India Unveils ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Fund at TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2025 to Power Deep-Tech Sovereignty

• Industry voices at TiEcon align with PM’s mission to accelerate R&D, innovation, and high-tech manufacturing

TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2025, India's largest deeptech summit, set the tone for one of the nation’s most significant science and technology developments — the launch of the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Emerging Science and Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025.

At the two-day TiEcon Delhi-NCR, a keynote fireside conversation titled “Quantum Leap: Accelerating India’s Tech Sovereignty” brought together Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology (DST- GOI), and Dr. Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR. The discussion highlighted India’s focus on strengthening deep-tech capabilities through collaborative R&D, private sector participation, and startup-led innovation - a vision that aligns closely with the objectives of the newly launched RDI Fund.

Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, GOI said, “India stands at a defining moment in its deep-tech journey. The Research, Development and Innovation Fund is a first-of-its-kind initiative to empower corporates, industries, and startups across sunrise sectors such as quantum, AI, semiconductors, biotech, and advanced manufacturing. With liberalized norms and a two-tier fund management model, it aims to catalyse private sector R&D, promote IP creation within India, and strengthen our path toward technological sovereignty. The government’s role is to enable, not control - fostering risk-taking and long-term R&D investment that builds India’s innovation strength.”

Sharing his perspective, Dr. Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR, said,

India’s ambition to achieve tech sovereignty depends on uniting scientific excellence with entrepreneurial execution. By deepening collaboration between academia, research, and startups, we can turn cutting-edge discoveries into world-class products. TiE Delhi-NCR continues to be a catalyst for this ecosystem, connecting innovators, investors, and policymakers to drive India’s next wave of technological breakthroughs.

The session followed the inaugural keynote by Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce and Industries, who emphasised the government’s vision to build a deep-tech ecosystem powered by innovation and youth engagement.

Organised by TiE Delhi-NCR, TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2025 brought together policymakers, investors, founders, and global thought leaders to discuss India’s next growth frontier in technology and entrepreneurship. For over 25 years, TiE Delhi-NCR has been a driving force in India’s innovation landscape, fostering collaboration, mentorship, and investment that continue to shape the country’s transformation into a global innovation powerhouse.

About TiE Delhi-NCR

TiE Delhi-NCR is one of the most active and vibrant chapters of TiE Global, dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, education, and funding. With a legacy spanning over two decades, TiE Delhi-NCR continues to empower innovators and founders, driving India’s transformation into a global innovation powerhouse.

Abu Dhabi-based HUB71 Launches New Web3/Blockchain Specialist Innovation Ecosystem with Access to $2 Bn+ Funding

Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, has announced the launch of Hub71+ Digital Assets, a dedicated Web3 specialist ecosystem, with more than AED7bn+ ($2 billion) of capital committed to fund Web3 start-ups and blockchain technologies from Abu Dhabi.

Hub71+ is a specialist ecosystem dedicated to advancing specific technology sectors. The first Hub71+ to launch is Hub71+ Digital Assets, focussing on unleashing the disruptive potential of Web3 and the growth of digital assets.

Web3 describes the evolution of the internet into a decentralised online space increasingly built on innovations such as blockchain technology and metaverse applications. Web3 start-ups, from seed to unicorn stage, will benefit from the ability to scale globally through Hub71+ Digital Assets, unlocking access to a host of programmes, initiatives, and its extensive range of Web3 focused corporate, government and investment partners in the UAE and global markets. Hub71+ Digital Assets will be based at Hub71 in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) where Web3 start-ups can operate in a progressive regulatory environment, which offers world-class blockchain and virtual asset infrastructure.

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE's largest bank and one of the world's largest and safest financial institutions, and its research and innovation centre, FABRIC, join Hub71 as the anchor partner of Hub71+ Digital Assets. FAB will identify leading Web3 start-ups, entrepreneurs, and breakthrough technologies to help the UAE’s largest bank reimagine financial services in the metaverse.

Hub71 has also onboarded a diverse range of partners and Web3 players that form part of Hub71+ Digital Assets including digital asset exchanges and service providers Binance and MidChains, that will facilitate the discovery, trading, and custody of digital assets.

Technology Providers Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Mastercard will also help to bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3 and providing effective infrastructure platforms, and venture studio DAO will assist in facilitating the build and acceleration of new Web3 and digital assets start-ups.

Providing access to capital and investment opportunities, a number of venture capital funds will be available including Binance Labs’ $500 million Investment Fund to invest in Web3, Venom Foundation through its USD 1 billion venture fund, Venom Venture Funds (VVF) in partnership with ICEBERG Capital an ADGM regulated investment manager, Ton Foundations’ $250 million TONcoin. Fund, as well as existing venture capital partners from Hub71 that are set to invest in Web3 companies.

