The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a pioneering telecom R&D institution under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has launched its cutting-edge startup incubation program, Samarth.
Designed to fuel innovation in the telecom and ICT sectors, the initiative has selected 18 startups for its first cohort.
Under the program, each startup receives financial support of up to Rs 5 lakh, fully furnished office space, and access to advanced lab facilities at C-DOT’s Delhi and Bengaluru campuses. Beyond funding, the initiative provides expert mentorship, acceleration sessions, and networking opportunities with key industry leaders.
The selected startups specialise in domains such as cybersecurity, 5G/6G technologies, artificial intelligence, IoT, and quantum computing. The program is structured to run in two six-month cohorts, supporting up to 36 startups in total.
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) are implementation partners, ensuring streamlined support and industry collaboration. The mentorship-driven approach aims to equip startups with the resources needed for scaling their innovations from ideation to commercialisation.
At the program launch event in New Delhi, C-DOT’s CEO, Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, along with industry leaders and government officials, highlighted the significance of fostering technological advancement through startup empowerment. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between C-DOT and STPI was also signed, marking new opportunities for mentorship and research collaboration.
With initiatives like Samarth, India continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in telecommunications and digital transformation.
