STEP Incubation Programme is a grant from IIT Kharagpur STEP for open to technology-based startups and entrepreneurs, including IIT Kharagpur students, staff and faculty, seeking dry (virtual) or wet…. It provides Incubation + funding support, for space Technology · Affordable Healthcare · AR/VR/MR · Drones & Robotics. Applications are open on a rolling basis. Last verified against the official page on 22 September 2026.
Key facts
| Amount / benefit | Incubation + funding support |
|---|---|
| Provider | IIT Kharagpur STEP |
| Where | Pan-India |
| Sector | Space Technology · Affordable Healthcare · AR/VR/MR · Drones & Robotics |
| Deadline | Rolling / always open |
| Established | 3 December 1986 |
| Registration | West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961 (Reg. No. S/53558, 1986-87) |
| Incubation types | Dry (virtual) and Wet (physical) |
| Wet incubation space | ~20,000 sq. ft. (~11,000 sq. ft. office + ~9,000 sq. ft. industrial shed) |
| Campus | 127 acres at Gopali Village, ~3 km from the main IIT Kharagpur campus |
| Application process | 3 steps — application + business plan, Committee presentation, agreement signing |
| Nodal contact | Managing Director, STEP, SRIC, IIT Kharagpur (mdstep@hijli.iitkgp.ac.in, +91-03222-281091) |
What is STEP?
STEP (Science and Technology Entrepreneurs' Park) is the oldest incubation centre in India, established at IIT Kharagpur on 3 Dec 1986 with support from DST New Delhi, DST West Bengal, IDBI, IFCI and ICICI; registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961 (reg. no. S/53558, 1986-87).
STEP supports tech startups through dry (virtual) and wet (physical) incubation. Wet incubation offers about 20,000 sq. ft. of space (roughly 11,000 sq. ft. office plus 9,000 sq. ft. industrial shed) on a 127-acre campus at Gopali Village, 3 km from the main campus. Thrust areas: Space Technology, Affordable Healthcare, AR/VR/MR, Drone & Robotics, edutainment/smart tech, renewable energy, water security, safety/security tech, circular economy/waste-to-wealth, local-resource utilisation, and green/climate-resilient tech.
Incubation runs through a three-step process: submit an application form, business plan and supporting documents (via STEP's online apply form or by emailing the Managing Director's office); present before STEP's review Committee; and, if approved, sign an incubation agreement after submitting remaining documents (NOCs, CVs, ID proofs, company registration papers).
Who is eligible for STEP?
Open to technology-based startups and entrepreneurs, including IIT Kharagpur students, staff and faculty, seeking dry (virtual) or wet (physical) incubation; approval is subject to a three-step review — application plus business plan, a Committee presentation, and signing of the incubation agreement if the Committee approves.
You qualify if:
- You qualify if you are a technology-based startup or entrepreneur, including IIT Kharagpur students, staff or faculty, seeking incubation support.
- You qualify if you can submit a completed Application Form and Business Plan in STEP's own prescribed formats.
- You qualify if, as an IIT Kharagpur student/faculty/staff applicant, you can furnish a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Institute.
- You qualify if you are able to present before STEP's review Committee and, if approved, sign STEP's incubation agreement.
How much does STEP give, and in what form?
Incubation + funding support, as incubation + funding support.
How to apply for STEP
- Submit a formal application: fill in the Application Form and Business Plan using STEP's prescribed formats, along with the required supporting documents, either via STEP's own online apply form or by emailing mdstep@hijli.iitkgp.ac.in.
- STEP invites the applicant for a presentation before its review Committee.
- The Committee reviews the presentation and approves the application if found suitable.
- If approved, the applicant signs the incubation agreement with STEP, IIT Kharagpur, after submitting all remaining required documents.
Documents required for STEP
- Application Form (STEP's prescribed format)
- Business Plan (STEP's prescribed format)
- NOC for Institute students, faculty and staff (where applicable)
- CV of the key persons
- CV of all Directors
- Passport, Aadhaar and PAN of all Directors
- Company Incorporation Certificate
- MoA and AoA of the Company
- PAN of the Company
- TAN of the Company
- Trade License of the Company
Frequently asked questions
What is STEP IIT Kharagpur?
STEP (Science and Technology Entrepreneurs' Park) is India's oldest incubation centre, set up at IIT Kharagpur on 3 December 1986 with backing from DST New Delhi, DST West Bengal, IDBI, IFCI and ICICI. It is a registered society (West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961) that provides incubation support — space, mentorship and access to funding routes — to technology-based startups, working alongside IIT Kharagpur's SRIC office.
What is the difference between dry and wet incubation at STEP?
STEP offers two incubation tracks. Dry (virtual) incubation supports startups without allotting them physical space. Wet (physical) incubation gives startups office or industrial-shed space at STEP's Gopali campus — about 20,000 sq. ft. in total, split roughly 11,000 sq. ft. of office space and 9,000 sq. ft. of industrial shed, on a 127-acre site 3 km from the main IIT Kharagpur campus.
How do I apply for incubation at STEP IIT Kharagpur?
Applicants fill in STEP's Application Form and Business Plan (in STEP's own templates) plus supporting documents, and submit them through STEP's own online apply form or by emailing the Managing Director's office. STEP then invites shortlisted applicants to present before its review Committee, which approves or rejects the application; approved applicants sign an incubation agreement after submitting the remaining documents.
What documents are needed to apply to STEP?
The apply form asks for the Application Form and Business Plan in STEP's prescribed formats, an NOC for Institute students/faculty/staff where applicable, CVs of key persons and all Directors, Passport/Aadhaar/PAN of all Directors, and — for a registered company — its Incorporation Certificate, MoA and AoA, PAN, TAN and Trade License, each shared as a view-access Google Drive PDF link.
Who can apply to STEP's incubation programme?
STEP incubates technology-based startups and entrepreneurs, including IIT Kharagpur students, staff and faculty as well as outside applicants, across its stated thrust areas — Space Technology, Affordable Healthcare, AR/VR/MR, Drone & Robotics, edutainment/smart technology, renewable energy, water security, safety/security technology, circular economy, local-resource utilisation and green/climate-resilient technology.
Where is STEP IIT Kharagpur located?
STEP's wet-incubation facility sits at Gopali Village, on a 127-acre campus about 3 km from the main IIT Kharagpur campus in Kharagpur, West Bengal. Applicants and general queries are handled through the Managing Director's office at IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur - 721302.
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Source and verification
Official programme page: stepiitkgp.org. Last verified 22 September 2026. Government programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official programme page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.