Ignite puts Rs352.5 million behind SPARK and ELEVATE research grants for startups and universities
The Prime Minister's SPARK and ELEVATE programmes offer up to Rs100 million and Rs200 million a project, and startups can lead both.
Pakistan's Ignite National Technology Fund has set aside Rs352.5 million for the 2026 to 2027 year to back two grant programmes, SPARK and ELEVATE, and the first window for project concepts closes on 26 October. Startups, small and medium businesses, universities and research bodies across the country can apply.
Ignite's board approved the money from its Research and Development Fund, with no allocation from the federal budget or the public sector development programme. The Prime Minister announced the programmes on 22 July at the Indus RAS Expo 2026 in Islamabad.
Two tracks, two ceilings
SPARK backs early research, at technology readiness levels 1 to 5, with grants of up to Rs100 million per project. ELEVATE takes prototypes towards the market, at levels 6 to 8, with grants of up to Rs200 million. Projects run for up to 18 months, and money is released in tranches through the lead organisation. The first payment needs a signed grant agreement, completed legal formalities and an approved work plan, and later payments depend on milestones. Each programme plans to fund up to 30 projects a year, 60 in all.
ELEVATE is led by industry. The lead must be a startup, an SME or a large company, which names a project director and a commercial lead and provides a pilot site or a first customer. Universities and research centres join as consortium partners. SPARK is open to universities, research organisations, startups and SMEs, and a principal investigator nominated by the lead organisation submits the proposal. Applicants must be legally registered organisations in Pakistan, and individuals cannot apply alone.
What the grants cover
Eligible costs include technical staff, equipment, consumables, travel and institutional overhead. ELEVATE also pays for commercialisation, such as patent filing, legal and financial advice, branding and regulatory compliance. Patent filings in Pakistan or through the international PCT route qualify. Incubation is not covered, because Ignite's National Incubation Centers, which have hosted more than 2,250 startups, handle it.
Applicants must disclose any use of generative AI. It may be used for language editing, translation and formatting, but the core technical content has to be the applicants' own.
Nine priority areas are named, among them digital industry, agriculture and water, energy efficiency, digital healthcare, smart cities, cybersecurity, education and smart mobility, though both programmes stay open to other sectors.
The government also expects a proposed $20 million Pakistan Venture Fund to help technology startups attract private investment. Applications go through the portal at segms.ignite.org.pk only. Concepts are due on 26 October, and full proposals from approved concepts are due by the end of November.
