The Telecom Technology Development Fund Scheme (hereinafter referred to as ‘Scheme’) has been
notified for domestic companies and institutions involved in technology design, develo...
The scheme is envisaged to bridge the digital divide by developing and manufacturing the state-of-the-art technologies for rural and remote areas. The objectives are, inter alia, to promote:
Technology Ownership and indigenous Manufacturing (Atmanirbhar Bharat) & reduce import and open up export opportunities;
Proliferation of next-generation Telecom technologies in Rural and Remote areas;
Creating a culture of Technology co-creation and co-innovation;
Promote the ecosystem for research, design, prototyping, development, proof of concept testing, IPR creation, field testing, security, certification, and manufacturing of telecom products, end-to-end Solutions, Usecases, Pilots, inter alia; develop and establish relevant standards to meet national requirements and enable their standardization in international standardization bodies;
Promote rural-specific communication technology application/use case development that caters to the needs of rural masses and adds value to their day-to-day activities both economic and social;
Create synergies among the Academia, Research Institutes, Start-ups, and Industry for capacity building and development of the telecom ecosystem through outreach to build rural/remote areas relevant technologies and solutions;
Bridge the gap between R&D and commercialization of products and solutions;
Enable proliferation of affordable broadband and mobile services;
Enable technology demonstration, product integration, pilots, and field trials of the products and solutions;
Enable Technological/business model innovation in solutions and services by utilizing existing infrastructure of USOF/DoT/GoI funded projects; or
Commercialize developed technologies under the scheme.
Eligibility (who can apply)
The following Indian entities are only eligible for support from this fund.
Domestic Company(ies) with focus on telecom R&D, Use case development
Startups / MSMEs
Academic institutions
R&D institutions, Section 8 companies / Societies, Central & State government entities / PSUs /Autonomous Bodies/SPVs / Limited liability partnerships- with a focus on telecom research and development
Collaborative consortium of the above entities
For Pilots: The above entities may partner, inter alia, with PSUs, TSPs, Central/State Government entities, government autonomous bodies, SPVs, etc.
For Pilot application: Minimum TRL 7 is required.
How to Apply
**Online**
> **Application Process: (Stepwise):**
**Step 01:** Online submission of Proposal ([https://usof.gov.in/en/home](https://usof.gov.in/en/home))
**Step 02:** Screening of the applicant
**Step 03:** Review and due diligence by the Technical Evaluation Committee
**Step 04:** Review and examination by the Administrative Committee
**Step 05:** Final approval from Competent Authority
**Step 06:** Assignment to Implementation Agency
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for Telecom Technology Development Fund / what is the eligibility?
The following Indian entities are only eligible for support from this fund.
1. Domestic Company(ies) with focus on telecom R&D, Use case development
1. Startups / MSMEs
1. Academic institutions
1. R&D institutions, Section 8 companies / Societies, Central &...
What are the benefits of Telecom Technology Development Fund?
The scheme is envisaged to bridge the digital divide by developing and manufacturing the state-of-the-art technologies for rural and remote areas. The objectives are, inter alia, to promote:
1. Technology Ownership and indigenous Manufacturing (Atmanirbhar Bharat) & reduce impo...
How to apply online for Telecom Technology Development Fund?
**Online**
> **Application Process: (Stepwise):**
**Step 01:** Online submission of Proposal ([https://usof.gov.in/en/home](https://usof.gov.in/en/home))
**Step 02:** Screening of the applicant
**Step 03:** Review and due diligence by the Technical Evaluation Committee
**Step 04:** Rev...