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TIH Foundation for IoT & IoE at IIT Bombay: Grants, Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (India)

History and Background

The TIH Foundation for IoT & IoE was established by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay as a not-for-profit Section 8 company under India’s National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). The mission is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology to strengthen research, innovation, and technology development in cyber-physical systems. TIH-IoT’s work focuses on translating research in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Everything (IoE) into practical technologies, products, and services.

Establishment and Development

  • 2020: The foundation’s development began within the national technology innovation hub initiative, with the company formally established in August 2020.

  • 2021: The organisation expanded its research and innovation activities, formalised multidisciplinary governance structures, and began supporting entrepreneurship initiatives.

  • 2022 onward: TIH-IoT developed collaborations with academic institutions and innovation partners, expanded fellowship activities, and supported research projects and technology-based startups.

  • Subsequent years: The hub broadened its work through technology development calls, entrepreneurship programmes, skill development, and collaborative research initiatives. Its activities have included projects in agriculture, healthcare, industrial applications, and other IoT-enabled sectors.

Role in India’s Technology Innovation Ecosystem

TIH-IoT addresses the gap between academic research and the commercial deployment of new technologies. Its programmes support researchers and innovators as they move from early-stage ideas towards prototypes, validated products, industry adoption, and potential commercialisation.

The foundation also contributes to the development of technical skills and entrepreneurship by connecting researchers, students, startups, industry partners, and government-supported innovation programmes.

Mission and Purpose

TIH-IoT’s vision is to become a leading global hub for Internet of Things technology, where ideas are researched, prototyped, tested, and transferred to suitable partners for commercialisation and deployment across industries. Its mission combines technology development with entrepreneurship, education, research collaboration, and social impact.

Core Objectives

  • Promote translational research: Convert scientific discoveries and engineering research into practical IoT technologies and products.

  • Build technical expertise: Develop skilled professionals, researchers, and students in IoT and related emerging technologies.

  • Strengthen startup development: Help entrepreneurs validate ideas, develop prototypes, access mentorship, and prepare for commercialisation.

  • Encourage industry–academia collaboration: Connect universities, research institutions, businesses, and government agencies.

  • Support international research: Encourage cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange.

  • Advance socioeconomic development: Promote technology solutions that address real-world challenges and improve services.

  • Develop technology standards: Contribute to industry benchmarks and the wider adoption of IoT solutions.

Key Technology Areas

TIH-IoT supports technology development and application across several sectors:

  • Agriculture and AgriTech: Smart farming, agricultural monitoring, resource management, and precision agriculture.

  • Healthcare and MedTech: Connected medical devices, health monitoring, and technology-enabled diagnosis.

  • Industrial IoT: Connected industrial systems, automation, monitoring, and intelligent manufacturing.

  • Smart Education: Technology-enabled learning environments and connected educational systems.

  • Defence and Security: IoT-based monitoring, surveillance, and security applications.

  • Water Management: Connected systems and sensors for monitoring and managing water resources.

  • Supply Chain and Logistics: Connected tracking, monitoring, and operational optimisation.

Governance and Structure

TIH-IoT operates as a Section 8 not-for-profit company established by IIT Bombay under a national government-supported technology innovation mission. Its structure brings together academic expertise, technical research, entrepreneurship support, and collaboration with external organisations.

Institutional Governance

  • IIT Bombay: Provides the academic and institutional foundation for the innovation hub.

  • Department of Science and Technology, Government of India: Implements the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, under which the hub was established.

  • Advisory and expert bodies: Support technical direction, research priorities, and the development of the IoT ecosystem.

  • Academic and industry partners: Contribute research expertise, technology validation, practical applications, and potential routes to commercialisation.

Collaborative Approach

TIH-IoT works with universities, research laboratories, startup incubators, government bodies, and industry partners. This collaborative structure allows research teams to access expertise and infrastructure while helping businesses identify promising technologies for real-world deployment.

The foundation also works with the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) at IIT Bombay on startup-related initiatives, helping connect technology innovators with entrepreneurship support and commercialisation opportunities.

Funding and Grants

TIH-IoT provides funding and development support through technology development grants, startup seed support, fellowships, and skill-development initiatives. These programmes are intended to help researchers, students, and entrepreneurs develop technologies, build prototypes, validate products, and prepare innovations for wider deployment.

The foundation operates under a government-supported national innovation mission. Funding is distributed through individual programmes and competitive calls, each with its own eligibility requirements, assessment process, permitted expenses, and reporting conditions.

Technology Development Grants

TIH-IoT’s Technology Development Program supports promising IoT technologies that have progressed beyond early research and show potential for practical application.

