Inclusive TBI is a three years duration initiative supported by the Department of Science Technology DST for educational institutions who are likely to foster innovation and entrepreneurship culture among the students, faculties, entrepreneurs, and nearby communities. The initiative aims to inculcate the spirit of Innovation Entrepreneurship IE amongst the students, innovators and entrepreneurs, encourage and support innovative ideas, start- up creation through incubation. It is expected that students, innovators and entrepreneurs will take up innovative ideas/projects and with mentoring support from the academic and startup ecosystem, try to build a startup around the innovative idea/project. The outcome of the i-TBI shall be converting ideas into startups. i-TBI Inclusive TBI would also create a culture of innovation entrepreneurship in the Host Institution HI and nearby geographies. I-TBI will be equipped with grants-in-aid funding support to innovators to convert ideas to prototype and prototype to startups.

NSTEDB proposes to encourage the existing TBIs in its network to undertake Accelerator both sectoral and sector-agnostic, regional and national, which will strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem as well as deliver immense value to other Incubation Programs. Objectives of NIDHI-Accelerators To fast track the growth of potential start ups through rigorous mentoring and networking support in a short span through existing TBIs To attract subject matter experts, mentors, and angel investors get associated with TBIs through the structured accelerator programs To build a vibrant startup ecosystem, by establishing a network between academia, financial institutions, industries and other institutions. To act as a hub for several incubators in the region, so that high-potential startups can be fast-tracked for increased exposure and validation Accelerators should employ a “fail fast” mentality ideas or prototypes that are not getting traction should be abandoned or modified quickly, allowing founders to redeploy resources to other projects or even new companies at a rapid pace.

Proposal on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Training Programme Description To strengthen Science Technology ST and Innovation STI based entrepreneurship, the National Science Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board NSTEDB, Dept. of Science Technology, Govt. of India supports conduct of following STI based entrepreneurship training programmes • Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme WEDP • Technology based Entrepreneurship Development Programme TEDP • Faculty Development Programme FDP. These programmes are mainly conducted by various institutions/organizations namely Science Technology Entrepreneur Park STEPs, Technology Business Incubator TBIs, State Entrepreneurship Development ED organizations, Higher educational institutions and other specialized organizations actively involved in the field of promoting STI based entrepreneurship with prior experience of conducting such programmes. DST-NSTEDB is inviting the proposal for organizing the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development programme as per the terms and conditions mentioned in the advertisement.

International Research Training Groups IRTGs, in which German universities cooperate with research institutions in other countries, combine innovative top-level research and the structured promotion of excellent early career researchers. As bilateral collaborations set up by experienced scientists, IRTGs promote systematic scientific cooperation through joint research programmes and corresponding qualification measures for post doctoral researchers.

Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India and National Science Foundation (NSF) of U.S have signed an Implementation Agreement (IA) on research Cooperation. This DST – NSF collaborative research opportunity focuses specifically upon discoveries and innovations in areas of mutual interest that develop new knowledge in all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering, advanced cyber infrastructure, secure and trustworthy computing, and cyber physical systems. NSF intends to make awards to the U.S. investigators participating in the recommended collaborative proposals, and DST intends to make awards to the Indian investigators participating in the recommended collaborative proposals.

Potential Areas of Research

DST and NSF invite active Indian and US scientists / researchers to submit proposals for Joint Research Project in the following broad areas:

        I.            Computer and Information Science and Engineering

o   Algorithmic Foundations; Communications and Information Foundations; Foundations of Emerging Technologies; Software and Hardware Foundations

o   Computer Systems Research; Networking Technology and Systems

o   Human-Centered Computing; Information Integration and Informatics; Robust Intelligence

o   Advanced Cyberinfrastructure

      II.            Cyber-Physical Systems

o   Engineered systems with a seamless integration of cyber and physical components, such as computation, control, networking, learning, autonomy, security, privacy and verification, for a range of application domains.

   III.            Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace

o   Cybersecurity and privacy, drawing on expertise in one or more of these areas: computing, communication and information sciences; engineering; economics; education; mathematics; statistics; and social and behavioral sciences.

Proposals submitted in other research areas will not be considered.

Eligibility for Indian Applicants

o   The Principal Investigator (PI) and other investigators in India should be scientists/ faculty members working in regular capacity in Universities/ Deemed Universities/ Academic Institutes and National Research & Development Laboratories/ Institutes as well as working in private non-profit institutions that carry R&D activities. The Indian Principal Investigator (PI) should not be retiring or leaving the parent institute during the proposed duration of the project.

o   Number of proposal submission for Indian investigators as PI is limited to one per call while they can involve as Co-PIs in maximum of two proposals.

o   The Indian scientists who are in any way involved in the implementation of two or more projects that were previously supported by the DST (International Group) and that are not expected to be completed by 31 December 2023 are also not eligible to be a member of the research team.

