* This is an official Pre-Summit Event for the **AI Impact Summit 2026**, focused on **'Building Inclusive AI for India and The World'**. * Selected teams get an **opportunity to showcase** their work at the Pre-Summit Event on January 23, 2026, at R&I Park, IIT Delhi. * The call for proposals is aimed at innovative AI startups and research teams with solutions across key sectors. * Promising projects may be considered for **incubation and funding** up to **Rs. 2 Crore** by IHFC. * **The
About IHFC, IIT Delhi
I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC) is the Technology Innovation Hub at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, set up in June 2020 under the Department of Science and Technology's National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). IHFC specializes in collaborative robotics (cobotics), which enables safe, intuitive, and efficient human-robot interactions. The hub operates from the IIT Delhi campus in New Delhi and extends its footprint through satellite facilities including the Drone Technology Park at IIT Delhi Sonipat and the Medical Cobotics Centre in partnership with AIIMS.
IHFC has four core application areas: medical, agriculture, industry, and defence. Its four mandates span R&D, entrepreneurship and startups, skills and training, and international collaborations with partners including the US National Science Foundation and Japanese institutions.
## Role in the Startup Ecosystem
IHFC fills a critical gap in India's deeptech startup landscape by providing domain-specific support for robotics and AI ventures. Unlike generalist incubators, IHFC offers founders access to specialized labs, testing infrastructure, and a community of researchers working at the intersection of robotics, AI, and real-world applications. Its Co-Innovation Centres (CiCs) across 10 leading institutions nationwide extend this support beyond Delhi.
## Programs and Initiatives
IHFC runs the READY (Research Entrepreneurship and Development for You) program, which incubates and accelerates startups in cobotics and related deeptech domains. The 10 Co-Innovation Centres promote entrepreneurship in robotics, AI, machine learning, and IoT across India. The Drone Technology Park at IIT Delhi Sonipat serves as a hub for drone testing, research, and training. The Medical Cobotics Centre, built in partnership with AIIMS, focuses on healthcare devices, medical robotics R&D, and startup support. IHFC also runs skills and training programs and maintains active international research collaborations.
## Who Benefits
Deeptech founders building in robotics, collaborative robotics, AI for industrial applications, drones, medical devices, and agricultural automation. Researchers looking to commercialize their work and student entrepreneurs from IIT Delhi and partner institutions also benefit from IHFC's programs and infrastructure.
## Strategic Impact
IHFC is building the institutional infrastructure that India needs to compete in the global robotics and AI market. By connecting academic research with startup commercialization and providing testing facilities that individual startups could not afford, it reduces the time and cost of bringing deeptech products to market. Its national network of Co-Innovation Centres ensures that this support is not limited to Delhi alone.
Who they work with
Frequently asked questions
What funding programs does IHFC, IIT Delhi run?
IHFC, IIT Delhi currently has 8 programs listed in this directory, including AI Impact Summit 2026 Pre-Summit Event: Call for Proposals by AI4India & IHFC, Bharat Safety: Design. Deploy. Deliver. by AIC IIT Delhi & Honda India Foundation, Bharat Byte Semiconductor Accelerator at AIC IIT Delhi. Each program page covers the funding amount, eligibility and application process.
Is IHFC, IIT Delhi a government organisation?
IHFC, IIT Delhi is listed as a incubator. It is not a government body, and its programs follow the organisation's own selection process.
How do I evaluate whether a IHFC, IIT Delhi program fits my startup?
Start with the stages and sectors shown on this profile, then open the program pages for eligibility conditions and document checklists. If you want a structured view, send an enquiry below and an IncorpX advisor will walk you through fit and readiness.
Do I apply to these programs through IncorpX?
No. Applications are always submitted in your own name with the respective program authority. IncorpX is independent of IHFC, IIT Delhi and provides assistance for application preparation, document organisation and prerequisite registrations such as incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST.
Enquire about IHFC, IIT Delhi
Tell us what you are building and which IHFC, IIT Delhi program you are evaluating. An IncorpX advisor will help you assess fit and get application-ready.
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IncorpX is a private platform operated by a private company. It is not a government department, agency or official portal, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government body or of any organisation, incubator, accelerator, investor or partner listed in this directory. All program names, logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only.
This directory is compiled from publicly available official sources and is provided for general information only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax or professional advice. Funding amounts, eligibility criteria, required documents, deadlines and availability are determined by each program authority and change with every cycle, so the details shown here may be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm the current terms on the official program source before you apply or take any decision.
IncorpX charges no fee for the information in this directory and does not collect, process, lodge or submit any application on your behalf. Applications are made by you, in your own name, directly with the respective program authority. IncorpX provides assistance only for application preparation and for related registrations such as company incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME (Udyam) and GST. Eligibility, approval, disbursement and selection rest solely with the respective program authority, and IncorpX makes no representation or guarantee as to any outcome.