Two published 2026 opportunities illustrate the programme’s funding structure:

  • TDP 10 — Indigenous Technologies for Scheduled Tribe Communities: Offers project grants of up to ₹25 lakh for projects lasting up to 12 months. The call focuses on application-oriented IoT technologies that benefit Scheduled Tribe communities, including projects in agriculture, water management, healthcare, industrial IoT, and supply chains. The published deadline is 20 October 2026.

  • TDP 11 — Technology Development: Offers project grants of up to ₹50 lakh for projects lasting up to 12 months. It targets IoT prototypes and concepts at Technology Readiness Level 6 or above, with an identified industry partner desirable for real-world validation and commercialisation. The published deadline is 31 October 2026.

These are separate calls with different eligibility conditions. The maximum grant is not guaranteed; proposals are reviewed competitively, and funding depends on the programme’s assessment and approval process.

Startup Seed Funding

The Aarohan Seed Support Program is designed to help IoT startups move from technology development towards commercialisation. The published Aarohan 5.0 programme offered seed support of up to ₹1 crore in the form of equity through compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS), together with business and technical mentoring. The listed application round is closed, so applicants should check the website for any new call before preparing a submission.

Other entrepreneurship initiatives, including AYANSH and DIAL, have been designed to help startups develop new products, bridge early-stage funding gaps, strengthen business models, and prepare for investment or market entry. The funding format and eligibility vary by programme.

CHANAKYA Fellowship Program

The CHANAKYA Fellowship Program supports human-resource development by enabling faculty-led student teams to work on projects in areas such as IoT and related cyber-physical systems.

The published 2026 fellowship page lists the following support:

  • Undergraduate students: Monthly fellowship of ₹10,000 for up to 10 months, with up to ₹20,000 per student for consumables and contingency.

  • Postgraduate students: Monthly fellowship of ₹12,400 until December 2027 or the end of the student’s degree, whichever comes first, with contingency support of ₹50,000 per year.

Applications for the 2026 call were due by 12 July 2026, so that round’s deadline has passed. Students and faculty should consult the official website for future opportunities and current conditions.

Skill Development Funding

TIH-IoT also publishes funding opportunities for skill development in IoT, including programmes focused on Scheduled Tribe students. One published scheme offers eligible institutions support of up to ₹20 lakh for approved training programmes. Funding is intended for authorised activities such as curriculum delivery, practical sessions, trainers, materials, assessments, participant support, and programme management. Applicants must comply with the scheme’s monitoring and financial documentation requirements.

How to Apply for Funding

Applicants should identify the programme that best matches their technology, stage of development, and organisational status.

  • Researchers and academic institutions: Review the relevant Technology Development Program call and prepare the prescribed proposal, presentation, milestones, and budget.

  • Technology startups: Check the seed-support and entrepreneurship programmes for the current application status, company requirements, and funding structure.

  • Students and faculty: Review the CHANAKYA fellowship calls and their team-formation requirements.

  • Training institutions: Consult the skill-development programme guidelines to determine eligibility and approved expenditure categories.

Applications must follow the prescribed submission process. Applicants should also review intellectual-property conditions, since the published TDP calls state that IP generated using the grant may be jointly owned by TIH-IoT and the grantee.

Major Programs and Initiatives

TIH-IoT delivers its objectives through programmes covering technology development, startup acceleration, human-resource development, and international collaboration. These initiatives support different stages of the innovation process, from early ideas and student research to product validation and commercial deployment.

Technology and Product Development

This programme focuses on advancing IoT technologies and developing products for commercial and non-commercial applications. It supports research teams working on solutions that can address practical challenges in agriculture, healthcare, education, security, and industrial systems.

Key activities include prototype development, technology testing, validation, industry collaboration, and preparation for commercialisation. The objective is to ensure that promising research can progress beyond the laboratory and be used in real-world settings.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development

TIH-IoT supports technology entrepreneurs through startup mentoring, funding opportunities, business development, and innovation programmes.

  • AYANSH — Startup and Spin-off Programme: Designed to encourage student entrepreneurs, researchers, and startups to develop IoT-based products and move innovations towards commercialisation.

  • AAROHAN Seed Support Program: Supports eligible IoT startups through seed funding, mentoring, and business assistance.

  • DIAL — Dedicated Innovation Accelerators: Focuses on helping promising technology startups accelerate growth, access expert networks, and prepare for further investment.

  • CPS-PRAYAS: Addresses the early-stage funding gap between an innovative idea and a working prototype.

  • Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) and mentorship initiatives: Help innovators strengthen their technical concepts, business models, and commercialisation strategies.

Human Resource and Skill Development

TIH-IoT works to develop a skilled workforce in IoT and related emerging technologies through fellowships, training, and educational partnerships.

Its activities include research fellowships, faculty-guided student projects, technical training, and professional certification initiatives. The foundation has also partnered with Edzor to provide technology-oriented training in areas such as generative AI, data science, data analytics, cloud computing, DevOps, and full-stack development.

