The department said the programme, which expanded its scope nationally this year, invited applications from deeptech startups across India, building on the Elevate initiative that has supported early-stage companies in Karnataka for nearly a decade.
Applications were received from startups in sectors such as artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), quantum technologies, spacetech, healthtech, cleantech, mobility, and other frontier technology domains, according to the department.
“For close to a decade, Elevate has empowered Karnataka’s early-stage startups by providing grant-in-aid support and the right ecosystem to scale bold ideas,” IT/BT minister Priyank Kharge said in a statement. “It was incredible to witness innovators tackling some of the most complex challenges across frontier technologies.”
The department said the entire process was completed in a record 60 days, reflecting the programme’s efficiency, transparency, and institutional coordination.
Elevate Nxt 2026 offers grant-in-aid support of up to Rs 1 crore per startup, along with milestone-based funding, domain-specific mentorship, and ecosystem support to help startups translate breakthrough innovations into scalable, globally competitive solutions.
“The programme represents a key milestone in the state’s deeptech journey, reinforcing our focus on supporting science-led innovation,” said IT/BT department secretary N Manjula. “The scale, diversity and quality of participation this year highlights the growing strength of India’s deeptech ecosystem and Karnataka’s role as its anchor.”