The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited investigator-initiated proposals under its First in World Challenge Grants 2026, a programme that funds breakthrough health technologies which have not been attempted anywhere in the world. Proposals must be submitted through the ICMR e-PMS portal by 30 November 2026, 5:30 PM IST, with results declared on 31 December 2026.
The scheme offers three funding tiers linked to project maturity: up to Rs 1 crore for proof of concept (2 years), Rs 4 crore for prototype development (3 years), and Rs 8 crore for a final product or implementation model (4 years). It covers vaccines, drugs and therapeutics, diagnostics, devices and interventions — and, crucially, Indian startups, MSMEs and industries are explicitly eligible alongside scientists, faculty, research labs and NGOs.
Inspired by Chandrayaan-3, the programme backs high-risk, high-reward research only: proposals demonstrating forward-thinking, first-of-their-kind biomedical or technological innovations, with funding linked to deliverables across stages. Incremental or process-only innovation will not be considered. The call was released on 1 October 2026 and the submission portal opened on 7 October, so teams have roughly seven weeks to put together Part A and Part B proposals with budgets, methodology and IP status.
Why it matters for founders
This is non-dilutive, stage-linked government money — up to Rs 8 crore — explicitly open to startups doing genuinely novel healthtech. If your product is truly first-of-its-kind, this beats a dilutive pre-seed for funding the prototype stage. Mark 30 November, 5:30 PM; late portal submissions will not wait for you.