International Collaboration

International collaboration supports the exchange of research knowledge, technical expertise, and development practices between Indian institutions and international partners.

TIH-IoT’s collaborative approach is intended to help researchers explore new use cases, validate technologies, and build connections between academia, industry, and research organisations. Such partnerships can strengthen the development of solutions that are relevant to both Indian and international markets.

BharatGen and Generative AI Innovation

TIH-IoT’s website also features BharatGen, an initiative focused on developing generative AI capabilities with an India-centric approach. Its stated activities include foundational technology development, Indian-language and culturally relevant datasets, product development, entrepreneurship, and skill development.

The initiative reflects the hub’s broader interest in emerging technologies and their potential to support India’s digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystem, and economic development.

Impact and Examples of Work Funded

TIH-IoT’s impact can be assessed through its support for research projects, fellowships, startup development, intellectual property, technology commercialisation, and professional training. Its published newsletters provide historical indicators of progress across these areas.

Research and Technology Development

TIH-IoT’s published newsletters report substantial activity in research and technology development. A newsletter covering the second quarter of the 2024–2025 period reported more than 135 projects, over 75 research papers, 348 fellowships, more than 55 startups, over 622 individuals trained, 31 intellectual-property outputs, five patents filed, and four technologies ready for commercialisation.

These figures represent reported progress at the time of that publication rather than verified current totals. They nevertheless illustrate the range of activities supported by the hub, from academic research and student development to startup support and technology transfer.

Support for Technology Startups

TIH-IoT’s supported startup portfolio includes organisations such as Ayu Devices, which develops connected medical technology for heart and lung disease assessment, alongside companies working in other application areas.

The entrepreneurship programme also provides mentoring and guidance on business strategy, product-market fit, fundraising, investor presentations, go-to-market planning, and technology commercialisation. These services are designed to help technology ventures develop sustainable products and prepare for wider market adoption.

Healthcare and Medical Technology

Healthcare is an important application area for TIH-IoT’s research and startup activities. Connected devices and IoT systems can support health monitoring, medical measurements, and the development of technology-enabled diagnostic tools.

The hub’s startup ecosystem includes Ayu Devices, whose work in IoT- and AI-enabled medical devices illustrates how connected technology can be applied to health assessment. The broader goal is to encourage technologies that can be validated and developed for practical healthcare use.

Agriculture and Smart Farming

TIH-IoT supports agriculture-focused innovation through its application programmes and technology development initiatives. IoT-enabled agricultural systems can help monitor environmental conditions, improve resource management, and support more informed farming decisions.

Its work in AgriTech also demonstrates the potential for research institutions and technology startups to develop solutions addressing practical agricultural challenges. The TDP 10 funding call

Industrial Innovation and Commercialisation

TIH-IoT’s industrial work includes applications of machine vision and connected technologies in manufacturing and product quality assessment. Its published newsletter describes projects involving crankshaft measurement at Bharat Forge and machine-vision-based food quality testing with Kellanova.

These examples demonstrate how advanced sensing and image-analysis technologies can be applied to industrial measurement, manufacturing precision, and quality control.

Human Resource Development

Through fellowships, student research projects, training programmes, and professional courses, TIH-IoT contributes to developing technical skills in emerging technologies.

Its reported fellowship and training figures indicate a continuing focus on preparing students and professionals to participate in research, innovation, and technology-led entrepreneurship. The CHANAKYA programme is one example of how faculty-guided projects can connect academic learning with practical research challenges.

Long-Term Significance

The foundation’s broader contribution lies in connecting research, funding, skills, entrepreneurship, and industry adoption. This integrated model can help promising technologies move from concept development to practical use while creating opportunities for researchers, startups, and academic institutions.

Its actual long-term impact depends on the performance of individual projects, the successful deployment of supported technologies, and the extent to which resulting innovations deliver measurable benefits. Published impact indicators offer useful evidence of activity, but they should not automatically be interpreted as proof of outcomes for every funded project.

Conclusion

The TIH Foundation for IoT & IoE at IIT Bombay is a government-supported, not-for-profit technology innovation hub established to advance Internet of Things research, product development, entrepreneurship, and human-resource development in India. Operating under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, it connects academic research with practical applications and commercial opportunities.

Through technology development grants, startup seed support, fellowships, skill-development programmes, and industry partnerships, TIH-IoT helps researchers and entrepreneurs develop and validate technologies across agriculture, healthcare, industrial systems, education, security, and other sectors.

Its programmes offer opportunities for eligible researchers, academic institutions, students, and technology startups to obtain financial and technical support. Prospective applicants should review the official website carefully because eligibility, funding limits, application deadlines, and intellectual-property conditions differ between programmes.

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