Call for

RFP – Start-up Incubation in Renewable Energy (RE) Sector

Organisation Name:

National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE)

Grant Amount: support including seed funding opportunities, access to testing infrastructure, mentorship, and commercialization aid

Application Deadline:

26 January 2025

About Organisation

The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, dedicated to research, development, and capacity building in the solar energy sector. Established in Gurugram, Haryana, NISE operates on a 200-acre campus equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories for testing and innovation in solar photovoltaic, thermal, green hydrogen, and energy storage technologies. It plays a crucial role in supporting MNRE’s National Solar Mission by developing new solar technologies, creating standards, and testing systems. Registered as a society under the Haryana Registration and Regulation of Societies Act 2012, NISE’s labs support solar cell/module testing, power electronics, battery characterization, and solar pumping systems. The institute’s technical expertise aids the government in achieving self-reliance in renewable energy production. NISE is committed to promoting India’s transition to clean energy by collaborating with stakeholders and supporting the development of reliable, cost-effective, and indigenous solar energy solutions.

About the Grant

NISE, in collaboration with the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) and AIC IIT Delhi Sonipat, is launching a program to support and accelerate renewable energy (RE) start-up innovations. This initiative encourages indigenous development of clean energy technologies aligned with India’s goal of a sustainable, self-reliant future. The grant focuses on transforming early-stage prototypes (Technology Readiness Level 3–4) into commercially viable solutions (TRL 6–8). Selected start-ups will benefit from technical mentorship, product testing, certification, industry linkages, and pilot demonstration opportunities. The objective is to strengthen local supply chains, encourage innovation in solar energy, green hydrogen, battery storage, smart grids, EV integration, and more. The program also supports participation in capacity-building events, access to incubation space, and potential seed funding. This call for proposals supports India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat missions by promoting homegrown, scalable renewable technologies. Start-ups will be guided through the development, standardization, validation, and commercialization phases, enhancing their readiness for real-world deployment and market integration.

Who can Apply?

Start-ups eligible for this grant must be DPIIT-recognized at the time of application or agree to secure recognition before any funding is released. They must be Indian entities registered under the Companies Act, 2013, with a minimum of 51% Indian ownership. The developed Intellectual Property must reside in India. Start-ups should propose solutions at Technology Readiness Level 3–4 (proof-of-concept or lab-tested prototype), with a clear pathway to scale to TRL 6–8. The product or service must have a technology-based core addressing real-world challenges in the renewable energy sector. The proposal must be unique and not previously funded under any central government scheme in the past five years. Only one proposal per start-up or project leader (PI) is permitted. The PI must hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant field and be a founder or shareholder in the start-up. The PI will be responsible for the technical and managerial execution of the project and must present the proposal if shortlisted.

How to Apply?

Applicants must fill out the application form (Annexure I), convert it to PDF format, and email it along with all supporting documents to incubation@nise.res.in by 26th August 2025, 11:59 PM IST. Submissions missing required documents or information will not be considered. Only soft copy submissions are accepted; hard copies are not required.

Application Deadline

The complete proposal, including all enclosures, must be submitted via email no later than 11:59 PM IST on 26th August 2025. Late or incomplete submissions will not be entertained.

Last Date to Apply

26th August 2025 is the final deadline for submitting proposals. Applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance to avoid last-minute issues or disqualification due to incomplete submissions.

Grant Amount

While the exact grant amount is not specified, selected start-ups will receive support including seed funding opportunities, access to testing infrastructure, mentorship, and commercialization aid to scale renewable energy innovations.