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An Initiative Of The Government Of India And Government Of Kerala

Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India
Digital India
IndiaAI Mission
Government of Kerala
Digital University Kerala
Innovation Incubator
IndiaAI MeitY Centre for AI in KeralamCAIK | Centre for AI in Keralam, home page
Applications Closed: First Cohort 2026

Applications Closed

First Cohort 2026

Pre-Incubation, Incubation and Acceleration for AI startups. Applications for this cohort have closed; programme details remain below for reference.

Get In TouchContact The Centre

Who should apply

AI founders at any stage from idea validation to scaling a commercial product. Choose the programme below that best matches where you are, or use Find Your Programme for a guided recommendation.

Pre-Incubation

3 months

Validate the problem, AI feasibility and early product direction.

Incubation

6 months

Build and validate the product, pilots and commercial pathway.

Acceleration

6 months

Scale adoption, enterprise and government access, investment readiness and market expansion.

What selected startups receive

Support is facilitated based on programme needs and availability: compute, workspace, technical and product mentorship, pilots, industry and government access, and investor introductions.

See What You Get

Workspace

Commercial seats at ₹6,000 per seat / month, including GST. Allocation depends on availability, not guaranteed by selection alone.

Compute & GPU

Needs-based, subject to availability. Subsidised compute access: rates to be announced, based on approved allocation policy.

Eligibility

  • Incorporation is not mandatory for Pre-Incubation; stage-appropriate requirements apply for Incubation and Acceleration.
  • DPIIT recognition is not mandatory at the application stage.
  • Startups from outside Keralam can apply.
  • Permanent relocation to Keralam is not mandatory, but selected startups should meaningfully participate in Centre activities.
  • Funded startups and university/research projects can apply where there is a credible path towards productisation.

See the FAQ for full eligibility and process details.

What We Expect From Founders

  • Active, good-faith participation for the full programme duration
  • Honest reporting on progress, blockers and resource use
  • Responsible, justified use of allocated compute and workspace
  • Openness to mentorship, technical review and course correction
  • Timely response to Centre requests for evaluation, pilots or reporting
  • Respect for the confidentiality of other founders, mentors and partners
  • Compliance with programme, workspace and compute usage policies
  • Willingness to share progress at scheduled reviews and milestones
  • Constructive engagement with the Selection Committee's evaluation and feedback
  • Accurate representation of programme participation, without overstating the Centre's role or endorsement

Selection process

  1. 01Application
  2. 02Initial Screening
  3. 03Shortlisting
  4. 04Evaluation / Interview
  5. 05Selection Committee
  6. 06Final Selection
  7. 07Offer
  8. 08Onboarding
  9. 09Programme Begins

Programme placement may be adjusted based on evaluation. The programme you apply for is a starting point, not a guarantee.

Important dates

Application deadline
11 September 2026
Shortlist
15 September 2026
Interview period
16–18 September 2026
Selection announcement
20 September 2026
Cohort begins
1 October 2026

How Support Works

The Centre facilitates opportunities and support based on programme needs, technical fit, availability and partner interest. Selection is the start of that process, not a guarantee of any specific outcome.

Selection alone does not guarantee:

FundingInvestmentGrantsGovernment contractsPaid pilotsCustomersUnlimited computeUnlimited workspaceInvestor meetingsProcurement preferenceEmployment outcomes

Applications Closed

Applications for First Cohort 2026 have closed

The application window closed on 11 September 2026. Thank you to everyone who applied. Cohort updates will be shared through official Centre channels.

Enquiries

For questions about the cohort, programmes or partnerships, get in touch with the Centre team.

Email info.caik@DUK.ac.inContact page →