Deadline: 31-Oct-22
Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India and Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MSHE) of the Russian Federation invite Indian and Russian scientists/researchers to submit proposals for joint research projects.
Priorities
Research Projects in the following priority areas:
- Glycoscience & Technology: Exploration of structures and functions of sugars for diverse application in medicine, energy generation and materials science.
- New Materials & Additive manufacturing, including Development of new materials and technologies for their producing (both conventional and additive).
- Precision Agriculture, including Development of equipment and machinery for agriculture and food production, and Digital and distance technologies in agriculture.
- Aerospace technologies.
The Indian and Russian applicants will develop one joint Project plan and the plan will be sent to both India (DST) and Russia (MSHE) using the forms of each organisation, respectively. It should be ensured that application with identical title has been submitted from both counterparts. Project proposal must include the name of one Principal Investigator (PI) each in India and Russia. The applications must include a statement on how the proposed collaboration brings added valued for both countries.
Kind of Support Available
- The successful projects will be jointly funded by India and Russia. For Russian counterpart, funding will be disbursed by MSHE, Russia and similarly for Indian counterpart by DST. 4-5 joint research and innovation projects based on merit would be considered for support. The duration of the projects is expected to be up to 3 years for both sides.
- The project budget must clearly delineate justified Indian and Russian costs. The costs of the Indian partner must be eligible as per the guidelines of the DST. Accordingly, the costs of the Russian partner must be eligible as per the guidelines of the MSHE. As the joint projects are funded in bilateral mode the mobility between the two countries should be balanced. Applicants are reminded to include sufficient budget for travel between India and Russia to ensure successful collaboration.
- Significant co-financing as well as the participation of relevant public partners and/or private enterprises other than the main applicants is encouraged.
- Kind of support available on the Indian side:
- This funding will cover the following expenses in connection with a project;
- Consumables & Accessories, Fellowships and other research expenses; Expenditure by project team in their country would be borne by the respective country, i.e., DST would support expenditure on Indian side of the project whereas RSF would meet the expenditure of Russian side. There will be no support provided under the equipment head. Therefore, PIs are required not to submit the budget for the equipments in the project proposal.
- Support for Exchange visit component: The sending side would provide return international airfare, accommodation, per diem, etc. Presently for the approved visit of Indian scientists to Russia, following expenditure are agreed: international fare (from nearest airport to destination city by economy excursion class), cash allowance @ US $ 50 per day for visit less than a week and US $ 40 per day for longer visit; accommodation upto US $ 100 per night (subject to receipt), US $ 125 in case of Moscow / St. Petersburg), local transport upto US $ 25 (subject to receipt) and overseas medical insurance by silver class for visit duration.
- Institutional Overhead: As per DST norms.
- No financial support will be provided to Industry partner. Industry can participate with their own funding. A commitment letter should be provided while submitting the proposal.
- This funding will cover the following expenses in connection with a project;
Eligibility Criteria
- Proposals must attempt to fully disclose the research ideas and approaches. It is important that proposals are well crafted and provide substantive description of the research plan for a fair review of the scientific/technical plans and approaches. Proprietary or confidential information must be clearly indicated in the proposal. Proposals must not be duplicative or substantially similar to any previous project or proposal submission.
- The project leading to the Industrial development and having potential for commercialization will be eligible for financial support. Basic and applied R&D proposal leading to Industrial development will be supported under this call. The implementation or commercialization plan should be clearly spelled out with achievable milestones, timelines, justifiable budget requirement and engagement with prospective technology transfer partners or technology transfer facilitating bodies.
- The project should have industrial perspective and participation from both Indian and Russian industry is strongly encouraged.
Selection Criteria
DST and MSHE will select the proposals according to their respective institutional procedures and assessment criteria. Special emphasis will also be placed on the following criteria:
- Novelty of the proposed work,
- Need assessment and demand for proposed work,
- Scientific appropriateness of deliverable of proposed approaches and technical merit
- Expertise and track record of individual researcher or project consortium as applicable.
- Appropriateness of industrial partner, competence of each member, facilities available to conduct researcher will be given due consideration.
- Proposal formulation. Literature/patent review, qualified objectives, methodology and work plan, clear and well defined deliverable.
- Synergy effects and added-value to ongoing research within the field.
- The project should have industrial perspective and participation from both Indian and Russian industry is strongly encouraged.
- The proposed research and innovation projects should be well integrated on the Indian and Russian side
- Research and innovation activities of importance to the expected outcome should be evenly distributed among Indian and Russian counterparts.
- Synergy effects and added-value to ongoing research within the field including IndoRussian research and innovation projects is considered important.
For more information, visit https://dst.gov.in/sites/default/files/Joint%20Call%202022.pdf