Guidelines

(i)                 DST and NSF will allow investigators from both countries to collaborate to write a single proposal that will undergo a single review process at NSF, the Coordinating Agency.

(ii)               Proposals must represent an integrated collaborative effort between the India and US investigators. Proposals are expected to adhere to the research areas, funding limits, and grant durations for the participating NSF programs and for the DST programs from which funding is sought. Investigators are advised that all documents submitted to DST or NSF may be shared with the other agency in order to implement the two-way agency activities.

(iii)             The proposal should describe the full proposed research program, including the total Indian and U.S. resources that will be part of the project.  NSF investigators should indicate only the NSF expenses in the NSF budget.  DST investigators should indicate only the DST research expenses on the DST budget form.  The DST budget and budget justification must be included in the NSF proposal as a Supplementary Document.  The Budget section of the DST proposal should clearly indicate the DST budget with full justification. Proposals that request duplicative funding may be returned without review.

(iv)             Indian and US Investigators should submit identical Summary, Description and References in their proposals, using the respective forms prescribed by DST and NSF. Applications submitted by one side only; not on prescribed format and received after due date will not be accepted. Indian/US Investigators should, therefore, ensure that their counterpart submits an application with identical components as described above, on prescribed format as per guidelines of nodal agencies by due date.

(v)               Title of the project submitted on both systems should be identical.

(vi)             All proposals should be supported with brief bio-data of entire project team members indicating their affiliation, date of birth, highlights of academic and research activities / awards. For US investigators, date of birth is not required and their bio-sketches may be as per NSF guidelines.

(vii)           Through this partnership, India researchers may receive funding from DST and U.S. researchers may receive funding from NSF respectively.

(viii)         Selected Projects of Indian PIs will be supported up-to 20 million Indian rupees by DST and up-to $600,000 to US PIs by NSF for duration up-to three years.

(ix)             The support to Indian PIs are primarily for exchange visits, consumables, contingency and minor equipment/accessories (not costing more than 20% of project cost). It may be noted that both sides may not get equal grant (USD to INR). Budget requirement would be assessed as per current norms of human resources or international visit rate. Travel entitlement will be by economy class.

(x)               The proposals will be reviewed by experts contacted by NSF, the Coordinating Agency, in competition with other proposals received for the same funding round of the program to which the proposal is submitted, using NSF's merit review process. DST will check that the Indian investigator has an active and appropriate role and confirm their eligibility at the onset of the process.

(xi)             The Data Management Plan must include mechanisms for sharing and archiving data including, experimental data, results, and software developed and their associated privacy and security aspects.

(xii)           For projects involving human subjects/participants or vertebrate animals, investigators should follow both DST and NSF policies, submitting documentation to each as appropriate.

Department of Science Technology DST, Government of India and Russian Science Foundation RSF invite active Indian and Russian scientists / researchers to submit proposals for Joint Research Project in the areas of 1.    New Materials; 2.    Clean energy; 3.    Smart healthcare and medicine; 4.    Safe food; 5.    Smart transport and telecommunications; 6.    Plant and Animal Bio-Technology; 7.    Artificial Intelligence; 8.    Earth Quake and Ocean Science. Under this Programme each project may receive annual funding of up to equivalent of US 100,000 in respective national currencies.

The Department of Science and Technology, through its National Geospatial Programme (erstwhile NRDMS), has been catalyzing the development of various components of the National Geospatial Ecosystem viz. Geospatial Science and Technology, Policy, Solutions, Capacity Building, Entrepreneurship, and International Cooperation. The ultimate goal is to strengthen sustainable socio-economic development at all levels of governance. 

In addition to other sub-programmes, the Geospatial Science sub-programme aims to develop the fundamental and applied scientific knowledge underpinning the geospatial sciences to strengthen geospatial science research and education in line with international standards. To further enhance the Geospatial Science capabilities of the country and to realize this vision, the department is now inviting proposals from organizations located in different geographic areas for the strengthening of Geospatial Science in the Country

Project Mode support in Sci-com Outreach and Capacity Buildingunder following categories:

·        STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) Demonstrationsincluding Static&Mobile Science Exhibitions, Mela/Fairs;

·        Hands-on STEMMCamps, Industrial Tours&Cafes, Motivational Talks, Field Immersion, and activities through Network Clubs for Students;

