Introduction
Public health innovation in India has never been more critical. From pandemic preparedness to rural healthcare accessibility, there is a growing demand for solutions that merge technology with social impact. Recognizing this need, the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) Gandhinagar, supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, established the NIDHI-Technology Business Incubator (NIDHI-TBI) — a specialized platform that supports startups working on health-tech, med-tech, and public health innovations.
The IIPH NIDHI-TBI for Public Health, Gandhinagar, serves as a national hub for nurturing startups that aim to address India’s most pressing healthcare challenges through scalable and sustainable innovations. From seed funding to mentorship and policy linkages, it offers a comprehensive ecosystem to turn impactful ideas into deployable solutions.
This article provides a detailed guide on how to apply for the Seed Fund and incubation program at IIPH NIDHI-TBI, along with its eligibility criteria, benefits, and complete support structure.
1. About IIPH NIDHI-TBI for Public Health, Gandhinagar
The IIPH Gandhinagar NIDHI-Technology Business Incubator (TBI) was established under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) scheme by the DST, Government of India.
It is a sector-specific incubator dedicated to public health, healthcare technology, biotechnology, and digital health, with the mission to accelerate startups creating social and economic value in the healthcare space.
Vision
To become India’s leading incubation ecosystem that promotes innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology development in public health and allied sectors.
Mission
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To translate innovative health ideas into viable, scalable startups.
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To create an entrepreneurial ecosystem focused on public health impact.
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To support innovators through funding, infrastructure, mentorship, and market access.
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To bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice in healthcare innovation.
2. Why IIPH NIDHI-TBI Stands Out
Unlike general-purpose incubators, IIPH’s NIDHI-TBI focuses on public health-centric entrepreneurship — combining technical innovation with social change.
Here’s what sets it apart:
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Domain Expertise: Supported by top health professionals, epidemiologists, and data scientists from IIPH and PHFI (Public Health Foundation of India).
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Healthcare Ecosystem: Strong connections with hospitals, government agencies, and public health programs.
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Policy Linkages: Direct access to policy decision-makers and public health implementation networks.
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Funding Support: Access to the NIDHI Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS) and Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS).
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Mentorship: Experienced mentors from healthcare, life sciences, med-tech, and social entrepreneurship domains.
3. Focus Areas of the Incubator
The IIPH NIDHI-TBI focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship in the following domains:
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Digital Health & Telemedicine
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Remote diagnostics, AI-driven healthcare monitoring, mobile health apps.
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Public Health Technologies
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Disease surveillance tools, sanitation, and environmental health solutions.
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Medical Devices & Assistive Technologies
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Low-cost diagnostics, wearable sensors, point-of-care testing kits.
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Biotechnology & Life Sciences
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Vaccines, diagnostics, and public health research translation.
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Health Systems & Policy Innovations
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Data analytics, digital governance models, and service delivery optimization.
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Community Health & Wellness Solutions
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Affordable health access, preventive health innovations, and rural health systems.
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4. The Seed Fund and Support Ecosystem
The IIPH NIDHI-TBI provides startups access to both financial and non-financial support to help them scale efficiently.
A. Seed Funding Support
The incubator offers seed funding through the NIDHI Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS) — a DST initiative designed to empower startups to reach the next stage of growth.
Seed Fund Details:
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Amount: Up to ₹25–₹50 lakhs (depending on project maturity).
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Form: Grant or soft loan (as per project evaluation).
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Purpose:
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Prototype development and testing.
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Product trials and validation.
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Market entry or commercialization.
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Scaling of early revenues.
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B. Infrastructure & Technical Support
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State-of-the-art health innovation labs for prototype development.
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Access to data centers, testing facilities, and biomedical equipment.
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Co-working spaces and meeting rooms.
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Networking access to research partners and policy experts.
C. Mentoring & Capacity Building
Startups receive guidance from domain experts in health policy, biostatistics, epidemiology, design, and entrepreneurship.
Regular sessions cover:
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Business model design.
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Regulatory compliance (CDSCO, ICMR, NABH).
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Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) management.
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Fundraising and investor readiness.
