DRDO Technology Development Fund (TDF) for Startups and MSMEs

What it is

Support Indian-designed, developed and manufactured defence or dual-use technologies with potential use by the Services through project-specific TDF calls.

What you get

• DRDO TDF project grant-in-aid90%

Who it is for

• applicant must be resident-Indian owned and controlled within the current TDF terms
• foreign investment or partnership must remain within the current published limit
• project must develop a defence/dual-use system, subsystem, component or technology with potential Service use
• project cost and duration must fit the current TDF financial and schedule criteria
• startup/MSME recognition and technical capability evidence are required
• project-specific EOI/DPR, evaluation, NDA, security, testing and agreement conditions apply

Not eligible if

• non-profit applicants are not eligible under the current FAQ
• research/educational institution involvement is subject to the published share and lead-agency conditions
• submission or EOI does not guarantee award
• test facilities may be chargeable and access is subject to custodian priority

How to apply

1. 1
   Check the live TDF project list

   Confirm a current project, project-definition document, deadline and official submission route; the portal currently shows no projects available at this stage.

   Official step
2. 2
   Verify entity and ownership eligibility

   Confirm resident-Indian control, startup/MSME evidence, consortium conditions and research-institution limits.

   Official step
3. 3
   Prepare DPR and compliance evidence

   Prepare the technical and financial proposal, project cost, milestones, testing, security and agreement inputs.

   Official step
4. 4
   Register and submit through the official route

   Register as industry, follow the current project instructions and retain the evaluation and agreement records.

   Official step

Keep ready