PRDISS 2026: Financial Support for R&D in Iron & Steel Sector

At a glance

About the scheme

PRDISS is a central government scheme by the Ministry of Steel aimed at promoting research and development in the iron and steel sector. It provides financial support to academic institutions, research labs, steel companies, individual innovators, and start-ups to develop innovative technologies and solutions that enhance sustainability, competitiveness, and reduce import dependency. The scheme funds projects at various scales and offers access to specialised facilities and industry partnerships to encourage commercialisation of research outcomes.

Benefits

• Financial assistance up to 50% of project cost for industrial or commercial organisations.
• Financial assistance up to 70% of project cost for academic institutions and research laboratories.
• Financial assistance up to 40% of project cost for pilot or demonstration scale projects, with balance by industrial partner.
• Up to 100% financial assistance may be granted to multidimensional teams based on merit.
• Access to scheme-funded facilities and equipment for individual innovators and start-ups.
• Creation of a pool of industrial partners including MSMEs for collaboration and funding.
• Recognition awards and certificates for successful projects.
• Grantee institution retains Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and benefits from them.
• Overheads capped at 10% to 15% of project cost, up to ₹25,00,000.
• Funds released pro-rata after other funding agencies pay their share.
• Grants must be used only for the sanctioned project; misuse requires refund with interest.
• Assets and equipment have usage and disposal conditions to protect government interests.
• Ministry holds royalty-free licence for non-commercial IP; commercial licensing terms are mutually agreed.

Who can apply (eligibility)

• Applicant must be a reputed academic institution, research laboratory, or Indian steel company.
• Industrial or commercial organisations pursuing R&D projects are eligible.
• Individual innovators and start-ups in the steel sector can access scheme facilities.
• Project proposal must align with the scheme's thrust areas.
• Project should focus on commercialisation and technology development.
• Applicant must have an institutional mechanism for commercialising completed R&D projects.
• Written commitment to take the project forward after completion is required.
• Applicant must not have received grant-in-aid for the same purpose from other government bodies.
• Declaration that similar projects have not been pursued earlier is required.
• Acceptance of scheme guidelines and terms & conditions is mandatory.
• Proposal must be signed and forwarded by the Head of the Institution or Organisation.

Who cannot apply

• Basic research is generally not funded or funded minimally as it is supported by other agencies.
• Organisations with substantial unspent grants are not eligible for new grants.
• R&D agencies or partners not pursuing projects as per objectives will be debarred from future funding.
• Repeated negligence causing delays makes PI or entity ineligible for future grants.
• Project execution cannot be handed over to another institution without approval.

Documents required

• Research Proposal signed and forwarded by Head of Institution/Organisation/Company.
• Summary Sheet covering title, objective, budget sources, duration, and industry linkages.
• Detailed Research Proposal as per Guiding Format (Annexure-3).
• Latest Annual Report and Company Brochure for industrial firms.
• Latest Annual Report/Balance Sheet of the company.
• Details of DSIR recognition for research laboratories.
• Details of manpower available for executing and collaborating agencies.
• Details of IPR or patents held.
• Market Survey Report or highlights if conducted.
• Letter from user industry for labs/academia with industry tie-up.
• Financial outlay with detailed break-up and justifications.
• Break-up of outlay for executing and collaborating agencies if joint.
• Time schedule with activity sequence (Bar Chart).
• Bio-data of project coordinators and experts with contact details.
• Details of previous submissions to other funding agencies if any.
• Skill development and dissemination plan.
• Logframe matrix.
• Road map for commercialisation with stakeholders and reasons for non-association.
• Written undertaking to take completed project forward institutionally.
• Declaration that similar projects have not been pursued earlier.
• Declaration of acceptance of scheme guidelines and terms.
• Undertaking that no other grant-in-aid has been availed for same purpose.
• Joint forwarding letter signed by heads of all executing and collaborating agencies for joint proposals.
• Memorandum of agreement among stakeholders for joint projects.

How to apply

1. 1Read the scheme guidelines, formats, and terms & conditions in Annexures 1 to 4.
2. 2Prepare the R&D proposal using the Guiding Format (Annexure-3) with all required documents and declarations.
3. 3Get the proposal signed and forwarded by the Head of the Institution/Organisation/Company; joint proposals must be signed by all heads.
4. 4Upload the proposal on the Ministry of Steel R&D portal.
5. 5Send the proposal PDF by email to mosteel-rd@gov.in.
6. 6For queries, contact the Technical Division, Ministry of Steel at 011-26773364.

Frequently asked questions