D. Market & Policy Access
The incubator connects startups with public health missions, CSR programs, and state governments for pilot deployment and validation.
This includes exposure through IIPH’s network with:
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Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
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National Health Mission (NHM)
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State health departments
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NGOs and international health organizations (UNICEF, WHO, etc.)
5. Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the Seed Fund and incubation program at IIPH NIDHI-TBI, applicants must meet the following criteria:
✅ Startup Stage:
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Early-stage or growth-stage startup with a functional prototype or MVP.
✅ Legal Status:
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Registered as a Private Limited Company, LLP, or Registered Partnership in India.
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Startups must be recognized by DPIIT under Startup India.
✅ Innovation Criteria:
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Product or service must be innovative, impactful, and aligned with public health outcomes.
✅ Team Criteria:
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Founders with relevant domain experience or research background preferred.
✅ Location:
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Open to startups across India, though preference is given to those willing to work from Gandhinagar or collaborate closely with IIPH.
6. Step-by-Step Application Process
Here’s a detailed roadmap to apply for seed fund and incubation at IIPH NIDHI-TBI:
Step 1: Visit Official Website
Go to https://www.iiphg.edu.in or directly to the NIDHI-TBI section on the IIPH Gandhinagar portal.
Step 2: Fill the Application Form
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Provide startup details, innovation summary, founder information, and funding requirements.
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Attach pitch deck, financial plan, and prototype documentation.
Step 3: Screening & Evaluation
Applications are reviewed by an internal Screening Committee comprising experts in health innovation and entrepreneurship.
Evaluation criteria include:
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Novelty and market potential.
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Impact on public health.
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Scalability and feasibility.
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Team competence.
Step 4: Incubation Offer & MoU
Shortlisted startups are offered incubation support and are required to sign an MoU with IIPH NIDHI-TBI.
Step 5: Funding Approval
Startups seeking seed funding undergo due diligence, followed by approval from the Seed Fund Committee.
Step 6: Onboarding & Mentorship
Once onboarded, startups gain access to co-working space, mentors, and scheduled review sessions to track progress.
7. Key Benefits of Joining IIPH NIDHI-TBI
✅ Access to Funding: Through DST’s NIDHI scheme and Startup India Seed Fund.
✅ Expert Mentorship: Guidance from doctors, public health researchers, and business mentors.
✅ Infrastructure: Lab access and state-of-the-art facilities for testing and validation.
✅ Networking: Connection to health departments, CSR programs, and investors.
✅ Visibility: Association with IIPH enhances startup credibility in the public health ecosystem.
✅ Regulatory Guidance: Support with licensing, certifications, and compliance.
✅ Pilot Projects: Opportunities for field trials with hospitals and government programs.
8. Impact and Success Stories
Several health-tech startups have successfully benefited from IIPH NIDHI-TBI’s support.
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MedTEL: Developed portable telemedicine devices now deployed in rural health centers.
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HealthMode: Built AI-driven disease surveillance tools for state health departments.
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CareWorks: Designed IoT-enabled patient monitoring systems validated through IIPH labs.
These startups demonstrate how the incubator is turning public health challenges into scalable business opportunities with real-world impact.
9. Contact Information
📍 Address:
IIPH NIDHI-Technology Business Incubator
Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) Gandhinagar,
Opp. Air Force Headquarters, Lekawada, Gandhinagar, Gujarat – 382042
📧 Email: nidhi-tbi@iiphg.org
🌐 Website: https://www.iiphg.edu.in
📞 Phone: +91-79-2324 0035
10. Conclusion
The IIPH NIDHI-TBI for Public Health, Gandhinagar, is more than just an incubator — it’s a national mission to bring innovation into the heart of healthcare delivery. By combining the rigour of public health research with the agility of entrepreneurship, it empowers startups to create measurable, scalable impact.
If you are a health-tech innovator or startup founder ready to change how India experiences healthcare, the IIPH NIDHI-TBI offers the ideal ecosystem to take your solution from concept to community.
Innovation in public health doesn’t just save lives — it reshapes futures.
And IIPH NIDHI-TBI is where that transformation begins.