In addition, blockchain platforms Algor and, Polygon, SUI Blockchain, Ton Foundation and Venom Foundation, will enable transparent recording, tracking, and sharing of assets.

The combination of these elements aims to support participating start-ups to launch tokens and promote tokenisation, as part of the fundraising journey.

Ahmad Ali Alwan, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Hub71, said: “Hub71+ Digital Assets signifies that Abu Dhabi is open to disruptive businesses driving forward change and transformation on a global level. Decentralisation is the future of a blockchain-based internet, and Web3 start-ups will play an immense role in accelerating this transition. Teaming up with ADGM, FAB and its research and innovation center, FABRIC, alongside the world’s leading Web3 companies and enablers under one roof will provide founders with an opportunity to fundraise, develop and commercialize innovations safely while operating within the largest regulated jurisdiction of virtual assets in the MENA region.”

Dhaher bin Dhaher Al Mheiri, CEO of ADGM, said: “We are pleased to strengthen our association with Hub71 on the launch of Hub71+ Digital Assets. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, we have seen the rise of new technologies, and ecosystems such as Web3 that have the potential to transform the world. At ADGM, we are dedicated to providing a holistic environment that facilitates a seamless and secure adoption of digital assets to foster the growth of this new digital landscape. This alliance will help start-ups and digital assets to benefit from ADGM's diverse ecosystem and progressive regulatory environment by accessing world-class and innovative infrastructure. This further reinforces ADGM’s commitment to developing the UAE economy and keeping pace with global trends with a risk-based approach. We are delighted to be at the forefront of this revolution by empowering the next generation of businesses and look forward to the long-term growth it will present to the start-ups of the UAE and beyond.”

Suhail Bin Tarraf, Group Chief Operating Officer at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), said: “FAB is trusted as a financial partner to our customers in the real world, and those same customers are now increasingly active in the Web3 space as well. Staying ahead of the curve when it comes to innovations such as blockchain, NFTs and the metaverse, is yet another way we fulfil our Customer First promise as we leverage new opportunities at the intersection of digital identity, ownership, and value. Through this partnership, it is our intent to meet our customers in this emerging digital space and keep them ahead with their financial needs.”

Web3 start-ups at the unicorn stage (valued at more than $1 billion) will also benefit from Hub71’s value creation programme to support business relocation to Abu Dhabi and growth in the Middle East and global markets.

Hub71+ Digital Assets will contribute to supporting the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, which aims to double the contribution of the digital economy to non-oil GDP to more than 20 per cent within 10 years.

All About Uttar Pradesh's ₹4000 Cr. Innovation Fund To Promote Startup Culture

The Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh is setting up an innovation fund worth ₹4000 Cr. to promote startup culture in the state. For same, the state government will have a share of Rs 400 crore while the rest of the Rs 3600 crore will be raised through private investors.

For an uninitiated, the Uttar Pradesh Start-up Policy gives thrust to — "Start in Uttar Pradesh (START-IN-UP)" — to promote startup culture & entrepreneurship in Uttar Pradesh. Under this, the state government has decided to constitute Uttar Pradesh Innovation Fund (UPIF). The state government's commitment to UPIF will be Rs 400 crore. Efforts will be made to get funds ranging from Rs 1200 crore to Rs 3600 crore from private investors for UPIF.

In UPIF, an amount of Rs 400 crore will be made available to technical and higher educational institutions as part of the commitment of the state government. They will have to provide this amount in two to three years, which are not to be provided in lump sum amount.

The government will take a decision on the basis of the recommendations of the Empowered Committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary regarding the nature of UPIF, its operation and the determination of the funds contributed by various technical and higher educational institutions in relation to the commitment of the state government.

The fund's investment manager will be responsible for raising funds for UPIF from private investors. He will also be responsible for the management and investment decisions of UPIF.

Technical Education Department will be the nodal department for formation and operation of UPIF. The returns on investments made from UPIF will be divided among the contributors in the ratio of their contribution.

The fund will be operated through three entities - law firm, trust and investment manager. These three units will be selected by the Technical Education Department.

Under this , first the law firm will be selected. The selection of the trust and investment manager will be done after the various documents prepared by the law firm are approved by the state government.

After this UPIF will be formally launched. The investment manager will have to contribute 2.5 per cent of the total fund size or Rs five crore, whichever is less. The investment manager shall, from time to time, constitute a Venture Capital Fund and register it with the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) under the category of Alternative Investment FUND (AIF). After the formation of the Venture Capital Fund, the Investment Manager will request private investors and the State Government to provide capital as per their commitments.

To protect the interests of investors, an advisory committee will be constituted by the investment manager, in which representatives of investors and the government will be members.