Maharashtra R&D Innovation Subsidy — ₹10 Cr for DSIR-Recognised Units

The Maharashtra R&D Innovation Subsidy is one of the incentives created under the Maharashtra Industries Investment and Services Policy 2025, and it is administered by the Directorate of Industries, Government of Maharashtra. Its purpose is to share the cost of research work carried out by the state's largest service sector companies, so that ambitious innovation programmes are not shelved purely because of the expense involved.

Only Mega and Ultra-Mega service sector units qualify, and the unit must additionally hold recognition from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). That combination makes this a large-ticket, tightly targeted incentive rather than an open grant scheme.

The state's reasoning is that sustained research spending is what keeps an economy competitive. R&D at the scale these units undertake is costly and slow to pay back, and the subsidy is meant to make long-horizon projects financially survivable — letting companies press ahead with product development, process upgrades and new technology without straining their balance sheets.

There is no application window to wait for. The scheme runs on a rolling basis and stays open through the year.

• Up to 50% of R&D costs reimbursed, capped at ₹10 crore
• Open to DSIR-recognised Mega and Ultra-Mega service sector units
• Requires R&D investment of at least 2% of annual turnover
• Non-repayable subsidy — no equity or stake taken
• Paid out in ten equal instalments
• Rolling applications — no fixed deadline

Eligibility here is narrow by design — this subsidy is reserved for the state's biggest service sector research spenders.

• Unit size category: the applicant must fall in the Mega or Ultra-Mega service sector category as defined under the Maharashtra Industries Investment and Services Policy 2025. Those thresholds are set by the policy itself.
• Research recognition: the unit must be recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). Without that recognition, an application cannot move ahead.
• Minimum R&D spend: the unit's R&D investment must be at least 2% of its total annual turnover.

No separate founder, entity-type or sub-sector conditions are listed for this incentive. The three requirements above are the ones the policy sets out for service sector R&D units, and the full policy document governs the precise definitions and any further conditions.

Maharashtra R&D Innovation Subsidy — ₹10 Cr for DSIR-Recognised Units is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Maharashtra R&D Innovation Subsidy — ₹10 Cr for DSIR-Recognised Units 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 incentive covers up to 50% of a qualifying unit's R&D costs, with the overall payout ceiling set at ₹10 crore.

Because it is a subsidy, the money is non-repayable. The government takes no equity, stake or shareholding in exchange, so unlike an equity funding round the company's cap table is left untouched.

Payments are released in ten equal instalments rather than as a single transfer. Spreading the support across instalments keeps cash flow steady through the life of an R&D project and lets a unit plan its budget around a predictable stream of reimbursement.

The practical effect is that a large research programme — product development, process improvement or a broader technology upgrade — can go ahead without the full cost landing on the company's own books.

Maharashtra R&D Innovation Subsidy — ₹10 Cr for DSIR-Recognised Units is offered by Directorate of Industries, Government of Maharashtra, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.

Applications are handled by the Directorate of Industries under the policy framework, and the journey from submission to payment follows five broad steps.

• Confirm eligibility: satisfy yourself that the unit meets the Mega or Ultra-Mega service sector criteria, that DSIR recognition is in place, and that R&D spending reaches the required share of annual turnover.
• Assemble documentation: typically proof of DSIR recognition, financial statements, R&D expenditure reports, company registration details and a detailed proposal describing the proposed R&D activities.
• Submit the application: through the designated Government of Maharashtra portal — the MAITRI portal is the likely route.
• Scrutiny and verification: authorities review the application to verify eligibility, the R&D costs claimed and compliance with policy conditions. This stage may involve site visits or a request for additional information.
• Approval and disbursement: once verification succeeds, the subsidy is sanctioned and then paid out in ten equal instalments as per the policy terms.

Applicants are advised to consult the full policy document for the exact forms and instructions.

Before you apply to Maharashtra R&D Innovation Subsidy — ₹10 Cr for DSIR-Recognised Units, 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.

Maharashtra R&D Innovation Subsidy — ₹10 Cr for DSIR-Recognised Units is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹10Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.