UDAAN Drone Center of Excellence Program

The UDAAN Drone Center of Excellence Program is an acceleration initiative run by SIIC IIT Kanpur, the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre at IIT Kanpur. It supports drone and UAV startups by offering a rich ecosystem for development, testing, and growth. Participants receive guidance on grant applications and expert help in structuring proposals and pitch decks for capital raising. The program provides active assistance for government schemes like iDEX, Technology Development Fund (TDF), TIDE, Genesis, TDB, and Make-1 & 2. A key benefit is access to the Centre of Excellence, where startups can test their UAVs and UAS with specialised equipment. Participants also get direct mentorship from IIT Kanpur faculty and a Demo Day to present to investors and partners. After the program, they may receive physical incubation space at SIIC. The program facilitates connections with corporate and government agencies.

• DPIIT-registered drone startup accelerator by SIIC IIT Kanpur
• Access to Center of Excellence for UAV/UAS testing
• Mentorship from IIT Kanpur faculty and Demo Day
• Assistance with government scheme applications (iDEX, TDF, TIDE, etc.)
• Stage-agnostic – open to early-stage (MVP) to growth/scale startups

Startups must be DPIIT recognised and at an early stage with a minimum viable product (MVP), or in their growth or scale stage with initial traction and a clear path to commercialisation. Eligible entity types are private limited companies, limited liability partnerships (LLPs), or partnerships. Startups from anywhere in India can apply.

UDAAN Drone Center of Excellence Program is open to startups at the product and revenue stage working in space drone defense. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India. Applicants should be registered as private limited, llp and partnership. Applicants must hold DPIIT (Startup India) recognition.

UDAAN Drone Center of Excellence Program 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.

Case-by-case funding from SIIC is available. The program also offers financial guidance and help in building proposals and pitch decks for government funding programs including iDEX, TDF, TIDE, Genesis, TDB, and Make-1 & 2. Benefits include access to a Centre of Excellence for UAV/UAS testing, guidance from IIT Kanpur faculty, a Demo Day, mentorship tailored to the startup's learning path, post-program incubation space at SIIC, and facilitated linkages with corporate and government agencies.

UDAAN Drone Center of Excellence Program is offered by SIIC IIT Kanpur, an academic institution. It is delivered directly by SIIC IIT Kanpur as a grant. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Interested startups must submit a detailed online application through the program's application link. The application should cover the founding team, drone/UAV technology, development stage (MVP, growth, or scale), market opportunity, business model, and financial projections. The selection committee — comprising SIIC representatives, IIT Kanpur faculty, and industry experts — screens applications for innovation and potential impact. Shortlisted startups are invited for a virtual or in-person interview where the committee explores the startup's vision, technology, and team dynamics in depth. The top contenders then participate in a final pitching session to a panel of judges. Successful applicants are notified and invited to join the cohort.

Before you apply to UDAAN Drone Center of Excellence Program, keep these documents ready — note the program-specific requirements at the top:

• DPIIT (Startup India) recognition certificate — mandatory for this program
• Certificate of incorporation showing your startup is registered as private limited and llp
• 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.

UDAAN Drone Center of Excellence Program is best suited for product and revenue-stage space drone defense startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding. Because DPIIT recognition is mandatory, it is aimed at startups already registered under Startup India. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.