Eligibility

• Innovators who have successfully completed project under PRISM Phase-I or Innovators who have successfully demonstrated proof of concept with the support of other Government Institutions / Agencies and who desires to take innovation to market by becoming Technopreneur
• The innovators who have availed financial support from other Government Institutions / Agencies must obtain certificate from Competent Financial Authority of relevant Government Institutions / Agencies clearly indicating that there is no loan or any other financial liabilities pending with the Innovator.
• The proposals shall preferably be in the following focus sectors: Green Technology, Clean Energy, Industrially utilizable smart materials, Waste to wealth, Affordable healthcare, water & sewage management, any other technology or knowledge intensive area.

Scope & Support

• Project cost more than Rs 35.00 lakhs and up to Rs 100.00 lakhs.
• Proposals by independent Innovator and the proposed activities aim at improving market access by carrying out such value added work like adding product / process features/ protection by patenting/ aesthetic design, limited production for market seeding etc as per approved business plan.
• Maximum support under this category is Rs 50.00 lakh or 90% of the approved project cost, whichever is lower and innovator need to raise resources for balance of the project cost.
• IPR generated in the project, if any, shall belong to the beneficiary i.e. to the innovator and DSIR shall not have any rights on the IPR.
• The support will aim at to scale up the innovation for initial trials/ testing/user’s acceptance/international patenting etc or aim at to establish and validate proof of concept and to enable creation of spin-offs or aim at demonstration of marketable product /process towards enterprise creation.

Mechanism

• The proposals can be submitted to the nearest TePP Outreach cum Cluster Innovation Centre (TOCIC). The innovators can meet coordinators of TOCICs and take their advice before submitting the application.
• The proposals directly received at DSIR will also be forwarded to relevant TOCIC for counselling/ local screening.
• The applicant will be presenting their achievements in prior phase and plans for commercialization to TePP Outreach cum Cluster Innovation Centre (TOCICs).
• The applicant has to submit detailed Business Plan along with the application.
• The project proposal will be evaluated by TOCICs in consultation with DSIR with the help of domain experts and financial experts both.
• The evaluated proposals may be put forth to PRISM Advisory and Screening Committee (PASC) for consideration. Applicant will be given an opportunity to make presentation to PASC. If PASC recommends the proposal for PRISM support, it will be processed on file for approval and release of grant.
• To facilitate `financial closure’, the innovator will be given letter of intent, based on which he can firm up agreements with banks/ institutions/VCs/any other venture firms / Host Organization to raise their part of resources.
• After Financial closure, the applicant has to sign "Terms & Conditions" prior to the actual release of grants-in-aid.
• The first release is based on milestones/deliverables projected in the project proposals and as recommended by PASC and subsequent releases are based on assessment by Project Review Committee (PRC).
• The approved projects will be monitored by TOCIC/ other network partner along with other technical expert(s). TOCIC will be periodically reporting project status to DSIR at an interval of 3 months. The PRCs consisting of external experts will meet at least once in nine months to review the progress of the project.
• The project completion report will be accepted by the Competent Authority in the DSIR based on PRC recommendation after successful closure of the project.

Limiting Conditions

• Eligibility is limited to those mentioned above.
• There is a need to submit viable Business plan.
• PRISM support will not exceed 50% of approved project cost subject to ceiling of Rs. 50.00 lakhs and innovator need to raise resources for balance of the project cost. This arrangement has to be made before release of first sanction by PRISM.
• Funds will be released to the independent innovator and shall be linked to milestones/deliverables.
• Manpower costs supported will not exceed 20% of the approved project cost. Innovator’s salary and rental expenses for use of own facilities are not eligible for support.
• Travel costs supported will not exceed 5% of the approved project cost.
• The PRISM support should not be utilized for repayment of loan liabilities including interest etc, rental charges of space and so on. The grants-in aid support may be utilized for product development/creation of scale up facilities
• The retention schedule of documents for PRISM for RTI Act, 2005 may be as follows:
• Rejected or not supported Application: One Year since the date of rejection
• Approved proposals: Three years (since the closure of the project/issuance of final sanction order).
• Approved proposals: Three years (since the closure of the project/issuance of final sanction order).
• The decision of Competent Authority in DSIR in respect of PRISM scheme will be final and binding upon the stake holders.
• In case of any dispute, the liability of PRISM is limited to the jurisdiction of Delhi High Court only.

N.B.: The guidelines are subject to change periodically if desired so by the Competent Authority/Department.