·        Hands – on and other innovative activities at grassroots including puppetry, nukkadnatak, science- jathas/ campaigns, skits and street plays, folk media/songs &  dances, Origami, Popularization of  Mathsand  Astronomy,  etc.;  

·        Building Science Communicators & Educators through Traditional and Novel modes of Hands-on STEMM & Demonstrations, Science Media  & Scientific Literacy including  Training/Resource Person Capacity Development   in Low cost Teaching/Learning aids, Folk Media,Demystification of S and T and addressing misconceptions, etc.;

·        Science Media Research, Applications&development of Field Capacity in keeping with emerging trends and applications,  especially-   Community Science Media, Sci com applications including  trainings in Science Media, Emergent Sci-Media like Green Media, Geo Media, Computational Media, Gamification, Science Fiction, etc.;

• Multidisciplinary Scientific Literacies, Sci -com capacity building in regional/local languages, Development of popular/thematic  Science Content/ Resource Material/Publications for S&T Communication &Popularisation, &dissemination through various media, Research Communicationlikehighlights of Lab’s discoveries&Science breakthroughs& capacity building,  Risk Communication including issues of misinformation&fake news in science,etc., Awareness of Risks involving existing and emerging S&T  i.e. nuclear, GMOs, AI,  etc.and Nature Science Communication, and  Science Communication for Sustainable Futures. 

Every year 28 February is celebrated as the National Science Day NSD. The programme was initiated to trigger science popularization activities throughout the country. NCSTC acts as a nodal agency to support and coordinate celebration of NSD by giving grants to State ST Councils Departments for organization of lectures, quizzes, open houses, etc. Similarly, the National Mathematics Day programme was supported all over the country through State ST Councils involving colleges and schools students. Celebrations or culminated on 22 December to commemorate the birthday of Srinivasa Ramanujan, the great mathematician with a focus on popularizing Mathematics.

The objectives of the National Children‘s Science Congress is to make a forum available to children in the age group 10-17 years, both from formal school system and from out of school, to exhibit their creativity and innovativeness, more particularly to solve a societal problem experienced locally using methods of science. The NCSC prompts to think of some significant societal problem, ponder over its causes and subsequently try and solve the same using the scientific methods. This involves close and keen observation, raising pertinent questions, building models, predicting solutions on the basis of a model, trying out various possible alternatives and arriving at an optimum solution using experimentation, field work, research and innovative ideas. Project proposals responding to the needs including guide teacher orientations for state level and national event should ensure that the team members for the best projects from each state would participate at National Level.

The Initiative for Research & Innovation in Science (IRIS) national fair is conducted annually  for school students of  the age group 10-17. During the IRIS National Fair, the budding Scientists display their innovation and research-based projects. The winners would participate in   pre-college science fair competition(s) like  the International Science and Engineering Fair (for example ISEF etc. ). The participants need to represent the country well  with geographical  and sectoral coverage including  less endowed regions and populations. Facilitative workshops & mentoring sessions should precede the contest(s).

Science and Technology for Women ST for Women Objectives 1 To promote research, development and adaptation of technology to improve the quality of life, workings conditions for women. 2 To provide newer opportunities for gainful employment of women especially in rural areas and empower them through inputs of S T. 3 To reduce drudgery of women through application of Science and Technology. 4 To look into women health and nutrition through the application of S T Priority Areas The following priority areas have been identified under the scheme with major beneficiaries being women • Women Technology Park WTP, that are envisaged to act as a resource centre where all necessary support is made available to women. • Specific ST application programmes to address the problems of women in different agro climatic regions such as hill, coastal and arid. • RD on post-harvest technology and agricultural implements used by women to improve productivity and reduce drudgery • Improved practices for occupational health and enhanced production in technology areas where women form a majority of the stake holders sericulture, aquaculture, etc • Research, development and demonstration program to minimize occupational hazards of women in domestic, agricultural and organized and non-organized industries • Design, fabrication and improvement of equipment, accessories, tools and machineries used by women in different occupations in formal and non-formal sectors • Up-gradation of traditional skills for utilization of available local resources and providing means for women to enter into the organized sector or for starting entrepreneurial production or service units • Women's Health issues - Nutrition, non communicable diseases, prevention strategies for communicable diseases and • Selective studies on facilities available for women, health and nutritional status of women, employment/livelihood opportunities available for women, technologies existing and suitable for adoption. • All India coordinated projects on rural technologies related to above. • Collaborated projects initiated by the department with other laboratories Universities and Ministries.

