NIDHI EIR
Cohort 1_May 2023
NIDHI EIR
About NIDHI EIR Program
Entrepreneurs-in- Residence (EIR) Programme is one of the programs introduced under National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) to inspire the best talents to be entrepreneurs, to minimise the risk involved in pursuing start- ups, and to partially set off their opportunity costs of high paying jobs. The NIDHI-EIR programme provides tremendous opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs to expand their networks and get critical feedback on their ventures in order to promote their entrepreneurial career goals and aspirations. The program has been introduced by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.
Selected candidates will receive grant of upto Rs.3,60,000 as monthly fellowship spread across 12 months ranging from Rs. 10,000 per month to Rs. 30,000.
Program Objectives:
·
To encourage
graduating student to take to entrepreneurship by providing support as a
fellowship.
·
To provide a
prestigious forum for deserving and budding entrepreneurs to pursue their
ventures without any additional risks involved in technology based businesses.
·
To make pursuing
entrepreneurship related to a technology business idea more attractive among
options available career options.
·
To make pursuing
entrepreneurship related to a technology business idea more attractive among
options available career options.
Eligibility Criteria:
·
Following are the
requirements for EIR applicants/candidates-
·
The EIR applicant
should be citizen of India. An Indian citizen is defined as one who is in
possession of a government approved proof of nationality such as a valid
passport, voter’s id etc.
·
The EIR applicant
should have completed:
Minimum 4
years of formal full time undergraduate/post graduate education towards one or
more degree programme. Basic degree or diploma should be in science or
engineering.
OR
3 years’
degree or diploma program and have 2-year full time work experience post degree
or diploma. Basic degree or diploma should be in science or engineering.
·
The EIR is
expected to be committed to exploring a business idea. Typical NIDHI-EIR
needing the support is a first generation innovative entrepreneur, who has no
parallel source of income. NIDHI-EIR support recipient should not treat this
support as a stop gap arrangement to support them in their academic pursuits or
transition between jobs.
·
NIDHI-EIR seeking
the support should demonstrate his ability to build a scalable technology
business startup. The background of the NIDHI-EIR needs to be provided in a
prescribed format.
·
The NIDHI-EIR
support recipient should propose one technology business idea in a prescribed
format.
·
NIDHI-EIR support
recipient are expected to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations full time.
NIDHI-EIR cannot be concurrent with any other remuneration or fellowship.
·
NIDHI-EIR support
recipient cannot be the promoter or significant (>10%) share holder /
beneficiary of another company at the time of applying for and receiving the
grant approval
·
The NIDHI-EIR
should be registered for the pre-incubation or incubation program at the PIEDS for
the entire duration of NIDHI-EIR support.
·
Preference shall
be given for a) technology business ideas with larger technology uncertainties
and/ or long gestation periods, b) technology business ideas leveraging
technology or IP from publicly funded research or academic organizations, c)
technology business ideas with considerable potential for social impact.
·
Entrepreneurs
pursuing business ideas with no or marginal technology innovation or those with
very short journey (i.e. less than 6 months) to commercialization are
discouraged to apply.
·
NIDHI-EIR seeking
support should have a formal business plan for the idea they intend to pursue
and a business presentation including the investment proposal.