ICMR First in the World Challenge Grant 2026

ICMR offers challenge grants up to ₹8 crore for novel, futuristic, high-risk high-reward biomedical and health technology innovations with global health impact.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) invites investigator-initiated research proposals for its 'First in the World Challenge Grants 2026'. This prestigious program aims to foster novel, futuristic, high-risk, high-reward innovations in the biomedical and health technology sector. The challenge specifically targets groundbreaking ideas in vaccines, drugs/therapeutics, diagnostics, and interventions that are truly unprecedented globally, with the potential to create significant global health impact.

The initiative is designed to propel innovations that have never been conceptualized, tested, or tried anywhere else in the world. It actively seeks to move beyond incremental advancements, focusing instead on truly disruptive technologies and solutions. By supporting high-risk endeavors, ICMR intends to unlock revolutionary breakthroughs that can transform healthcare. The program is open to a diverse range of applicants, including research institutions, academic faculty, and importantly, Indian startups, MSMEs, and industry players, ensuring that promising innovations from across the ecosystem can be supported.

The ICMR First in the World Challenge Grants provide substantial financial support for groundbreaking biomedical and health technology innovations.

Funding is categorized into three stages to match the innovation's maturity