 above), the application to the Board by such enterprise or its associate will also be considered (contract or joint or sponsored research).

Applications from enterprises, with or without any other partners (listed in 2.2 above), for commercialization of indigenous technologies may be considered if the project is for commercialization of technology developed through the financial support provided under Home Grown Technology (HGT)/Mission projects/Technology Vision 2020 implementation projects of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) or under
the Programme Aimed at Technological Self Reliance (PASTER) of DSIR or under the Technopreneur Promotion Programme (TePP) jointly operated by DSIR and DST.

Start-up companies and/or technocrat-entrepreneurs, with or without any other partners (listed in 2.2 above), in agricultural product processing, information technology or designing and developing special engineering machinery are encouraged to apply for projects in these areas.

Where legal title to domestically generated intellectual property is held (or filed for) by an individual generator (e.g. inventor) of such property
or by an industrial concern, such individual or industrial concern shall also be eligible to apply.

If the activity is for adapting and commercializing imported technology, financial assistance from the Board may be provided for :-

• Effecting crucial modifications for wider domestic applications through an ‘R&D institution’ (listed in 2.2 above) or through an individual (2.6 above) and/or
• Further development of commercializable technology imported when that technology is at ‘proof-of-concept’ or design stage.

The type of projects includes

• Development and commercialization of a new product / process / application through indigenous technology.
• Significant improvements in the existing product / process / application.
• Substantial quality upgradation, reduced material consumption, reduced energy consumption, cost reduction, improved competitiveness, improved ergonomics.
• Development and deployment of technology or design to satisfy existing occupational health and/or safety standards or improve upon them.
• Development and deployment of technology or design necessary to satisfy domestic or foreign environmental requirements or standards current or anticipated.
• Development and deployment of technology or design necessary to satisfy the requirements of domestic legislation and/or decisions of the judiciary or product liability legislation in export markets.
• Adaptation/modification to product/process which has been imported so as to make it suitable for wider domestic application.
• Replacement of imported raw materials/components with indigenous substitutes.
• Providing the socio-commercial viability of new and/or renewable sources of energy commercially deliverable to consumers.
• Development of technology to meet the medical standards and providing socio-commercial viability of bio-medical equipments and devices.
• Hazardous, waste recycling.

These may include:

• Development, test and evaluation necessary for establishing proof-of-applicability of product, process or application.
• Costs of a capital nature including cost of acquisition of technology of foreign origin which is at “proof-of concept” or design stage requiring substantial indigenous technology development.
• Fabrication, testing and trial of prototypes.
• Setting-up pilot/demonstration plant including testing and trials.
• Industrial product design.
• Field trials (including limited market development, except as stand-alone activity)
• Setting-up the first or demonstrator commercial scale manufacturing unit using the innovative technology.
• Cost of studies, surveys and blue or grey-collar training necessary or incidental to the above.
• R&D / engineering consultancy for prototype / pilot plant / trials and testing.

The expenditure incurred by the Applicant before the date of application shall not be considered in determining the amount of loan from TDB.

Applications will be evaluated for their scientific, technological, commercial and financial merits. The evaluation criteria include:

• The soundness, scientific quality and technological merit.
• The potential for wide application and the benefits expected to accure from commercialization.
• The adequacy of the proposed effort.
• The capability of the R&D institution(s) in the proposed action network.
• The organizational and commercial capability of the enterprise including its internal accurals.
• The reasonableness of the proposed cost and financing pattern.
• Measurable objective, targets and milestones.
• Track record of the entrepreneur. The evaluation will also include on-site visits.

The Finance Act 1999 provides hundred percent deductions for income tax purpose in respect of donations made to the Fund for Technology Development and Application being administered by the Technology Development Board.

The repayment of loan, together with interest and royalty thereon, shall commence one year after the project is successfully completed and shall be repaid in four and a half years.

The accumulated interest up to the repayment of the first installment may be distributed over a period of three years commencing from the second year of repayment and terminating, in the fourth year of repayment.

The means of financial assistance includes i) Loan (upto 50% of the project cost @5% simple annual interest); ii) Equity (upto 25% of the project cost); and iii) Grant (in exceptional cases)

Although the assistance from the Board will take into account the totality of the financial environment in which the enterprise is to operate, the loan will normally be limited to half the estimated approved outlay on the activities eligible for funding.

