Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday said that the launch of the Technology Development Board (TDB) First Call under the Research Development Innovation (RDI) Fund marks one of the first initiatives of its kind, where the government is directly funding the private sector rather than relying on traditional models of philanthropy or CSR support.
Highlighting a major policy shift, the Minister said the opening up of strategic sectors such as space and nuclear, which were earlier confined to the public sector, reflects the government’s forward-looking approach and a decisive break from past conventions.
Under the initiative, the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund will provide long-term financing at around 2 per cent interest, along with flexible repayment terms and equity support, aimed at accelerating indigenous research, innovation, and technology commercialization.
Dr Singh noted that the strong response from the private sector to the first call indicates broad participation and growing confidence in the government’s innovation-led development framework.
The initiative is expected to play a key role in strengthening India’s research ecosystem, deep-tech startups, and strategic self-reliance.
-OdishaAge
