The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), an autonomous telecom R&D institution under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has officially launched its pioneering incubation program, ‘Samarth’. This cutting-edge initiative is designed to nurture and accelerate startups within the crucial Telecom and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors.
The ‘Samarth’ program has selected 18 promising startups for Cohort 1 through a rigorous competitive process. These chosen ventures will receive comprehensive support, including a financial grant, fully furnished office spaces, and invaluable access to C-DoT’s state-of-the-art lab facilities at its Delhi and Bengaluru campuses.
C-DoT recently hosted a mentoring-cum-acceleration session for the first cohort at its New Delhi campus.
The “Samarth” Incubation Program offers holistic support to startups and innovators delving into critical areas such as telecom applications, cybersecurity, 5G/6G technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and quantum technologies.
The program is structured into two cohorts, each lasting six months and accommodating up to 18 startups. This will allow for a maximum of 36 startups to be supported under the initiative. C-DoT has partnered with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) as implementation partners for the program.
Each selected startup is set to receive a grant of up to ₹5 lakh, along with fully furnished office space for six months at C-DoT’s Delhi and Bengaluru campuses, access to C-DoT’s lab facilities, and mentorship from both C-DoT technologists and external experts.
Promising startups that demonstrate significant progress will also be eligible for potential collaborations and additional financial grants through the C-DoT Collaborative Research Program (CCRP).
Based on this rigorous evaluation, the 18 startups for Cohort-I were chosen. The full list of selected startups has been made public on the official websites of C-DoT and Samarth.
The launch event saw the presence of senior dignitaries, including Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DoT; Sh. Arvind Kumar, DG of STPI; Mr. Atul Dhawan, President of TiE (Delhi-NCR Chapter); along with mentors, venture capitalists, representatives from TiE Delhi-NCR, selected startups, and technical mentors from C-DoT. During the session, each selected startup was awarded the first tranche of funding.
Both Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay and Sh. Arvind Kumar commended the collaborative spirit between C-DoT and STPI in fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem and encouraged continued engagement from startups in future initiatives. The occasion was also marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between C-DoT and STPI, formalizing areas of potential collaboration, including mentorship, training, and joint initiatives, solidifying the long-term commitment to nurturing India’s telecom and ICT startup landscape.
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