India–Finland Joint Innovation Call 2026 | Call for Proposals by TDB, DST and Business Finland

About the Organization

The Technology Development Board (TDB) is a statutory body under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. TDB promotes the commercialization of indigenous technologies and supports industry-driven innovation through funding and collaborative programmes. The India–Finland Joint Innovation Call 2026 is implemented by TDB on behalf of DST in collaboration with Business Finland, the innovation funding agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Government of Finland.

Programme Overview

Programme Details

The India–Finland Joint Innovation Call 2026 aims to strengthen research, development, innovation, and commercialization partnerships between Indian and Finnish organizations.

The programme supports collaborative innovation projects in the following priority areas:

Sustainable Energy

• Renewable Energy
• Smart Cities
• Hydrogen Technologies
• Waste Management
• Waste-to-Energy
• Electric Vehicles
• Carbon Capture
• Energy Storage
• DERMS (Distributed Energy Resource Management System)
• Virtual Power Plants (VPP)
• Heat Pump Technologies

Advanced Digital Technologies

• 5G / 6G Networks
• Advanced Data Analytics
• Virtual Worlds
• Artificial Intelligence
• Microelectronics
• Power Electronics
• MEMS
• Sensors

The programme supports innovative and market-driven projects with commercialization potential through bilateral collaboration between Indian and Finnish partners.

Who Can Apply

Eligible Indian Applicants

• Indian companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013.
• Commercial (for-profit) companies incorporated in India.
• At least 51% Indian ownership.
• Companies with the technical and financial capability to execute R&D activities.
• LLPs, Sole Proprietorships, OPCs and Partnership Firms may participate if eligible.
• The Indian Project Lead must be based in India.

Eligible Finnish Applicants

• Finnish companies registered in Finland.
• Eligible research organizations under Business Finland funding rules.
• Applicants satisfying Business Finland eligibility criteria.

Why Apply

Selected applicants will receive opportunities to:

• Obtain grant support for collaborative innovation projects.
• Build India–Finland technology partnerships.
• Accelerate commercialization of innovative technologies.
• Develop globally competitive products and services.
• Access international research and business ecosystems.
• Strengthen cross-border industrial collaboration.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should:

• Submit a joint proposal involving eligible Indian and Finnish partners.
• Work in one of the notified thematic areas.
• Demonstrate commercialization potential.
• Submit a Joint Application Form and Consortium Agreement/MoU.
• Meet the funding eligibility requirements of their respective funding agencies.

Funding Support

Indian Partners

• Grant support up to ₹2.5 Crore per project or 50% of the Indian project cost, whichever is lower.
• Maximum project duration of 24 months.
• Funding will be provided on a reimbursement basis according to programme guidelines.

Finnish Partners

Funding will be provided according to Business Finland funding rules and eligibility criteria.

Selection Process

The programme includes:

1. Online application submission in both countries.
2. Submission of Joint Application Form.
3. Technical and eligibility evaluation.
4. Independent assessment by TDB/DST and Business Finland.
5. Joint funding decision.
6. Project commencement after approval.

Important Dates

How to Apply

Interested applicants should:

1. Prepare a joint India–Finland project proposal.
2. Complete the Joint Application Form.
3. Submit the Indian application through the TDB portal.
4. Finnish partners should submit their application through the Business Finland online system.
5. Upload all required supporting documents before the application deadline.

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