AICTE launches ₹245 crore doctoral fellowship to boost innovation, entrepreneurship research

AICTE has introduced a new doctoral fellowship program to promote research focused on developing practical solutions, strengthening entrepreneurship and creating measurable impact beyond academic settings.

The AICTE Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship Programme (AIEDFP) was launched by AICTE Chairman Prof Yogesh Singh and Member Secretary Prof Shyama Rath. The program carries a projected financial outlay of ₹245 crore over five years and will offer 150 PhD fellowships.

The fellowship is designed to support problem-driven research with potential applications in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Scholars will be encouraged to pursue research that can move beyond theoretical findings toward outcomes such as technology transfer, commercialization, new innovations and societal benefits.

AICTE said the program aims to strengthen connections between higher education research, industry, startups and broader societal requirements.

Researchers supported under the initiative will focus on developing solutions that can be scaled and translated from laboratories into practical applications.

The fellowship is also expected to provide greater opportunities for doctoral scholars working on research with entrepreneurial and commercial potential, while strengthening the pathway between academic discoveries, markets and communities.

According to AICTE, the initiative will contribute to developing the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs and support India's shift toward a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy.

The launch comes as greater attention is being placed on strengthening the country's research and innovation ecosystem.

The initiative reflects efforts to encourage higher education institutions to focus not only on generating knowledge but also on developing and implementing solutions with tangible impact.