Scheme Introduction

Startups and Innovation play a key role in economic growth. Besides generating jobs, they focus on smarter, gen-next solutions which bring economic dynamism by bringing in innovation and spurring competition.

A buoyant India today is witness to a remarkable growth of startup ecosystem in the country, thanks to increased consumerism and to the digital revolution that has been brought about by smart phones. The ecosystem received the perfect thrust it needed with the launch of “Startup India” by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in 2016. With this, India has quickly grown to become the third largest base for startups in the world. While earlier the Startup ecosystem was concentrated more in a few of the metro cities, tier 2 and tier 3 cities have seen a significant growth in the number of startups being set up, owing to a large talent pool & government support.

Gujarat, owing to its inherent strength of widespread Gujarat, owing to its inherent strength of widespread entrepreneurial spirit has gained a significant spot in the national startup ecosystem. The state has been ranked as the “Best Performer” in the all India State Startup Ranking by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India in the year 2018.

The incentives to Startups under the Gujarat Industrial Policy 2015 have supported in creating a strong network of nodal institutions and several startups have expanded their operations/ products both at national and international level.

In order to gather inputs for the new scheme for promotion of startups and innovation which aims to give a further thrust to the promotion of startups and strengthening the ecosystem in the state, a task force was constituted comprising of leading stakeholders in the Gujarat startup ecosystem. The key objective of the Gujarat Industrial policy 2020 is to encourage R&D, start innovation and entrepreneurship. Hence, the new scheme is being introduced in order to support startups and innovation at different levels of a startup cycle.

Resolution

In view of the strategy under Gujarat Industrial Policy, the Government is pleased to introduce a “Scheme for Assistance for Startups/Innovation” which will come into force from the dt. 07/08/2020 and will remain in operation for a period of 5 years, i.e. up to 06.08.2025

Government Resolution No. MIS-102020-327049-I, Dated : 01/09/2020

Operative Period :

Assistance to Startups/Innovation scheme’s operative period is 07 August 2020 to 06 August 2025.

Scheme Eligibility

Eligibility of Applicants

Any individual/group of individuals having innovative idea/concept and recommended by approved Nodal institution will be eligible to get recognized as a startup under this scheme The assistance under the scheme will be provided for innovative projects in any sector or any faculty/branch of science/ technology/ engineering/ agriculture/ healthcare and no innovation worth its name is restricted from availing assistance just because of its being into particular sector, making this a sector agnostic scheme. Provided that an entity formed by splitting up or reconstruction of an existing business shall not be considered a ‘Startup’ Provided that the startups which are availing incentive as a ‘startup’ in any other ‘startup scheme’ of Government of Gujarat will not get incentives under this scheme. However, the startups/innovator availing benefits under the Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP) would also be eligible to avail assistance under this scheme.

Available Assistance

Assistance for Innovation

1. Assistance up to INR 30 lakh as a seed support to the startups
2. Sustenance allowance of INR 20,000 per month to the startups and INR 25,000 per month to women led startups for a period of one year for the startup scheme, woman entrepreneur led startup means, any startup founded / co-founded by at least one woman.
3. Assistance up to INR 1 lakh per startup for obtaining training in soft skills on reimbursement basis
4. Additional assistance up to INR 10 lakh for the startups generating significant impact on the society.
5. Assistance up to INR 3 lakh to enroll and participate for national/international recognized acceleration program
6. For mid-level Pre-Series A funding of startups, a separate fund under Gujarat Venture Finance Limited (GVFL) for smaller ticket funding between INR 50 lakh to INR 3 crore

VAT Related Incentive:

The eligible unit shall pay the net VAT payable under the provisions of the Gujarat VAT Act, 2003 in the Government treasury.

The eligible unit will be allowed reimbursement to the extent of 80% of the net VAT paid excluding the following: (a) Additional Tax, and (b) Reduction of ITC as per the provisions of the G VAT Act, 2003.It is clarified that the amount paid on account of additional tax and the reduction of ITC as per the provisions of the G VAT Act, 2003 shall not be reimbursed.
Only 70% of eligible fixed capital investment of eligible unit will be considered for reimbursement.

The reimbursement will be available for a period of five years from the date of production or the completion of limit of 70% whichever is earlier.

The eligible unit shall be entitled for reimbursement up to 1/5th of eligible limit in a particular year.

Restrictions will he made to ensure that the amount reimbursed is not again claimed by the subsequent dealers by way of tax credit for interstate sales, branch transfer, consignment and export.

The eligible unit shall manufacture the goods in its own unit for which it is eligible for incentives.
The eligible unit shall not transfer its business during the incentive period, nor assign its rights and responsibilities to any other agency.

The eligible unit shall remain in production during the incentive period.

The scheme shall be reviewed under the GST regime, but the total of assistance shall not exceed that available under this scheme.

The project will be eligible for other benefits available under MSME schemes.