Govt. to Provide Up to Rs200M Grants for Tech Projects
Pakistan’s government has announced a substantial financial boost for technology development through two dedicated programs under the Prime Minister’s office. With a combined budget of Rs352.5 million for the fiscal year 2026-27, the initiatives—SPARK and ELEVATE—aim to convert innovative research into market-ready technologies.
Details of the Technology Grant Programs
The SPARK (Strategic Program for Advanced Research and Knowledge) and ELEVATE schemes are designed to support up to 60 projects annually, with each program funding 30 initiatives through a competitive selection process. Grants of up to Rs100 million will be available under SPARK, which focuses on turning concepts into functioning prototypes. ELEVATE will provide up to Rs200 million per project, assisting in scaling prototypes into commercially viable products.
Funding is apportioned from the Research and Development Fund managed by Ignite, Pakistan’s National Technology Fund board, and will be disbursed in phases aligned with project milestones over an 18-month duration. The grant cycle will operate with two cohorts per year.
Priority Areas and Eligibility
The government has emphasized nine strategic sectors including digital industry, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, water management, energy efficiency, digital healthcare, smart cities, connectivity infrastructure, cybersecurity, education, and smart mobility. Nevertheless, projects from varied technological fields can apply, as merit will largely guide the selection process.
Eligible applicants encompass universities, research organizations, startups, and SMEs from across the country. Projects under SPARK must yield functional prototypes with demonstrated real-world testing or initial industry adoption, whereas ELEVATE requires a ready market product backed by confirmed pilot sites or customers to validate commercial prospects.
An important aspect of these programs is the emphasis on intellectual property protection, allowing grant funds to cover patent filing expenses domestically or internationally via the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
Significance for Innovation in Pakistan
This investment marks a pivotal opportunity to invigorate Pakistan’s innovation ecosystem by bridging the gap between research and commercialization. Given that startups and SMEs are encouraged to lead projects, the initiatives could stimulate entrepreneurship and technological competitiveness on both local and international stages.
Additionally, the government’s complementary proposal to establish a $20 million Pakistan Venture Fund seeks to alleviate financing challenges faced by tech startups, focusing on areas like AI, robotics, fintech, and healthcare technology. These efforts align with Pakistan’s broader ambitions to foster a self-sustaining technology research pipeline and accelerate growth in high-impact sectors.
As these programs commence with an open call for project concepts until October 26, 2026, there is significant potential for emerging innovators and research institutions to access unprecedented levels of funding, positioning Pakistan as a more active participant in the global tech landscape.
Ignite’s Chief recently emphasized, “We look forward to nurturing transformative innovations that can drive economic growth and improve lives across the country.” For Pakistani tech entrepreneurs and researchers, this development signals an encouraging future for scaling their solutions nationwide and beyond.
