Industry-Academia Research & Development Programme (IARDP) 2026

The Industry-Academia Research & Development Programme (IARDP) is a flagship initiative of the Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA) designed to support collaborative, industry-driven research and innovation partnerships between India and France.

The programme aims to accelerate the development of new products, technologies and processes through collaboration between industry and academic institutions, with projects expected to achieve proof-of-concept demonstration and prototype development up to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4–5.

Funding Available

Successful projects can receive funding of up to:

€220,000 per project

for the entire project duration covering Indian and French partners. Project duration may be up to 3 years.

Funding support may include:

• Research personnel (PhD, Research Associates, Postdoctoral Researchers)
• Consumables and project-related expenses
• Minor equipment (Indian side only)
• International travel between India and France
• Project overheads according to CEFIPRA guidelines
• Support for collaborative R&D activities leading to prototype development and validation

Thematic Areas

Projects should align with one or more of the following priority areas:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Supercomputing
• Cloud Computing
• Digital Health

Renewable and Clean Energy

• Hydrogen Technologies
• Solar Energy
• Wind Energy
• Decarbonisation Technologies

Smart Mobility

• Energy Efficient Transport
• Sustainable Logistics Solutions

Agricultural Science and Technology

• Food Safety
• Climate-Smart Agriculture
• Agro-Ecological Farming

Sustainable Nutrition

Healthcare

• Cancer Research
• Neurosciences
• Biotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Public Health
• Medical Waste Treatment Technologies
• One Health Solutions

Technology for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Sustainable Buildings
• Plastic Pollution Solutions
• Marine Science
• Ecological Sciences

Waste Management and Circular Economy

Who Can Apply?

This programme is specifically designed for India-France collaborative consortia.

Eligible participants include:

• Industries and Companies (SMEs, MSMEs and large enterprises)
• Universities
• Research Institutes
• National Laboratories
• Academic Institutions
• Clinical Establishments
• Not-for-Profit Organisations
• Foundations and Trusts
• Technology Development Organisations

Consortium Requirements

Applicants are strongly encouraged to adopt the 2+2 Consortium Model, which includes:

• At least one industry partner from India
• At least one research institution from India
• At least one industry partner from France
• At least one research institution from France

Projects that do not fully meet the 2+2 model may still be considered, provided a strong justification is supplied and the role of each partner is clearly defined.

Additionally:

• One Principal Investigator (PI) must be designated on the Indian side
• One Principal Investigator (PI) must be designated on the French side
• One Co-PI is permitted per country from the same institution as the PI
• A Joint Research Agreement and Intellectual Property Management Plan will be required for funded projects.

Geographic Eligibility

Projects must involve collaboration between organisations based in:

India and France

The programme does not support projects outside this bilateral partnership framework. Research and innovation activities should be undertaken through Indo-French collaboration involving eligible organisations from both countries.

Project Requirements

Projects must:

• Be industry-driven and innovation-focused
• Demonstrate a clear market need and societal benefit
• Show an existing proof-of-concept or preliminary validation
• Include a commercialisation pathway
• Lead to new or significantly improved products, services or processes
• Deliver prototypes and technology validation up to TRL 4–5
• Demonstrate active industry participation and commitment.

Key Dates

Call Opens: Currently Open

Application Deadline: 31 July 2026

Submission Method: Online through the CEFIPRA submission portal.

Click HERE to visit the official website