Deadline Date: November 30, 2025
The STPI Kalpataru Centre of Entrepreneurship has launched the Open Challenge Programme 6.0 to identify and support startups building solutions for emerging sectors using Industry 4.0 technologies.
The focus areas of this opportunity include Industrial IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Industrial Automation, Industrial Robotics, Industrial Drone, Industrial 3D Printing and other related technologies powered by AI.
The objectives highlighted are to promote innovation entrepreneurship in emerging sectors using Industry 4.0 technologies; to stimulate the establishment growth of technology-based innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs start-ups in Industry 4.0 by providing necessary infrastructure, mentoring, marketing, funding and overall eco-system interconnecting all stakeholders; to strengthen domestic manufacturing of reliable and affordable Industry 4.0 products and services, thereby reducing import dependencies; to help domestic start-ups become global companies; to generate employment opportunities and increase economic social growth of the region as well as the country; to create trained manpower on Industry 4.0; and to encourage the adoption nurturing of Industry 4.0 by MSMEs.
STPI Kalpataru Centre of Entrepreneurship has been established in Visakhapatnam at Rashtriya ISPAT Nigam Limited – Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with the support of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, the Government of India, RINL-VSP and the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The initiative aims to nurture around 175 innovative startups over five years by offering physical infrastructure, funding support, access to networks, learning opportunities and the resources required to build scalable and globally competitive businesses.
The selected startups will undergo a one-year incubation period and will receive comprehensive assistance through a holistic ecosystem that encourages research, development, innovation and entrepreneurship in the domain of Industry 4.0. The programme enables startups to prototype, develop, test and market their solutions using the facilities and support systems provided by the Centre.
Under the financial incentives of OCP 6.0, each selected startup can receive seed funding of up to Rs. 4.00 lakhs based on the strength of their innovative idea, novelty of solution, team capability and business proposal. This support is available to startups that are physically incubated or supported under the programme.
The opportunity is open to Indian startups working in software product development within the Industry 4.0 domain. Startups registered under DPIIT are encouraged to apply. Individual academicians, researchers, educators, entrepreneurs, partnership firms and LLPs may also participate, with the condition that selected applicants must register as a private limited company within a stipulated period, preferably within three months.
For more information, visit STPI.
