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SC-STI

STI Hubs for SC/ST Communities

Project grants to institutions and NGOs using science and technology to build livelihoods and enterprises in SC/ST communities.

What you get

Project-based; amount varies by sanctioned STI hub

Nodal ministry

Department of Science & Technology (DST)

Support type

Grant

Best suited for

Ideation · Seed / Early Stage

Typical timeline

Against DST calls for proposals

What this scheme actually is

STI Hubs fund local institutions, R&D labs and science-based voluntary organisations to intervene technologically in the livelihood systems of SC and ST communities — and to document, validate and conserve indigenous knowledge systems. It is a social-innovation instrument rather than a startup fund, but it finances enterprise development on the ground.

What the scheme sets out to do

Capture the weakest linkages in the predominant livelihood systems of SC and ST communities and improve them through science and technology
Harness, document, research, validate and conserve indigenous knowledge systems, skills and practices

Who can apply

Local academic or S&T institutions, R&D labs, and S&T-based voluntary organisations and NGOs
Applicant must have a majority SC or ST population in its catchment area

What you get

Financial support to establish an STI hub
Support usable for equipment purchase, small infrastructure and common facility centres as per DST norms
Technology deployment, training and enterprise support in the community

How to apply, step by step

  1. 1

    Establish the catchment condition

    A majority SC or ST population in the catchment area is a stated eligibility requirement.

  2. 2

    Watch the DST calls for proposals

    Applications are made against published calls on the DST website.

  3. 3

    Design the livelihood intervention

    Proposals succeed when the technology intervention is specific to a documented livelihood gap, not generic.

How Company Avenue Advisory helps

What we actually do on a SC-STI mandate

Section 8 or trust structuring and compliance for implementing organisations
12A/80G registration and FCRA advisory where foreign contribution is involved
Grant accounting, utilisation certificates and ITR-7 compliance
Enterprise formalisation for the community businesses the hub creates

No consultant can guarantee a sanction — that decision sits with the evaluating committee, bank or incubator. We commit to an honest eligibility view, an application built to the evaluator’s format, filing inside the window and a documented follow-up cadence. That is stated in every engagement letter we sign.

Official sources

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