FICCI R&D Awards 2026: Celebrating Innovation & Technology in India — Frequently Asked Questions

It is a national awards program by FICCI that recognizes outstanding achievements in industrial research, innovation, and technology development across critical sectors in India.

Category A is open to corporates, startups, MSMEs, and R&D institutions. Category B is open to academic institutions/universities and industry entities (corporates, MSMEs, startups).

Category A covers sectoral excellence in Energy, Deeptech, Mobility, and Health. Category B is a special initiative for 'Leveraging Industry Academia Partnership'.

Yes, the non-refundable fee is: corporates ₹20,000 + GST, R&D/academic institutions ₹15,000 + GST, MSMEs ₹10,000 + GST, and startups ₹5,000 + GST.

The final deadline to apply is July 31, 2026.

No, the FICCI R&D Awards are primarily a recognition platform and do not offer direct financial grants or investments.

Applications undergo a multi-stage evaluation including preliminary screening, expert review based on novelty, impact, technological readiness, scalability, and methodology. Shortlisted candidates may participate in further interactions before the final jury selection.

Winners are honored at a grand ceremony at the FICCI Bharat R&D Summit 2026.

No. FICCI R&D Awards 2026: Celebrating Innovation & Technology in India is competition and is non-dilutive — the provider does not take an equity stake in your startup.

No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for FICCI R&D Awards 2026: Celebrating Innovation & Technology in India, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.

FICCI R&D Awards 2026: Celebrating Innovation & Technology in India is offered by FICCI, a non-profit foundation. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.