The ATRI centres will be established in sector-specific, focused areas built on the foundations of innovative technologies and strategic partnerships.They will be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure for prototyping, demonstration, testing and other facilities required for transitioning the lab-scale proof of concept to pre-commercial validation. A team of researchers with innovative technological know-how and industry partners with specialised expertise, resources, and market proficiency shall work jointly, with a clear focus on market translation and preparation for downstream commercialisation.

While the proposed technology will remain the central focus, the ATRI Centre is expected to develop enabling facilities, shared infrastructure, and complementary capabilities anchored around the proposed technology, with relevance to the broader thematic area. The centre should function as a sector-focused translational facility with the potential to support researchers, startups, industries and other stakeholders, enabling collaboration and strengthening the overall innovation ecosystem.

A group of investigators from an academic institution or research organisation, with a potential technology and demonstrated commitment to translational research, may apply for support to establish ATRI Centres in specific areas under the tentative sectors specified. The technological area proposed should effectively combine technology push with market pull to drive the progression of technology to a higher TRL level. The innovation gap or current as-is state should be clearly demonstrated, along with a well-defined demand for the proposed new capabilities. Letters of commitment from prospective users / industry partners should be provided to support this demand. Industry interest and collaboration are central to the ATRI initiative. Proposals must demonstrate credible and compelling synergies with industry, reflected through outcome-oriented engagementwhere industry partners contribute substantially to technology development, validation, market alignment and creation of pathways to commercialisation.

The Lead Principal Investigator (LPI) has to submit the proposal on behalf of the team.

Objective of ATRI Centres :

• Advance identified technologies from TRL‑4 to TRL‑7, enabling lab-to-market transition.
• Establish sustainable revenue models of profit generation, particularly through contract research and services for industries and public institutions.
• Position as sector-specific innovation hubs, enabling facility sharing and collaboration.
• Build acritical mass of people, infrastructure and activities concentrated around the thematic area.
• Provide mentoring, technical guidance, and support to promising startups, state universities and less endowed institutions.

• LPIs and PIs should be Indian citizens. Foreign nationals (including OCI and NRI) are also eligible to apply, provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria notified by ANRF.
• LPI and PIs must hold a regular academic/​research position in a recognized academic institution, national laboratory or any other recognized R&D institution in India.
• LPI and PIs should hold a PhD degree in Science, Engineering, Social Sciences, or an MD/​MS/​MDS/​MVSc degree.
• LPI should have at least five years of service remaining before superannuation at the time of proposal submission.
• Researchers from industry may be included as ​“Honorary Investigators”.

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