‘Invoking Saraswati, Innovating with Lakshmi’: Foundation pledges Rs 1,000 crore to make Bharat ‘Mahaan’

Bengaluru: The India Rising Foundation has announced the launch of a landmark Not-For- Profit ₹1000 crore R&D grant fund, being enabled as a national initiative that seeks to position India as the research and innovation capital of the world by 2047.

The mission, titled ‘India Rising’ aims to empower one million fellows for research, foster collaborative research ecosystems, bring together India’s ancient wisdom with modern science and technology to address global challenges, financially support the identified and validated research projects in 12 core areas.

Described as both a “mission and a movement”, India Rising seeks to catalyse a civilizational renaissance — reviving India’s historic identity as a knowledge-driven nation while preparing it to lead the innovation frontier of the 21st century.

Padma Shri Dr Prahlada Rao, Principal Ambassador for India Rising Foundation, is quoted as saying: “For decades, I have witnessed brilliant Indian ideas get lost in the chasm between intention and execution. Systems either failed them or did not exist to support them. India Rising is not just another initiative; it is the operating system for Indian genius. We are building the scaffolding that will hold up a million dreams, ensuring no idea fails for want of a fair chance.”

Dr Rao, launching the foundation logo, also said, “India Rising is an effort to unlock India’s collective genius — from our classrooms and laboratories to our villages and enterprises — and to transform knowledge into solutions that benefit both India and the world.”

National platform for research and innovation

At the heart of India Rising lies a mission to build a nation-wide innovation ecosystem that nurtures talent, supports research and strengthens linkages between academia, industry and government.

The initiative will operate across 12 key domains that together define the breadth of India’s thought leadership, research and innovation landscape:

• Medicine and Healthcare
• Energy, Water, Sustainability and Regeneration
• Food and Agriculture
• Manufacturing and Industry
• STEM
• DeepTech and FutureTech
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Products
• Space and Defence
• Built Environment and Habitats
• Economics
• Literature and Education
• Culture, Arts, Heritage and Spirituality

Through targeted grants, fellowships, and partnerships, India Rising is looking to facilitate the conversion of ideas into real-world innovations, enterprises, and policy outcomes.

Bridging ancient wisdom and modern innovation

The initiative is anchored in the principle of “Ancient Wisdom + Modern Innovation” — integrating India’s traditional knowledge systems with cutting-edge science to create contextually relevant, globally competitive solutions.

Its objectives include:

• Positioning India as a global innovation hub for sustainable solutions in major research areas.
• Expanding access to research and innovation careers for youth, women, differently abled and rural talent.
• Supporting the commercialization of research and the creation of new knowledge-driven industries.
• Inspiring a cultural and intellectual resurgence rooted in India’s civilizational values.

‘The moment is now’

India’s demographic strength, entrepreneurial spirit, and growing digital infrastructure present an unprecedented opportunity to redefine its innovation trajectory. As the world looks for sustainable, inclusive, and ethical solutions, India Rising seeks to place the country at the forefront of this global shift.

Commenting on the vision, Sunil Jose, President of India Rising Foundation, said:  “This is India’s time to move from Made-in-India to Invented-in-India. India Rising will provide the platform, partnerships, and purpose needed to make that leap. Vision without execution is mythology. We are not here to create another myth. The Rs. 1,000-crore grant fund, India largest Open Lab, the One Million Fellows for Research —these are not slogans. They are blueprints being turned into concrete reality. Our role is to ensure that when an innovator knocks on our door, they don’t find a promise; they find a pathway, ready and waiting.”