Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program at IITM Pravartak

• Rs. 35,000/month stipend for up to 12 months (up to Rs. 4.2 lakh total)
• Pre-incorporation grant , no company needed to apply
• IITM Pravartak lab access at IIT Madras Research Park
• Direct pipeline into PRAYAS / Seed Support System after prototype
• Preference for Hackathon and Grand Challenge winners

About this scheme

The **Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program at IITM Pravartak** is a pre-incorporation grant for Indian innovators working on cyber-physical systems (CPS). It is run by IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation , IIT Madras's Technology Innovation Hub under the NMICPS mission, headquartered at the IIT Madras Research Park, Taramani, Chennai.

**What stage is this for**

This program is designed for the stage *before* a company is incorporated. Pravartak takes on a single innovator with a CPS idea, gives them runway and infrastructure to convert that idea into a working prototype or pilot, and then channels them into Pravartak's incubation pipeline (PRAYAS, Seed Support System) for follow-on funding once the company is formed.

**What you get**

Selected EIRs receive a grant of **up to Rs. 35,000 per month for 12 months** (cumulative up to Rs. 4.2 lakh), plus technical mentorship and access to IITM Pravartak's lab facilities at the IIT Madras Research Park. The position lasts for a maximum of one year.

**Focus areas**

IITM Pravartak only considers proposals in **Sensors, Networking, Actuators and Control Systems** , the building blocks of cyber-physical systems. Adjacent CPS-relevant work (IoT, robotics, industrial automation, embedded systems, edge AI) is implied by the same scope.

**Patents & IP , read this carefully**

All patents and technology ideas generated during the EIR period are **jointly owned by IITM Pravartak and the inventor(s)**. IITM Pravartak bears the patent filing costs. Once a startup is later formed by the EIR, Pravartak licenses the IP back to that startup with a royalty clause; an *exclusive* licence option is available subject to terms agreed at the time of filing. EIRs should factor this into their decision , this is not standard "your IP, your company" support.

**Continuity into Pravartak's incubation pipeline**

Once a prototype is built, EIRs can graduate into Pravartak's PRAYAS or Seed Support System (SSS) tracks for further funding , turning the EIR year into the on-ramp to becoming a Pravartak-incubated startup.

Who can apply

• Indian citizen
• Has an innovative idea in cyber-physical systems (Sensors, Networking, Actuators, Control Systems) with potential to scale to a prototype and then to a market product
• Pre-incorporation , the program is designed for individuals before they form a company
• Preference is given to winners of Hackathons or Grand Challenge Competitions
• Willing to be based at / engage with IITM Pravartak (IIT Madras Research Park, Chennai) during the EIR year

Eligible entity types: Individual Innovator

Benefits & funding

• 35,000 per month for 12 months (cumulative up to Rs.
• 4.2 lakh), technical mentorship from IIT Madras / IITM Pravartak's network, access to Pravartak's lab facilities at IIT Madras Research Park, and a graduation path into Pravartak's PRAYAS and Seed Support System (SSS) tracks for post-incorporation funding.

How the application process works

The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, in your own name.

1. 1

   Candidates submit a written proposal in IITM Pravartak's specified format covering the objective, milestones and expenditure plan. The Technical Review Committee screens submissions; shortlisted candidates are invited to present to the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC), which assesses the idea's innovation and market potential. Successful candidates are offered the EIR position.

2. 2

   After onboarding, the technical review committee performs periodic milestone reviews; continued funding is contingent on demonstrated progress.

Documents checklist 5

• EIR Proposal (objective, milestones, expenditure plan)
• Indian Citizenship Proof / ID (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport)
• Highest Educational Qualification Proof
• Hackathon / Grand Challenge Winner Proof (if applicable, for preference)
• Candidate CV / Resume

Need help getting these in order? IncorpX provides assistance for incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST registrations along with document preparation.

Frequently asked questions