Ahmedabad, 20, January,
2026 : iCreate
(International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology), India’s leading
deep-tech incubator, announced the commencement of the Prototype Acceleration
Programme for the iCreate Drone Challenge (iDC) 2025, being held from 20
January to 13 February 2026. This Programme marks a key transition from a
nationwide search to a high-intensity prototype acceleration stage, advancing
India's next generation of record-breaking drones and indigenous components.
Launched in October 2025 in
collaboration with Startup India (DPIIT) under the Bharat Startup Grand
Challenge initiative, iDC 2025 is India’s first large-scale platform focused on
redefining global benchmarks in drone velocity, endurance, and payload. The
challenge’s major focus is to prioritise component indigenisation, reducing
India’s dependence on imported critical subsystems like propulsion, avionics,
energy systems, and advanced materials.
Following an extensive
national outreach across 26 states and Union Territories, iCreate received over
500 applications and shortlisted 14 high-potential startups for the rigorous
Prototype Acceleration Programme. Demonstrating a significant shift in India’s
innovation landscape, nearly 43% of the applications originated from Tier-II
and Tier-III cities. The final cohort represents startups from across the
country, highlighting the growing depth of India’s drone innovation ecosystem.
The selected cohort will work on two primary tracks: Aerial Excellence and
Component Indigenisation, focusing on building indigenously sourced drone
components and developing cutting-edge drone platforms for both civil and
defence applications.
The inaugural ceremony of
the IDC 2025 Prototype Acceleration Programme was graced by Mr. R. D. Barhatt,
Joint Commissioner of Industries, Government of Gujarat, as the Chief Guest.
The event was further honoured by the presence of Prof. (Dr.) Kalpesh H.
Wandra, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Rashtriya Raksha University, and Mr. Srinivasa
Kumar D, Assistant General Manager, Canara Bank (Regional Office), as Guests of
Honour, along with a virtual address by Mr. Nilesh Ranpura, Senior Director –
Engineering (ASIC), eInfochips.
The event was also graced by
a virtual address from Ms. Mamatha Venkatesh, Head – Startup India (DPIIT), who
highlighted Startup India’s vision of manufacturing-focused incubation as a
national priority for building globally competitive startups. She noted that
the iCreate Drone Challenge, launched in collaboration with Startup India,
brings together startups, industry, and government to support founders at a
critical stage of prototype validation and early manufacturing readiness.
Emphasising drones and unmanned systems as a strategic sector for India with
applications across agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, surveillance, and public
services, she encouraged participating startups to leverage the platform,
industry access, and institutional support to accelerate their journey from
innovation to scalable impact.
Shri R. D. Barhatt, Joint
Commissioner of Industries, Government of Gujarat said,
“Gujarat has always
been at the forefront of India’s industrial growth, and through the iCreate
Drone Challenge, we are witnessing the next chapter of this journey. By
supporting drone startups that focus on indigenous manufacturing, we are not
only strengthening our local supply chains but also reinforcing Gujarat's
position as a preferred destination for deep-tech innovation.”
Speaking at the occasion,
Ms. Mamatha Venkatesh, Head- Startup India, DPIIT said,
“Manufacturing-focused
incubation is critical to India’s ambition of building globally competitive
startups. The iCreate Drone Challenge reflects the spirit of Startup India’s
Vision on Manufacturing Incubators by enabling founders to move decisively from
prototype development to scalable manufacturing through close collaboration
with industry and government stakeholders. This cohort demonstrates how
structured programs, aligned with national priorities, can strengthen India’s
deep-tech and manufacturing ecosystem. We are pleased to collaborate with
iCreate on the Drone Challenge, which directly advances our shared vision of
nurturing next-generation manufacturing startups from India for the world.”
The iDC 2025 cohort is
redefining India's drone future by developing autonomous UAVs and kamikaze
drones capable of navigating RF-jammed and GPS-denied environments. Key
innovations include hybrid endurance systems with IC-engine generators for
long-duration missions, triple-redundant flight controllers to eliminate
single-point failures, and monocoque composite airframes. Additionally, the
group is advancing indigenous hardware like high power-to-weight BLDC motors,
AI-integrated modular controllers, and morphing drones that transition between
ground and aerial modes, alongside automated payload delivery systems.
During the intensive
residential Prototype Acceleration Programme, participants will have access to
state-of-the-art labs, rapid prototyping facilities, and mentorship from global
experts in aerodynamics, propulsion, and AI autonomy. They will also benefit
from component sourcing support, software credits, and business modeling
guidance. Crucially, the program provides a direct bridge to commercialisation,
offering startups the opportunity to pitch for a funding pool of ₹2 crore from iCreate,
ensuring they are positioned for successful scaling and market entry.
Avinash Punekar, CEO of
iCreate, shared his
perspective on the significance of this initiative, “The iCreate Drone
Challenge is more than a competition, it is a focused effort to nurture the
next generation of indigenous drone technologies that can strengthen India’s
leadership in aerospace and defence technology. Through iDC 2025, we are
enabling deep-tech startups to overcome early-stage barriers by providing
access to mentorship, infrastructure, and industry-led guidance. Our aim is to
help these innovators build scalable, high-performance drone solutions that are
ready for real-world deployment and national impact..”
The iCreate Drone Challenge
aligns closely with Startup India’s vision for manufacturing-focused
incubators, aimed at building globally competitive startups. The iDC 2025
Prototype Acceleration Programme represents a critical step in accelerating
India’s transition towards a self-reliant defence and aerospace ecosystem,
supporting the national ambition of becoming a global manufacturing hub by
2030.
About iCreate
iCreate (International
Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology) is India’s leading incubator
providing Deep Tech startups the fastest runway to commercialisation. With a
focus on hardware-based innovations in Mobility Tech, Climate Tech, Health
Tech, and Defence & Aerospace Tech, it follows a high-touch,
entrepreneur-first approach in nurturing startups. Since inception, it has
supported over 900 innovations and 60 patents through incubation, acceleration
programmes, mentorship, market connects, and funding.
iCreate’s state-of-the-art
40-acre campus was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. iCreate
has served as the knowledge partner to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, and
as the Secretariat for Startup20 under India’s G20 Presidency. It currently
serves as the India Taskforce Lead for Inclusion & Sustainability under
Startup20 South Africa. It has partnerships with leading global institutions,
and a strategic partnership with CSIR, India’s apex organisation for science
and technology. iCreate has been recognised as the Impact Incubator of the Year
at the Micelio Mobility Awards 2024, and is the recipient of the National Award
for Technology Business Incubator 2020.