Deadline Date: July 31, 2026
The Industry-Academia Research and Development Programme offers to promote collaborative research between industry and academia in India and France to develop innovative and impactful products and processes.
The focus areas include industry-academia collaboration, product and process development, innovation and commercialization, proof of concept development, prototype building, technology readiness level advancement, artificial intelligence and machine learning, renewable and clean energy, smart mobility, agricultural science and technology, sustainable nutrition, healthcare innovation, biotechnology, public health, medical waste treatment, technology for sustainable development goals, waste management, and circular economy solutions.
The duration of the solution-driven proposals should be a maximum of 3 years, and the total funding for all project partners will be up to €220,000 or the equivalent amount in Indian INR for the entire project duration.
The programme, launched in 2002 by the Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA), serves as a platform to connect industrial organisations and research institutions from India and France. It supports innovation by enabling risk-taking, fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, and promoting research-driven industrial advancement with potential for market-ready outcomes.
The primary aim of the programme is to strengthen linkages between industry and academia from both countries, including SMEs, MSMEs, and large industries, while enhancing industrial competitiveness and leveraging academic research expertise. It focuses on developing new products and processes or improving existing ones through industry-driven proposals that address societal needs.
Projects supported under the programme are expected to demonstrate proof of concept and outline clear pathways toward prototype development and commercialization. Each proposal must be industry-centric and clearly define how the research outputs will be translated into practical applications.
The programme encourages participation from at least one industrial partner and one research institute from both India and France under a preferred 2+2 collaboration model. However, proposals that do not fully meet this model may still be considered if properly justified, provided they include at least one industry and one research partner from the two countries.
Each project must clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all participating partners, including principal investigators from both India and France. A joint research agreement must be established prior to fund disbursement, including provisions for intellectual property management, rights sharing, protection, maintenance costs, royalties, and related responsibilities.
Co-applicants may include academic institutions, research organisations, national laboratories, clinical establishments, companies, and other eligible entities, while collaborators may contribute technical expertise, data, or materials and support project execution.
The programme focuses on several thrust areas, including artificial intelligence and digital technologies, renewable energy systems, smart mobility, agricultural innovation, sustainable nutrition, healthcare and biomedical research, environmental technologies, and circular economy solutions.
For more information, visit CEFIPRA.
