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iCreate Drone Challenge 2025 (India)
iCREATE
In context
This call is open to startups, small and medium-sized businesses and individuals, at idea and R&D stage, prototype and pilot stage and pre-seed. Coverage is read from the notice itself: India.
The iCreate Drone Challenge 2025 is a competition-based funding opportunity in India that supports drone technology innovation and development. The grant targets entrepreneurs and innovators working on drone applications, with awards up to €500K available.
About this grant
The iCreate Drone Challenge 2025 is a national innovation competition designed to accelerate India's drone technology development and identify groundbreaking innovations across the drone ecosystem. The challenge addresses India's vision of becoming a global drone hub by 2030 by nurturing talent, driving research, and pushing technological boundaries in drone performance and affordability. The competition covers two main tracks: Aerial Excellence (focused on speed, payload capacity, and endurance records) and Component Indigenisation (addressing gaps in propulsion systems, energy systems, avionics, sensors, materials, and agility). Participants include innovators, engineering students, startups, and R&D teams who can design and build drones across micro, small, medium, and large sizes, with electric or non-electric propulsion. Winners receive funding opportunities, access to iCreate's prototype acceleration programme with state-of-the-art lab facilities, mentorship, component sourcing support, incubation pathways, and connections to investors and industry partners.
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Eligibility
Startups, innovators, student teams, and R&D groups registered in India who can demonstrate their prototypes at zonal qualifier rounds are eligible to apply. Teams must submit completed application forms including mandatory team profile, technical details, and pitch deck. Preliminary prototypes or concept videos are optional but strongly recommended.
How it's scored
Applications are evaluated through a multi-phase process beginning with online submissions, followed by physical demonstrations in qualifier rounds across 4 zones in India (15-31 November 2025). Shortlisted teams advance to the Prototype Acceleration Program at iCreate (20 January - 13 February 2026), where refined prototypes are further evaluated. Final judging occurs at Demo Day (13 February 2026) with evaluation by investors, industry leaders, and government bodies. Evaluation appears to assess technical innovation, prototype feasibility, alignment with challenge themes, and commercialization potential.
Key requirements
- ✓Applicants must be based in or working on projects in India
- ✓Focus on drone technology innovation and development
- ✓Submission to iCreate Drone Challenge 2025 competition
Funder contact
The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.
Relevant sectors
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