Overview
The Ministry of Science & Technology reiterated that the RDI Fund operates on a transparent, merit‑based framework with strict Conflict of Interest (COI) safeguards. Senior officials from the DST, TDB and ANRF explained the governance architecture, evaluation mechanisms and institutional safeguards that guide fund disbursement.
Key Developments
- All funding decisions are taken by an independent Investment Committee (IC) with no conflicted members.
- Members must disclose any prior professional or investment ties and recuse themselves from proposals where a conflict exists.
- Approvals require a supermajority of eligible IC members, adding an extra layer of protection.
- The fund provides soft loans linked to clearly identified technology projects, not direct equity to companies.
- Prior investments by venture capital or angel networks do not influence the funding decision; only post‑approval matching investments are considered.
Important Facts
• The RDI Fund supports deep‑tech, science‑led companies building sovereign technologies, many at TRL‑4 or higher.
• Twenty‑two companies have been selected in the current round; none of the IC members have a conflict with these entities.
• The COI policy requires full disclos