Delhi Start-up and Incubation Policy Approved with ₹400 Crore Outlay

AI FEED

Delhi Cabinet has approved the Delhi Start-up and Incubation Policy.
The government will invest more than ₹400 crore over the next five years.
Incubation centres across universities, colleges and schools will receive financial and operational support.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Start-up and Incubation Policy has received Cabinet approval, paving the way for a major push to innovation, research and entrepreneurship in the national capital. Backed by an investment of more than ₹400 crore over the next five years, the policy aims to create a vibrant ecosystem that supports aspiring entrepreneurs from the idea stage to commercial success.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative is designed to transform Delhi into one of India’s leading innovation hubs while encouraging young people to become job creators rather than job seekers.

Delhi Start-up and Incubation Policy to Strengthen Innovation Ecosystem

The policy focuses on developing innovation infrastructure across government educational institutions by establishing and strengthening incubation centres.

In the first phase, the programme will be implemented in:

11 State Universities
13 Government-aided Colleges
Polytechnic Institutions
Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)
Government Schools

Eligible institutions will receive one-time financial assistance to establish incubation centres, along with annual operational funding to support mentoring, networking, innovation activities and ecosystem development.

The government believes this institutional framework will encourage research-driven entrepreneurship and create stronger links between academia and industry.

Financial Assistance for Start-ups at Every Stage

Under the policy, start-ups associated with recognised incubation centres will receive milestone-based financial support as they progress through different stages of development.

Funding will be available for:

Prototype development
Proof of concept
Product development
Market validation
Commercialisation

The objective is to reduce financial barriers faced by young entrepreneurs and improve the survival rate of early-stage start-ups.

Delhi Start-up and Incubation Policy to Offer End-to-End Support

The incubation centres will provide entrepreneurs with comprehensive support beyond financial assistance.

Key services will include:

Expert mentoring
Business advisory services
Intellectual property (IP) guidance
Access to laboratories and testing facilities
Investor networking opportunities
Industry partnerships

The government will also organise an annual Delhi Start-up Youth Festival, bringing together students, innovators, start-ups, investors, educational institutions, industry leaders and policymakers to showcase ideas, build collaborations and promote entrepreneurship.