Waste Management Technologies program is aligned to the “Swachh Bharat Mission” or “Clean India Mission” of the Government. DST initiated a special program on Waste Management Technologies WMT in October 2015, and constituted a high level Expert Advisory Committee EAC-WMT. Waste Management encompass a variety of interventions in the generation, prevention, characterization, monitoring, treatment, handling, reuse and ultimate residual disposal of solid wastes. Main Objectives of the program includes Take stock of technological development, assess, analyse and look for material recycling systems with low environment loading and improve upon them or find better alternatives Develop waste management technologies that can be adopted in small medium scale enterprises in order to improve their productivity and global competitiveness and Establish techno-economic feasibility of proposed methodologies/ technologies. The program aims to promote the development of suitable technologies with potential to ameliorate the environmental load from the huge amount of residuals generated by industrial development and consumption lifestyle. The focus is mainly on four areas a Electronic Waste, b Hospital Waste, c Plastic Waste, and d Solid Waste from Mining, Metallurgical Ceramic Industries. Technology Development Projects will be undertaken by RD agencies, in association with industry, to develop pre-competitive technologies/ techniques/ processes. The selection of projects is based on the criteria of novelty scientific uniqueness, thereby DST aims to promote innovative technologies that can have commercial potential.

The Government has set a growth target for the manufacturing sector from 16 of GDP to reach 25 of GDP by 2025. The National Manufacturing Policy and the emphasis on “Make in India” is a powerful strategy for economic development. In accordance with this objective, DST has initiated this program for developing Advanced Manufacturing Technologies in October 2015, and a high level Expert Advisory Committee EAC-AMT was set up, chaired by Prof. Rudra Pratap, Center for Nano Science Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Five thrust areas were selected for developing novel manufacturing technologies a Nano materials surfaces, b Robotics automation c Precision manufacturing d Manufacturing process of Pharmaceuticals Bio manufacturing e Advanced forming near net shaped processing. The objectives of the program are to Encourage RD labs to move some of their activities from “discovery research” towards “industrially relevant RD” and to Encourage inter-disciplinary, multi-institutional research programs for innovation.

Biomedical Device and Technology Development

The Department under its Technology Development Programme TDP has been promoting and supporting activities related to indigenous development of innovative technologies in identified areas. During recent past, DST has supported the development of many technologies at various RD laboratories/ institutions. This has resulted in development of various technologies and subsequent transfer of know-how to various production agencies for their commercial production. Technology Development Programmes TDP One of the key objectives of the Department of Science Technology is to promote technology development in various fields. The Department has been supporting Technology development projects which include materials, devices and processes. The Programme supports activities aimed at developing technologies both in the advanced/emerging areas and in traditional sectors/areas. Under the Programme, feasibility of fresh ideas/ concepts is also assessed for their potential conversion into useful technology/product. Mandate of TDP The mandate of Technology Development Programmes TDP is to convert proof-of-concepts for technologies/ techniques/ processes/products into advance prototypes for validation and demonstration in actual field settings. The commercialization of these technologies needs further assessment/incubation, which does not fall in the scope of the Technology Development Programme. Transfer of technology developed under the project to the industry should ideally be the onus of the host institutions. Proposals for incremental RD over the existing technologies are also considered for support. Projects related to design and development of Software/IT, as required for products and processes, as a part of technology development project shall be considered. Pure software development does not fall in the scope of the Programme. AIM • Support RD for development of innovative technologies in identified areas. • Promote application of advanced technology for improving the performance and value addition to existing technology. • Capacity building in the area of technology development. • Identify and support RD groups which have developed depth/strength in a particular scientific domain. In 2021, the Golden Jubilee year of the Department, a New Call for Proposal is planned to invite proposals from scientists/engineers/ technologists working in academic institutions/RD institutions/laboratories having adequate infrastructure/ facilities to carry out Technology Development work/prototype building. Financial support will be provided for indigenous development of innovative technologies in identified areas. As parts of a wider set of nation-building initiatives, some of the areas as given below are identified from ’Make in India’ initiative. Also Hon’ble Prime Minister made a clarion call for an “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” or a self-reliant India that would be a source of local ingenuity creating global impact. 1. Construction, infrastructure and low-cost building Materials 2. Advance Materials Processing 3. Agro-Product Processing and Agro-IT technologies including Food processing technologies 4. Innovative Product Development 5. Technologies for Disaster Management 6. Any other Technology for Product design and Development for Import Substitution proposed by the PI

To bring generic drugs which are off- patent. To develop process chemistry for drugs under patent to make it affordable once patent expires

Department of Science & Technology, (DST) Government of India and the Dutch Research Council (NWO), The Netherlands invite proposals for a joint Indo-Dutch call on “Water Disaster Management” that emphasizes on implementation of science-supporting technical solutions for flood and drought management.