Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map Connecting

STARTUPS & INCUBATORS

To India's Scientific Infrastructure

Access More, Build Faster
Extend your Capabilities
Trusted Government Platform
Pan-India Network of Institutions
Accelerating Innovation
Supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat
National Innovation Architecture

One Platform. Two Sides. A Connected Innovation Ecosystem.

The I-STEM Startup–Incubator Module connects startups seeking scientific infrastructure with incubators and other participating facilities that can provide access to research equipment, laboratories, testing services and technical capabilities.

Through the module, startups can discover infrastructure beyond their own organisations, while incubators can extend the capabilities they offer their startups, establish structured collaborations and make their own facilities discoverable to a wider user ecosystem. By connecting infrastructure demand with available capabilities, I-STEM aims to help reduce research and product-development costs, improve utilisation of existing infrastructure and accelerate technology development and commercialisation.

Demand Side

For Startups

Discover and access the infrastructure and expertise needed to develop, test, validate and improve your products.

  • Access world-class laboratories without heavy capital expenditure
  • Rapid prototyping, testing, calibration & validation
  • Digital MoU-based preferential rates where applicable
Supply Side & Enablers

For Incubators

Extend your incubation capabilities through a wider research infrastructure network, establish collaborations and make your own facilities discoverable.

  • Offer cohort access to 30,000+ national instruments
  • Establish formal Digital MoUs with partner facilities
  • Improve utilisation and explore revenue on internal assets
For Startups & Innovators

Access the Infrastructure and Expertise Needed to Turn Ideas into Impact

Developing an innovative product often requires specialised equipment, testing facilities and technical expertise that may not be available within a startup's own organisation. I-STEM helps startups discover and access relevant research infrastructure across India without having to invest in every capability themselves.

01

Access Without Owning

Discover advanced scientific equipment, laboratories and testing capabilities without major capital investment in infrastructure.

02

Test, Validate and Improve

Access facilities for prototyping, product testing, analysis, calibration, validation and technology development.

03

Reduce Time and Development Costs

Identify relevant infrastructure across institutions and locations, helping reduce the time and cost involved in research and product development.

04

Connect with Research Expertise

Explore capabilities available through universities, research institutions, laboratories and other participating facility providers.

05

Benefit from Preferential Access Where Available

Where applicable, access special or discounted rates through Digital MoU-based collaborations established between participating incubators and facility providers, subject to agreed eligibility and collaboration terms.

06

Move Towards Commercialisation

Use relevant scientific infrastructure to improve product performance, reliability and technology readiness as you progress from concept and prototype towards a market-ready product.

For Incubators & Facility Providers

Extend Your Incubation Capabilities Through India's Research Infrastructure Network

An incubator does not have to own every capability its startups need. Through I-STEM, incubators can connect their startups with a wider network of scientific equipment, laboratories, testing facilities and technical expertise while also making their own infrastructure discoverable to potential users.

The module supports a connected ecosystem in which incubators can facilitate access to external facilities, establish structured collaborations and improve the utilisation of their own available infrastructure.

01

Extend Your Infrastructure Capabilities

Give startups access to specialised equipment, laboratories and testing facilities beyond what your incubator owns or operates.

02

Establish Digital MoU-Based Collaborations

Connect with participating incubators, private laboratories and institutional laboratories through structured Digital MoUs that define the terms of collaboration. These agreements may specify available equipment, startup eligibility, preferential rates, booking conditions, payment terms, confidentiality, and IP rights.

03

Enable Preferential Access for Startups

Facilitate special or discounted access to partner facilities for eligible startups, where such terms have been mutually agreed under the applicable Digital MoU.

04

Showcase Your Own Infrastructure

List your equipment, laboratories and technical facilities on I-STEM to make your capabilities discoverable to startups, researchers and other potential users.

05

Improve Infrastructure Utilisation

Make available or underutilised equipment and facilities accessible to a wider user community, subject to your operational policies and applicable conditions.

06

Explore Additional Revenue Opportunities

Enable wider use of your infrastructure and explore opportunities for additional revenue through facility access and services, where applicable.

07

Strengthen Your Innovation Ecosystem

Build connections across incubators, research institutions, laboratories and industry, enabling a broader network of capabilities to support your startups.

System Workflow

Connecting Infrastructure Demand with Supply

A seamless, transparent national workflow linking innovators needing capabilities with custodians offering world-class infrastructure.

Step 01
Startups • Demand

Identify Requirements

Startups identify the scientific equipment, testing, validation or technical capabilities required for their product development.

Step 02
I-STEM Portal • Discovery

Discover and Connect

Startups discover relevant infrastructure across participating facilities and initiate the applicable access or service-request process.

Step 03
Incubators & Labs • Supply

Enable Access

Incubators facilitate access to external facilities for their cohorts, while facility providers make their equipment discoverable.

Step 04
Digital MoU • Framework

Structured Collaboration

Participating organisations establish mutually agreed terms for collaboration, including eligibility, preferential pricing, and access conditions.

Mutual Collaboration Terms
Step 05
National Impact • Growth

Better Access & Utilisation

Startups gain rapid access to capabilities, while providers reach a wider user ecosystem and optimize infrastructure utilisation.

Implementation Notice: Digital MoUs and preferential access terms are applicable to participating organisations and mutually agreed collaboration arrangements, subject to institutional terms and conditions, rather than automatic default benefits for every registered user.
Get Started Today

Be Part of a More Connected Research and Innovation Ecosystem

Whether you are a startup seeking scientific infrastructure or an incubator looking to extend your capabilities and connect your facilities with a wider user community, I-STEM provides a platform to participate in India's connected research infrastructure ecosystem.

Zero Registration Fee • Government of India Initiative • Protected Confidentiality & IP