I-NEXSS Innovative Solutions 2026 – IIT PALAKKAD
Offered By - IIT Palakkad
About the Program
I-NEXSS (Integrated Technologies for Next-generation Sanitation Systems) is an innovation-driven sanitation technology program focused on accelerating scalable solutions for non-sewered sanitation systems (NSSS). The initiative is jointly led by the IIT Palakkad Technology IHub Foundation (IPTIF) and the Global Sanitation Centre of Excellence (GSCOE) at IIT Palakkad, with support from the Gates Foundation.
The program is designed for startups, MSMEs, research institutions, and industry-academia consortia working on advanced sanitation infrastructure technologies. Unlike generic climate or sustainability innovation challenges, I-NEXSS is highly specialized toward next-generation sanitation systems involving membrane engineering, digital infrastructure, automation, AI-driven monitoring, and affordable sensing technologies.
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and field deployment by supporting technologies that are already beyond the conceptual stage. Applicants are expected to demonstrate technologies with Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher, with clear pathways toward pilot-scale deployment and real-world implementation.
The 2026 call focuses on three core technology domains:
- Advanced membrane technologies
- Digital technologies for sanitation systems
- Smart and affordable sensor systems
Key areas of interest include:
- Low-fouling and high-flux membranes
- Membrane bioreactors
- IoT-enabled monitoring systems
- AI/ML-based predictive maintenance
- SCADA and PLC automation
- Digital twins for sanitation infrastructure
- Water quality sensors
- Pathogen detection biosensors
- Air quality and gaseous emission monitoring systems
The program emphasizes:
- Scalability
- Cost-efficiency
- Regulatory compliance
- Field reliability
- Data-driven sanitation infrastructure
- Real-world deployment readiness
Selected participants may receive support for:
- Prototype development
- Testing and validation
- Field deployment
- Technology validation activities
The support duration is expected to range between 6–8 months depending on the maturity and implementation stage of the technology.
From a founder’s perspective, this opportunity is particularly valuable for deeptech and industrial-tech startups already building deployable sanitation or environmental infrastructure technologies rather than early idea-stage ventures. Teams with working prototypes, technical validation capability, and integration-ready systems are likely to benefit most from this challenge.
Offerings / Benefits:
- Grant funding support
- Prototype development support
- Testing and validation support
- Field deployment support
- Technology validation opportunities
- Pilot-scale implementation support
- Recognition as an I-NEXSS innovation participant/champion
Sectors Supported:
- SanitationTech
- CleanTech
- WaterTech
- IoT
- AI/ML for infrastructure
- Environmental monitoring
- Smart sensing systems
- Industrial automation
- Wastewater treatment technologies
Who Can Apply / Eligibility
- Open to startups
- Open to MSMEs
- Open to academic institutions
- Open to research institutions
- Open to consortia involving academia/startups/MSMEs/industry
- Applicants should demonstrate technical capability
- Applicants should present a clear implementation plan
- Technologies should be at TRL 4 or higher
- Solutions should align with NSSS objectives and program focus areas
Best suited for deeptech, sanitation-tech, cleantech, IoT, and industrial automation innovators with deployable solutions.
Selection Process
- Proposal submission
- Screening and shortlisting of proposals
- Final evaluation and approval process
Evaluation criteria include:
- Technical innovation and feasibility
- Real-world sanitation performance
- Scalability and affordability
- Integration capability
- Readiness for pilot-scale implementation
How to Apply
- Prepare the proposal in the prescribed format
- Submit technical proposal and methodology details
- Upload implementation timelines and budget breakdown
- Submit supporting company and investigator documents
- Upload product or presentation video if available
- Submit the application before 20 May 2026
Required documents include:
- KYC documents
- Certificate of incorporation
- Investigator CV
- Proposal PPT/PDF
- Supporting TRL validation material
- Product or presentation video
Source & Verification
All information is compiled from publicly available sources. Refer to the links below for most accurate & updated details. Disclaimer
- Source 1: www.linkedin.com
- Source 2: iptif.accubate.app
- Source 3: accubate-prod-private.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com
This information is provided for general awareness and does not constitute an endorsement by StartupGrantsHub.com. Exercise due diligence before submitting any personal or sensitive information.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Open to startups
- Open to MSMEs
- Open to academic institutions
- Open to research institutions
- Open to consortia involving academia/startups/MSMEs/industry
- Applicants should demonstrate technical capability
- Applicants should present a clear implementation plan
- Technologies should be at TRL 4 or higher
- Solutions should align with NSSS objectives and program focus areas
Best suited for deeptech, sanitation-tech, cleantech, IoT, and industrial automation innovators with deployable solutions.