The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched the AICTE Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship Program (AIEDFP). The initiative aims to promote doctoral research that yields practical solutions and real-world impact.
The program was launched by AICTE Chairman Prof. Yogesh Singh and Member Secretary Prof. Shyama Rath. It is estimated to entail an expenditure of ₹245 crore over five years. The initiative will support 150 PhD fellowships, focusing on research with clear applications in innovation and entrepreneurship.
While traditional doctoral research often remains confined to academic circles, the AIEDFP will foster problem-based and application-oriented research. It encourages scholars to tackle research challenges that deliver tangible outcomes, such as technology transfer, commercialisation, innovation, and societal impact.
This initiative is expected to forge a strong link between academic research and the broader needs of industry, startups, and society. By supporting researchers working on practical, scalable solutions, the program aims to strengthen the pathway from research laboratories to the marketplace and communities.
AICTE Stated That the Fellowship Program Seeks to Empower the Next Generation of Innovators and Entrepreneurs
AICTE stated that the fellowship program seeks to empower the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs while contributing to India’s transformation into a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. The launch comes at a time when there is a strong emphasis on strengthening India’s research and innovation ecosystem, encouraging higher education institutions to move beyond mere knowledge creation toward developing and adopting technologies and solutions that deliver measurable impact.
