Himachal Approves Innovation Policy for Technical Institutions, Sets Up Rs. 2 Crore Fund to Boost Startups and Entrepreneurship.
Shimla:
In a major initiative to strengthen the innovation and startup ecosystem in the state, the Himachal Pradesh Government has approved the State Innovation Policy for Technical Education Institutions along with the State Innovation Fund Implementation Guidelines (2026–2028). The policy aims to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and a vibrant startup culture across technical education institutions, positioning Himachal Pradesh as an emerging hub of technology-driven innovation.
The government has also established a State Innovation Fund with a total outlay of Rs. 2 crore for the 2026–2028 period to support implementation of the policy and encourage students, faculty members and startups to transform innovative ideas into practical, market-ready solutions.
Announcing the decision, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to creating an enabling ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in the state. He said the policy would provide a comprehensive framework for prototype development, startup incubation, seed funding, intellectual property management, capacity building and industry collaboration while ensuring transparency, accountability and measurable outcomes.
Under the new policy, financial support will be extended through micro-grants for prototype development, seed funding for promising startups, assistance for strengthening incubation centres, innovation competitions, boot camps, faculty development programmes, student training initiatives and industry- and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-supported co-funding projects.
The policy also lays significant emphasis on inclusive innovation by encouraging greater participation of women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and rural youth in technical education and the startup ecosystem. The government believes that expanding opportunities for these sections will contribute to balanced and sustainable economic development across the state.
To ensure effective implementation, the Director of Technical Education, Vocational and Industrial Training has been designated as the nodal officer for the programme. Institutional-level Cluster Innovation Committees and a State Innovation Advisory Group will oversee project selection, monitor fund utilisation and supervise overall implementation to ensure timely execution and effective outcomes.
Chief Minister Sukhu said the policy introduces a uniform framework for intellectual property ownership and revenue sharing. He clarified that innovations developed under the programme would remain the intellectual property of the innovators, while educational institutions would retain non-exclusive rights to use them for academic purposes.
Highlighting the long-term vision of the initiative, the Chief Minister said the policy would accelerate innovation-led economic growth, generate new employment opportunities, strengthen the state’s startup ecosystem and inspire young innovators to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. He expressed confidence that the initiative would help transform Himachal Pradesh into a centre for technological innovation and research-driven enterprise.
The government will also undertake a comprehensive review of the policy after two years. The assessment will evaluate key performance indicators, including the number of prototypes developed, startups established, intellectual property registrations secured, employment opportunities generated and external investments attracted under the programme.
With the approval of the policy and the creation of the dedicated innovation fund, the Himachal Pradesh Government has taken a significant step towards fostering a culture of innovation, supporting technology-based entrepreneurship and building a sustainable knowledge-driven economy for the future.
