R&D Reimbursement Scheme

The Goa Startup Mission's R&D Reimbursement Scheme is designed to foster innovation among Goans and locally rooted startups. It provides financial support by reimbursing eligible R&D expenses, with a particular focus on the salaries of highly qualified personnel such as PhD and Master's degree holders. This scheme is exclusively available to local Goan startups—defined as startups where at least 50% of equity or shares have been held by one or more Goans continuously since the company's inception. The initiative operates under the Goa Start-up Policy 2021, which sets the framework for eligibility, expenditure tracking, and reimbursement limits.

• Up to ₹10 lakh R&D reimbursement over two years
• Covers 50% of R&D expenses including salaries of PhD/Master degree holders
• Exclusive to local Goan startups (≥50% equity held by Goans since inception)
• Annual cap of ₹5 lakh with salary sub-cap of ₹2 lakh per annum
• Preference given to patented technologies
• Rolling application window – open throughout the year

To qualify, a startup must be a local Goan startup as defined above, certified by the Startup IT Promotion Cell (SITPC), and actively engaged in research and development for technology or products that fall within the scope of the Goa Startup Policy. Additionally, the startup must have developed a working prototype of its product or technology. The employees whose salaries are to be reimbursed must hold a PhD or Master's degree from a government-recognized institution and be hired under a contract of at least 12 months. Their bank accounts must be linked to Aadhaar.

R&D Reimbursement Scheme is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

R&D Reimbursement Scheme accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

The scheme reimburses 50% of eligible R&D expenses, which includes the salaries of PhD and Master's degree holders, for a period of two years. The reimbursement is subject to an annual cap of ₹5,00,000, with the salary component limited to ₹2,00,000 per year. Over the two-year period, the total maximum reimbursement cannot exceed ₹10,00,000 (₹10 lakh). Only expenditure incurred after the notification of the Goa Start-up Policy 2021, within its validity period, and paid through digital modes will be considered for reimbursement.

R&D Reimbursement Scheme is offered by Goa Startup Mission, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Applications are reviewed by the Startup IT Promotion Cell (SITPC), which has the sole discretion to accept or reject any application. The benefits are not an entitlement. Applicants must ensure that all R&D expenditure claims comply with Accounting Standard 18. If digital payment is not possible, the SITPC will make a decision based on its own due diligence. The scheme does not outline a multi-stage selection process; decisions are made on a rolling basis.

Before you apply to R&D Reimbursement Scheme, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

R&D Reimbursement Scheme is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹10L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.