The objective of this component is to bring Indian manufacturing sector and Design expertise/ Design fraternity on to a common platform. It aims to provide expert advice and cost-effective solution on real time design problems for new product development, its continuous improvement and value addition in existing/new products.

The Design scheme is divided in two major parts, viz., Design Projects and Design Awareness Programme. a. Design Project - To facilitate MSMEs to develop new design strategies and or design related products through interventions and consultancy. b. Design Awareness Programme: The objective is to create general awareness and sensitization about the value and power of design for businesses through seminars, talks, workshops etc. The purpose of these activities is to sensitize MSMEs about the usage of design/innovation in various facets of their industry.

Two types of financial assistance provided under the scheme: Design Project and Student Project.

The beneficiary unit(s) must typically be a registered micro, small or medium enterprises as per the definition in MSMED and should have a valid UAM or Udyam Registration. The manufacturing MSMEs may be a profitable entity preferably in the last 1 year of its operations.

The implementing agencies for the Scheme, presently, are: Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, IITs (Kanpur, Indore, BHU, Roorkee, Ropar, Bhubaneshwar), NITs (Tiruchirappalli, Warangal, Silchar, Arunachal Pradesh, Jaipur, Allahabad, J&K, Bhopal, Nagpur, Calicut, Kurukshetra, Surathkal, Raipur).

Under MSME Innovative scheme, a MSME Innovative portal has been developed. Now all the proposals/ application will uploaded on the Innovative portal i.e ( https://innovative.msme.gov.in ) under the respective scheme component of MSME Innovative scheme.

Project Monitoring and Advisory Committee (PMAC) is set-up at the office of AS&DC (MSME), who looks after the Planning, Screening, identification and such other function as deemed fit.