Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Startups, and MSMEs (PRISM) is a program that offers grants, technical support, and mentorship to individual innovators, including students, guiding them through each stage of incubating their ideas into new enterprises.
Description
Who is it for?
Benefits
To provide grants, technical advice, and mentorship to individual innovators, guiding them through the various stages of incubating their ideas until they transform into viable enterprises
For Innovators in the technology area
Upto INR 2,00,000 or 90% of the approved project cost for prototype or model development
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This grant-aid support is implemented in phases:
- Phase-1
Category 1: For Proof of concept/prototype/models
Category 2: For fabrication of working model/ process know-how/testing & trail/ patenting/ technology transfer, etc. - Phase-2
For scaling up technology-based innovations, including patenting/design registration/trademark registry/ technology transfer to develop a marketable product/process towards enterprise creation.
Eligibility
- For PRISM Phase-1:
Any Indian citizen, including student innovators, can avail support to develop their novel ideas into demonstrable models/prototypes. - For PRISM Phase-2:
PRISM innovators who have demonstrated success or innovators who have proven their concepts with assistance from other government institutions or agencies.
Eligible Sectors for the Scheme
The proposals are encouraged to focus on sectors such as
- Green Technology
- Clean Energy
- Industrial Smart Materials
- Waste to Wealth
- Affordable Healthcare
- Water & Sewage Management
- Other technology or knowledge-intensive areas.
Application procedure for Startups
- Submit your project proposal following the prescribed format to the nearest TePP Outreach cum Cluster Innovation Centres (TOCICs). Here’s a list of TOCICs in India.
- Once received, TOCIC coordinators will review proposals for completeness and forward them further.
- Domain Knowledge Experts associated with TOCIC will then assess the proposals.
- Evaluated proposals are forwarded to DSIR for further action and reviewed by the PRISM Advisory and Screening Committee (PASC) for recommendation.
- Upon Department approval, "Terms & Conditions" must be signed before grants-in-aid release.
- Initial fund release is based on project milestones and PASC recommendations. Subsequent releases depend on project progress evaluated by the Project Review Committee (PRC).
- TOCIC and network partners, along with technical experts, will monitor approved projects.
- TOCIC will provide project status reports to DSIR every 3 months, while PRCs will review project progress at least once every 9 months.
- Upon successful project completion, the DSIR will accept the project completion report based on PRC recommendation.
Benefits of the PRISM Scheme
The PRISM Scheme includes various phases designed to support innovators in different stages of their project development. Each phase may involve different levels of support, resources, and guidance tailored to the specific needs of innovators.
- For Phase-1:
Category 1: Maximum support within this category is capped at INR 2,00,000 or 90% of the approved project cost, whichever is less.
Category 2: Maximum support is limited to 20.00 lakh or 90% of the total project cost, whichever is lower. - For Phase-2:
For projects with costs ranging from INR 5 Lakhs to INR 35 Lakhs, maximum support of either INR 20 Lakhs or 90% of the total project cost (whichever is lower) is provided.
Please note: If the project beneficiaries abandon the project, innovators must reimburse the funding disbursed, along with a 12% interest rate, to the DSIR.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the objective of the PRISM Scheme?
The PRISM Scheme aims to encourage innovation, research, and development activities among individuals, startups, and MSMEs by providing financial support and fostering a conducive ecosystem for growth and experimentation.
Can individuals or only organizations apply for the PRISM Scheme?
Both individuals and organizations, including startups and MSMEs, are eligible to apply for the PRISM Scheme as long as they meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the scheme.
Are there any specific criteria for project selection under the PRISM Scheme?
Projects are selected based on criteria such as innovation quotient, technical feasibility, market potential, scalability, and socio-economic impact.
Do projects funded under the PRISM Scheme get evaluated later?
Projects funded under the PRISM Scheme are subject to regular monitoring and evaluation to ensure compliance with project milestones, utilization of funds, and achievement of desired outcomes.
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