Techtonic: Innovations for Sustainability , Social Alpha

• Innovators and startups building deep-tech solutions for sustainability challenges.

About this scheme

Techtonic: Innovations for Sustainability is a national innovation acceleration program launched by Social Alpha to support breakthrough technologies addressing critical sustainability challenges across energy transition, new materials, and natural resource management. The program aims to nurture and scale innovations capable of reducing environmental impact while enabling India's transition toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy. With climate change, rising emissions, and unsustainable resource consumption posing significant global risks, the initiative seeks to catalyse deep-tech and science-led solutions that can address systemic sustainability challenges across industrial and societal systems.

The program is structured across three tracks , Research & Development, Pilot, and Scale-Up , designed to support ventures at different stages of technological maturity and market readiness. Through these tracks, Techtonic aims to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and real-world market deployment by providing targeted financial support, incubation infrastructure, and ecosystem connections.

The Research & Development track focuses on innovators at the idea or early prototype stage who require technical resources to validate concepts and develop their technologies. Participants receive grant support of up to INR 30 lakhs along with access to Social Alpha's laboratory infrastructure for design, rapid prototyping, testing, and manufacturing support. Startups are also assisted with testing, certification, and compliance readiness required for future commercialization.

The Pilot track supports startups preparing to test validated technologies in real-world environments. Selected ventures can receive funding of up to INR 40 lakhs to conduct pilots and demonstrate performance under operational conditions. The program provides strategic support including market access opportunities, business advisory services, customer feedback systems, and mentorship from domain experts.

The Scale-Up track targets ventures with validated technologies that are ready for broader market adoption and deployment. Startups selected for this track may receive funding of up to INR 60 lakhs to support on-ground implementation and scaling. Participants gain access to Social Alpha's incubation ecosystem, investor network, and partnerships with industry, government agencies, and implementation partners.

Across all tracks, participating startups benefit from capacity building workshops, expert mentorship, and opportunities to showcase their innovations to investors, industry stakeholders, government agencies, and academic institutions.

Who can apply

• Innovators working on technologies addressing sustainability challenges in energy transition, new materials, and natural resource management are eligible to apply.
• Individuals, innovators, or startups at the idea or prototype stage may apply under the Research & Development track.
• Startups preparing to test their solution in real-world environments can apply under the Pilot track.
• Ventures with validated technologies ready for market expansion and deployment can apply under the Scale-Up track.
• Applicants should demonstrate technological innovation with potential to improve sustainability outcomes across energy systems, materials innovation, or resource efficiency.
• Solutions may include areas such as energy storage, battery recycling, decentralized renewable energy applications, advanced cooling technologies, high-efficiency industrial components, and innovations supporting sustainable resource utilization.
• Teams must demonstrate the capability to develop, pilot, and scale their innovation through technical development and market engagement.
• Applicants should be willing to collaborate with Social Alpha's incubation ecosystem and participate in mentorship, capacity-building sessions, and program activities.

Eligible entity types: Individual Innovator, LLP, Partnership, Private Limited, Proprietorship

Benefits & funding

• Grant support of up to Rs.
• 60 lakhs across three tracks: R&D, Pilot, and Scale-Up.
• Benefits include laboratory infrastructure, rapid prototyping, testing, certification, and compliance readiness.
• Also provides market access, business advisory, customer feedback systems, expert mentorship, investor network, industry partnerships, capacity building workshops, and showcasing opportunities.

Frequently asked questions