New Delhi, November 3, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today unveiled the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The fund, one of India’s largest public investments in R&D, will channel resources through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF) to finance high-risk, high-reward projects in frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and semiconductors.
Designed to boost India’s research capacity and strengthen its innovation ecosystem, the RDI Fund will offer low-interest loans and startup capital to universities, laboratories, and early-stage companies working on next-generation technologies.
Backing innovation with capital : PM Modi says with 17-fold rise in patent filings, and now ranks as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem
Highlighting the scale of India’s R&D progress, Prime Minister Modi said India has doubled its research and development spending over the past decade, achieved a 17-fold rise in patent filings, and now ranks as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
“Our vision is to make India not just a consumer of technology but a global leader in creating it,” Modi said in his address. “Through the RDI Fund, we are supporting scientists, startups, and students who are shaping the technologies that will define the next century.”
The Prime Minister also announced 10,000 new research fellowships and the expansion of student innovation labs across universities to nurture young talent in emerging disciplines.
Driving ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ through science and technology
The three-day Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) brings together over 3,000 scientists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss India’s pathway toward self-reliance in critical technologies by 2047, marking 100 years of independence.
The event aims to foster collaboration between academia, startups, and industry to turn India’s R&D capacity into scalable innovation. Sessions at ESTIC 2025 focus on AI for governance, climate-resilient agriculture, biotechnology breakthroughs, and quantum infrastructure development.
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation, established under the NRF Act, will oversee the implementation of the RDI Fund, ensuring that funding reaches both public institutions and private innovators.
Officials said the fund is expected to support over 20,000 high-impact projects across academia, startups, and industry partnerships over the next five years.
India’s innovation push gains global attention
Global technology leaders and research bodies have taken note of India’s expanding R&D ecosystem. According to official data, India’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) has risen from 0.6% of GDP in 2014 to 1.2% in 2024, while the number of deep-tech startups has grown by more than 400% during the same period.
The government’s strategy aligns with its broader ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision — to make India a global innovation hub in clean energy, semiconductors, space technology, and biotechnology.
Speaking at the conclave, a senior official from the Ministry of Science and Technology said, “This fund is not just financial support; it’s a national commitment to risk-taking, experimentation, and entrepreneurship in science.”
Prime Minister Modi shared the announcement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing,
“India is building a vibrant R&D ecosystem that will power our journey toward Viksit Bharat. The ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund will give a major boost to our researchers, scientists, and startups.”
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A catalyst for India’s startup and research future
The RDI Fund is expected to play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between research and commercialization, empowering India’s growing network of deep-tech startups, and strengthening industry-academia partnerships.
Analysts say that the creation of such a large innovation-focused fund could help India reduce dependence on imported technologies, attract global R&D investments, and accelerate breakthroughs in fields like AI computing, green hydrogen, space tech, and quantum communication.
As India looks ahead to its centenary of independence, the RDI Fund marks a milestone in building a research-driven, innovation-led economy.