The enterprise has to produce evidence of arrangement for the remainder of the money required. A commitment letter from a third party investor such as another established company, a venture capital company, financial institution or commercial bank will facilitate speedier processing.

The interest on loan shall be at the rate of five percent (5%) per annum (simple interest). Royalty would also be payable on sale of products under the TDB’s project, during the currency of loan. The loan, interest and royalty require collaterals and guarantees.

The repayment of loan, together with interest and royalty thereon, shall commence one year after the project is successfully completed and shall be repaid in four and a half years in nine half yearly instalments.

The accumulated interest up to the repayment of the first instalment may be distributed over a period of three years commencing from the second year of repayment and terminating, in the fourth year of repayment.

• Refinancing.
• Basic research.
• Establishment of new R&D centres.
• Travel, conferences, workshops, etc. unless they form an essential component of the project approved by the Board.
• Writing of books or reports or collection of statistics or surveys unless they form an essential component of the project approved by the Board.
• Any form of grants-in-aid or loan for the mere creation of technical infrastructure. More than two projects at one time to an industrial concern.
• An industrial concern that is sick or incipiently sick.

The applicant is requested to carefully study the instructions before filling in the application form. The applicant should also fill in the acknowledgment form. Three copies of application and supporting documents (Soft & Hard Copy) must be sent in the samepackage, to:-

The Secretary
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Department of Science & Technology
A-wing, Ground Floor,
Vishwakarma Bhawan
Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, New Delhi – 110016
Telephone No. +91 11 26537349, 26540100
Fax No. +91 11 26540137, 26540141
Website : www.tdb.gov.in

The Board has decided to take a pro-active role in addition to responding to the proposals received. This thrust is at the heart of Board’s vision document. Its aim is to enhance exports or towards producing competitive consumer products; encourage industries and R&D institutions for product innovation or improvisation to suit the Indian market; technology to be goal oriented, socially relevant and profitable. It will identify and act in areas requiring strategic interventions.

The Board encourages new ideas from small enterprises even at the risk of failure. While a few Indian industries themselves are capable of taking lead in modern technologies, balance of advantage for taking a lead in other areas lies dormant with many national laboratories. The pro-active role of the TDB lies in creating formal linkages to generate viable partnerships.

Information for selecting suitable projects is available in the TIFAC reports on Technology Vision for India upto 2020; proposals which aim at implementing / improving upon them may also be considered by the Board.

The Board receives the application for financial assistance throughout the year.

Application should be submitted in the prescribed format (Form A) available in download section. The applicant is requested to carefully study the instructions before filling in the application form. The applicant should also fill in the acknowledgment form. Three copies of application and supporting documents (Soft & Hard Copy) must be sent in the same package, to:-

The Secretary
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Department of Science & Technology
A-wing, Ground Floor,
Vishwakarma Bhawan
Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, New Delhi – 110016
Telephone No. +91 11 26537349, 26540100
Fax No. +91 11 26540137, 26540141

The Board accepts application from all the sectors of the economy which include Health & Medical, Engineering, Chemical, Agriculture, IT, Telecom, Road & Air Transport, Defence, Energy & Waste etc.

Every year `National Technology Day’ is observed across India on May 11. This day glorifies the importance of science in day-to-day life and motivates students to adopt science as a career option.

National Technology Day is being commemorated to celebrate the anniversary of first of the five tests of Operation Shakti (Pokhran-II) nuclear test which was held on 11 May, 1998 in Pokhran, Rajasthan. Apart from Pokhran nuclear test, on this day first indigenous aircraft Hansa-3 was test flown at Bangalore and India also conducted successful test firing of the Trishul missile on the same day. Considering all these achievements 11 May was chosen to be commemorated as National Technology Day.

This day urged the industry to forge powerful partnerships with the national laboratories and to create knowledge networks with academic institutions to promote research and development and to gain entry into global markets.

To commemorate this day, Technology Development Board (TDB) has instituted a National Award. This award is conferred on to various individuals and industries for their successful achievement in commercialization of Indigenous Technology.