Navigating The New Era Of Housing: Rising Rents And Evolving Government Support

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 29, 2025

Rising Rents Narrow The Gap Between Renting And Buying

The era when renting was embraced by citizens simply because their finances did not allow for home ownership appears to be over. With monthly rent payments now rivaling—or even exceeding—the costs of mortgage installments, many are reconsidering their long-held assumptions about the economic benefits of remaining a tenant.

Government Response And Policy Adjustments

Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou, who is responsible for the government’s housing initiatives, recently addressed these seismic shifts in affordability during a parliamentary inquiry. In response to a query from member of parliament Christos Senech, Minister Ioannou noted that the number of refugees receiving rental assistance has dropped from 4,509 in 2022 to 3,155 in 2024. Simultaneously, however, there has been an uptick in those seeking to purchase a home—a trend attributed directly to rising rental costs. This nuanced observation underscores the dual challenge facing the housing market: escalating rents and the subsequent push for refinements to public housing schemes.

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Adjustments In Rental Subsidies And The Broader Housing Strategy

Minister Ioannou elaborated on the evolving market dynamics: “Over the past three years, while we have observed a slight decrease in applications for rental assistance, there has been a concurrent increase in inquiries about housing purchase and construction plans. Given that mortgage payments have become comparable to rental fees—a direct outcome of rising rents—many are now opting for home ownership.” He also noted that in response, rental subsidies were increased by approximately 15% starting January 1, 2024, in an effort to mitigate the impact of higher rental prices.

Reforming Eligibility And Streamlining Application Criteria

Addressing concerns regarding the rigid income criteria for rental subsidies, particularly for single individuals and nuclear families under the Migrated and Rehabilitated Service for Displaced Persons, Minister Ioannou confirmed that a legislative update is underway. The Ministry of Interior has forwarded a draft bill to the Legal Service designed to increase the number of eligible applicants through a review and update of the assessment criteria. The proposed law aims to eliminate outdated provisions, including Articles 22 to 26 of the Rental Assistance Law, and to establish a more agile evaluation framework that encompasses updated income calculations and new eligibility thresholds.

Budget Utilization And Future Investments

The Minister further highlighted that the current rental assistance budget for the period 2022-2024 is being efficiently utilised, with absorption rates at 93.54% in 2022, 93.76% in 2023, and 85.39% in 2024. Any unspent funds are seamlessly reallocated to other housing initiatives for displaced populations, ensuring that a broader range of applicants benefits from the available resources.

Investing In The Future Of Housing

With significant investments planned, including the multi-year project KTIZO—a housing initiative projected to cost approximately €130 million—the government continues to diversify its strategies. The expansion of eligibility for displaced persons, once limited to paternal refugees and now inclusive of maternal refugees and their children, represents a deliberate effort to extend housing support more equitably.

This comprehensive approach not only addresses the immediate challenges posed by rising rental costs but also paves the way for a more resilient and adaptive housing market in Greece, focusing on sustainable Housing solutions for all.

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India Revamps Deep Tech Startup Framework With New Capital Support

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 9, 2026

India is making a bold strategic shift in its deep tech landscape by adjusting startup regulations and directing public capital towards sectors that demand sustained development, including space, semiconductors, and biotech.

Extended Timeline For Deep Tech Maturation

The Indian government has recently updated its startup framework, as announced by the Press Information Bureau. The period during which deep tech companies enjoy starter benefits has been doubled to 20 years, and the revenue threshold for specialized tax breaks, grants, and regulatory benefits has increased from ₹1 billion to ₹3 billion (approximately $33.12 million). This recalibration is designed to align policy parameters with the long gestation periods inherent in science- and engineering-driven enterprises.

Public Capital And the RDI Fund

Alongside regulatory reforms, New Delhi is expanding public investment in research and innovation. The ₹1 trillion Research, Development and Innovation Fund is intended to provide long-term financing for technology-intensive companies. The initiative is supported by the creation of the India Deep Tech Alliance, a network of U.S. and Indian venture capital firms including Accel, Blume Ventures and Kalaari Capital, with advisory input from Nvidia. The goal is to ease fundraising pressures and improve access to follow-on capital.

Addressing The False Failure Signal

The extension of regulatory benefits addresses a long-standing issue in the deep tech sector. As Vishesh Rajaram, founding partner at Speciale Invest, explained, the previous framework risked penalizing pre-commercial companies by forcing them to exit startup status prematurely. The new reforms recognize the unique developmental timelines of deep tech firms, thus reducing friction in fundraising negotiations and state engagement.

Investor Perspectives And The Funding Landscape

While regulatory clarity enhances investor confidence, funding beyond early stages remains a significant hurdle. Arun Kumar, managing partner at Celesta Capital, emphasized that the RDI Fund’s role is to deepen support for capital-intensive ventures without compromising the commercial metrics that guide private investments. Siddarth Pai of 3one4 Capital noted that the revised framework also avoids the traditional “graduation cliff” that once isolated companies at critical growth junctures, potentially deterring them from scaling domestically.

Deep Tech Funding Trends And Global Comparisons

India’s deep tech sector remains smaller than those of the United States and China, but recent data shows renewed momentum. According to Tracxn, Indian deep tech startups raised about $1.65 billion in 2025, up from roughly $1.1 billion in previous years. The increase aligns with national priorities in advanced manufacturing, defense technology, climate solutions and semiconductor production.

Long-Term Implications And Global Competitiveness

For international investors, the reforms signal a longer-term policy commitment. Extending the startup lifecycle reduces regulatory uncertainty and supports investment strategies that depend on extended research and product development phases. Analysts suggest the changes bring India closer to funding models commonly seen in the U.S. and Europe.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of the reforms will depend on whether they lead to a critical mass of globally competitive Indian deep tech companies. A more mature ecosystem could encourage domestic listings and reduce the need for startups to relocate abroad.