iCreate Drone Challenge: Enhancing India’s Indigenous Drone Innovation and Manufacturing

Bringing together India’s best drone innovators for a Prototype Acceleration Programme, Ahmedabad, on 20 January 2026, iCreate, India’s leading deep-tech incubator, announced the start of the Prototype Acceleration Programme for the iCreate Drone Challenge 2025, held from 20 January to 13 February 2026. This Programme marks a development from a national search to a high-intensity prototype acceleration stage, proceeding India's advanced drones and indigenous components.

The event was launched in October 2025, in association with Startup India, as part of the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge initiative. iDC 2025 is India’s first significant platform focused on redefining global benchmarks in drone speed, endurance, and payload capacity. The challenge’s primary focus is to prioritize component indigenization, thereby reducing India’s reliance on imported critical subsystems, such as propulsion, avionics, energy systems and advanced materials.

Following nationwide outreach across all states and UTs, iCreate received more than 500 applications and accepted 14 startups for the rigorous Prototype Acceleration Programme. Demonstrating a substantial shift in India’s innovation landscape, about 43% of the applications were from Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

Bringing Together India’s Finest Drone Innovators for a High-Intensity Prototype Acceleration Programme, Ahmedabad, 20 January 2026, International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology, India’s leading deep-tech incubator, proclaimed the start of the Prototype Acceleration Programme for the iCreate Drone Challenge 2025, being held from 20 January to 13 February 2026. This Programme marks a key transition from a national search to a high-intensity prototype-acceleration stage, advancing India's next-gen drones and indigenous components.

The chosen startup will focus on Aerial Excellence and Component Indigenization, developing indigenous drone components and trailblazing drone platforms for civil and defence applications.

There was a virtual address from the Head of Startup India, Ms Mamatha Venkatesh, who was highlighting Startup India’s vision of manufacturing-focused development as a matter of national importance for building competitive startups. She noted that the iCreate Drone Challenge, launched in association with Startup India, brings together startups, industry and government to support founders at an important stage.

Emphasizing drones as a strategic industry for India, with use in agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, surveillance and public services, she encouraged all the participating startups to leverage the platform, industry access, and institutional support to accelerate their journey from innovation to scalable impact.

Source: The Tribune