Application Deadline:
31 October 2025
About Organisation
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, plays a pivotal role in shaping policies that strengthen the country’s trade, commerce, and industry sectors. Through its various departments and initiatives, the Ministry fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development across diverse industries. A key mandate of the Ministry is to create an enabling environment that supports research, capacity building, and the adoption of modern technologies. By engaging stakeholders such as startups, enterprises, and individuals, it aims to build competitive ecosystems that address both national and global challenges.
The Ministry’s initiatives often emphasize building sustainable value chains, promoting self-reliance, and fostering collaboration between research institutions and industry leaders. With a commitment to driving innovation in agriculture and related sectors, the Ministry collaborates with institutions like the Rubber Research Institute of India and MRF MCC to promote forward-looking solutions for the rubber industry. The Rubber Innovation Challenge is one such program designed to bridge the gap between traditional plantation practices and modern technological advancements. By supporting individuals and startups, the Ministry seeks to address inefficiencies in India’s rubber plantations, build scalable models of innovation, and ensure the sector’s long-term growth while enhancing opportunities for farmers and industry stakeholders.
About the Grant
The Rubber Innovation Challenge – India invites innovative minds to contribute solutions that can transform India’s rubber plantation sector. The initiative aims to make rubber plantations more vibrant and sustainable by tapping into the sector’s vast untapped potential. With more than 20% of India’s rubber plantations remaining unused, the challenge identifies pressing issues such as labor shortages, inefficient tapping methods, and limited adoption of low-cost automation as critical problem areas.
Participants are encouraged to design and propose ideas that not only address these challenges but also introduce practical and affordable technologies. Areas of focus include automation in tapping processes, developing cost-effective tools such as improved tapping knives, creating user-friendly solutions for latex collection, and building digital portals to help farmers register their needs and connect with resources.
The challenge is not just a competition but also a platform to nurture ideas. The most feasible and impactful submissions will receive funding support, mentoring, and incubation opportunities through the Rubber Research Institute of India and MRF MCC. By participating, innovators gain the chance to contribute to sustainable agriculture, enhance farmer livelihoods, and strengthen India’s position in the global rubber market. The program combines financial incentives with long-term developmental opportunities.
Who can Apply?
The Rubber Innovation Challenge is open to individuals and startups with a strong inclination toward innovation and problem-solving in the agricultural and rubber plantation sectors. Eligible participants may be at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey, including ideation, validation, early traction, or scaling. The competition seeks applicants who can design and implement solutions that directly respond to the needs of the rubber industry.
Applicants should have the technical skills to develop low-cost automation tools that can be practically deployed in plantations. This includes expertise in mechanical design, software development, or agricultural engineering. Additionally, individuals with software or IT backgrounds are encouraged to design digital solutions, such as portals that allow farmers to register and communicate their needs efficiently. The challenge particularly welcomes innovators who can introduce tools for improved tapping practices, enhanced latex collection methods, or scalable systems that make plantation management more efficient.
Startups with a focus on agriculture, enterprise software, or social impact sectors are ideal candidates. Similarly, individual innovators with ideas capable of transforming India’s untapped rubber resources into profitable ventures are strongly encouraged. The challenge is designed to attract diverse talents who share the vision of making rubber plantations more productive, sustainable, and future-ready.
How to Apply?
Interested individuals and startups must submit their innovative ideas addressing challenges in the rubber sector, including untapped plantations, low-cost automation, and farmer-centric digital solutions. Applications should clearly outline problem statements, proposed solutions, feasibility, and potential impact. Selected entries will undergo further evaluation by industry experts, with the most promising ones receiving financial support, mentoring, and incubation opportunities from the Rubber Research Institute of India and MRF MCC.
Application Deadline
The last date for submission of applications is October 31, 2025. All entries must be submitted before the deadline to be considered for evaluation, funding, and incubation opportunities.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
