It was on 11th May 1998, that India had a prideful accomplishment of successfully conducting Nuclear Missile Test at Indian Army’s Pokhran range. On this day first indigenous aircraft Hansa-3 was test flown at Bangalore and India also conducted successful test firing of the Trishul missile on the same day. Considering all these achievements 11th, May was chosen to be commemorated as National Technology Day.

To commemorate this day and to forge a powerful partnership with national laboratories and to create knowledge networks with academic institutions, Technology Development Board, under the Aegis of DST instituted a National Technology Award for successful commercialization of indigenous technology by industrial concerns in 1999. Within the same national technology award the second category was introduced in 2000 for SSI units. Later this has been renamed as MSME award. From 2017 onwards, under that same category national technology award for start-up has been introduced to encourage & promote technologies developed by start-ups having potential for commercialization. From 2021 onwards a new category of National Award for Translational Research in science and technology has been introduced. Also, in order to recognize and reward the remarkable work done by startup Incubator, DST has instituted National Award for Technology Business Incubator in 2004.

1. National Technology Award (Main) - for the successful commercialization of indigenous technology. This award will be given to an industrial concern which has successfully developed & commercialized an indigenous technology on or after   April 2017. In case, the technology developer / provider and technology commercializer are two different organizations, each one would be eligible for award of ₹25 Lakh and a trophy.

i. Cash Award of ₹25 Lakh

ii. Number of awards: One

2. National Technology Awards (MSME) – This award will be given to MSMEs which have successfully commercialized a product based on indigenous technology on or after April 2017.

i. Cash Awards of ₹15 Lakh

ii. Number of awards: Three (including one reserved for Women led MSME)

3. National Technology Awards (Start-up) – This award will be given to a technology start-up for promising new technology with potential for commercialization.

i. Cash Awards of ₹15 Lakh

ii. Number of awards: Five (including one reserved for Women-led Start-up)

4. National Technology Awards (Translational Research) – This award is given for outstanding contribution of Scientists in commercializing innovative indigenous technologies. Award amount of Rs 5 Lakh and a trophy.

i. Cash Awards of ₹5 Lakh

ii. Number of awards: Two (one is to be reserved for Translational Research by Women Scientist)

5. National Technology Awards (Technology Business Incubators) - To recognize and reward outstanding contribution in techno-entrepreneurship development by way of promoting innovative technology driven knowledge intensive startup enterprises in different technological areas.

1. Cash Awards of ₹5 Lakh
2. Number of awards: One

The awards will be presented on National Technology Day on 11th May, 2023.