| Title | India-Finland Joint Innovation Call 2026 DST (Department of Science and Technology) and Business Finland |
| Launch Date: | 1st April 2026 |
| Last Date: | 28th August 2026 till 4.00PM |
| Participating Agencies | TDB | DST | Business Finland
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| 1.AGREEMENT | The cooperation is based on the Implementation Arrangement between the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India and Innovation Funding Agency Business Finland, under Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Government of Finland. The call is announced between the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and Business Finland, under Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Government of Finland. On behalf of DST, Technology Development Board (TDB) shall implement this call. |
| 2.PRIORITIES | Sustainable energy For example, including but not limited to cooperation areas such as: Renewable energy, smart cities, hydrogen technologies, waste management, waste- to-energy, electric vehicles, carbon capture, energy storage, DERMS (Distributed Energy Resource Management System), VPP (Virtual Power Plant), and heat pumps or HP (Heat Pump) plants. Advanced digital technologies For example, including but not limited to cooperation areas such as: 5G/6G networks, advanced data analytics, virtual worlds, and artificial intelligence (in the context of the thematic focus of the call). Microelectronics and Power Electronics For example, including but not limited to cooperation areas such as: MEMS and sensors. |
| 3.NUMBER AND LENGTH OF PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED | - Max 6 projects
- Max 24 months
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4.ELIGIBILITY Eligible Indian applicants: | An Indian company having requisite understanding and capability to undertake R&D activities. - The Indian Project Lead (IPL) (i.e., lead company) must be a commercial (for profit) company registered under the Indian Companies Act 1956/ 2013, which operates in and is headquartered in India.
- At least 51% stake of the IPL Company must be owned by Indian citizens.
- The IPL should have the required expertise and team capacity to manage the proposed project.
- LLPs, Sole proprietors, OPC and partnership firms are not eligible for support under this programme.
- Companies headquartered and owned outside India and their subsidiaries in India, or vice versa, are not eligible to receive funding from DST under this programme.
- IPL should lead the project from Indian side and if required bring in other Industry Partners.
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ELIGIBILITY Eligible Indian applicants: | An Indian company having requisite understanding and capability to undertake R&D activities. - The Indian Project Lead (IPL) (i.e., lead company) must be a commercial (for profit) company registered under the Indian Companies Act 1956/ 2013, which operates in and is headquartered in India.
- At least 51% stake of the IPL Company must be owned by Indian citizens.
- The IPL should have the required expertise and team capacity to manage the proposed project.
- LLPs, Sole proprietors, OPC and partnership firms are not eligible for support under this programme.
- Companies headquartered and owned outside India and their subsidiaries in India, or vice versa, are not eligible to receive funding from DST under this programme.
- IPL should lead the project from Indian side and if required bring in other Industry Partners.
Eligible Finnish applicants: - Individual companies of all sizes registered in Finland able to show sufficient resources and capabilities in international innovation collaboration.
- Individual research organizations with sufficient company support (regular Co-Research criteria will be applied).
- Normal Business Finland eligibility and funding criteria are applied. For more information, see
- for individual small and medium-sized companies: Research, development, piloting for SMEs and midcaps (https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/services/funding/funding-services/research-and-development-funding/research-and-development-funding/),
- for individual large companies: Research, development, piloting for large companies (https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/services/funding/funding-services/research-and-development-funding/research-and-development-funding-large-corporation/), and
- for research organizations: Co-Research (https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/services/funding/funding-services/cooperation-between-companies-and-research-organizations/co-research/).
- Applicants are strongly advised to consult Business Finland in advance and ensure their eligibility.
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| 5.FUNDING AVAILABLE AND JOINT SELECTION CRITERIA | Funding for Indian partners: Technology Development Board (TDB), on behalf of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, will fund Indian counterparts with successful projects as follows: - DST will support up to INR 2.5 crore (around 250.000 euros) per project or 50% of the Indian project cost whichever is lower as a Grant, for a maximum project period of 24 months.
- Indian industry may receive up to 50% of their part of the eligible costs on a “Reimbursement Basis”, for costs already incurred on a proportionate basis.
- Funding from other public sector sources will be taken into account when awarding grant, and applicants will be asked to declare funding from other sources in the application
- Indian applicants are advised to consult a separate DST/TDB call announcement and contacts for further information.
Funding for Finnish partners: Business Finland will fund Finnish counterparts with successful projects as follows: - Business Finland funding allocation for this call is not fixed and depends on the number of qualified applications as well as the project-specific content.
- In terms of R&D work volumes, the contribution of the Finnish participants in the joint projects are expected to be in balance with the Indian side project counterparts.
- As depicted earlier in “4. Eligibility”, normal Business Finland funding principles are applied to eligible Finnish applicants, and applicants are strongly advised to consult Business Finland in advance.
Joint selection criteria: - Projects must be innovative and market-driven, leading to the proposed development of a new product or process or new/improved services, leading to commercialization. Commercialization period will be in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations and procedures established by each organization, and/or each jurisdiction/country.
- Proposals must demonstrate the joint Finland-India project team’s capacity to manage the proposed project in their respective countries.
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| 6.SUBMISSIONS AND DEADLINES | - The call is implemented as a one-phase application process in both countries.
- Both Finnish and Indian sides must submit their own applications to their own countries and funding organizations. One side application only is not valid. Applications must include a joint project plan using a Joint Application Form where the work of each consortium partner is clearly described, including also, e.g., IPR and commercialization remarks.
- Indian partners should submit their application through TDB website, www.tdb.gov.in together with the Joint Application Form and other nationally required attachments as described in the TDB/DST call announcement.
- Call is opened on 1 April 2026 and deadline for applications in India is 28 August 2026 at 16:00 (local Indian time).
- Finnish applicants should submit their proposals through Business Finland's online submission system. (https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/services/funding/funding-e-service/).
- At the “Programmes and other connections” section in the digital application, select the “Suomi-Intia-haku” (in English “Finland-India call”) option.
- Joint Application Form (a dedicated “BF-DST Joint Application Form 2026” template must be used) and a signed Consortium Agreement/MoU covering especially IP issues must be attached to the application.
- Call is opened on 1 April 2026 and deadline for applications in Finland is 28 August 2026 at 23:59 (local Finnish time).
- Finnish applications will be evaluated by Business Finland and Indian applications by DST/TDB. Those applications that are approved in both countries are eligible for funding. The bilateral funding decisions are expected to be made by the end of 2026, and projects are expected to start in January 2027.
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