INDIA-IRAN BILATERAL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION

CALL FOR PROPOSALS – 2018

 

   From 1^st January 2018 to 15^th February 2018 is the open call for the presentation of joint research projects between Indian and Iranian groups, in the framework of the agreed minutes of the Indo-Iran Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology of Cooperation between the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology of the Indian Republic and the Centre for International Scientific Cooperation (CISC), Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, taking as a base of the General Agreement of 2003 on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Indian and Iranian Governments.

OBJECTIVES:

• To strengthen and to expand relations between both scientific communities, making possible the exchanges between Indian and Iranian research groups, in the framework of joint scientific and technological projects, selected by the parties.
• Promote implementation of joint projects able to bind R&D centres with enterprises from both countries.
  

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS AND SUBJECT AREAS:

Scientists/Faculty Members working in regular capacity in Government recognized Universities/Deemed Universities, Academic Institutes and National Research & Development Laboratories/ Institutes can apply as Principal Investigator (PI). The Indian PI should not be retiring during the proposed duration of the project. In order to qualify for such funding, investigators are required to have a concrete and sound research proposal on any of the following areas:

                The priority areas for this Call mutally agreed are as given below:

1. Biotechnology and Human Health (focusing improvement in crop productivity, transgenic crops, microbial biotechnology with emphasis on cellulosic biofuel and microbial diversity and bioprospecting; Molecular Medicine focussing research on stem cell, cancer, tropical and infectious diseases; and Animal Biotechnology (reproductive and nutrition)

2. Water resources management

 

SELECTION OF PROJECTS:

 Proposals will undergo a quality evaluation taking into account the following criteria:

1. Project (creativity and originality, importance of objectives and expected results, coherence between objectives, methodology and work plan)

2. Research Group (capacity and scientific and technological competence of the research group, human resources training, criticality of the cooperation in terms of human resources training)

3. Cooperation (relevance and opportunity of the missions, desirability of cooperation and background of cooperation)

 

The assessment of relevance will take into account:

1. The overall priorities of the DST and CISC.

2. The training plan targeting young researchers specified in the project.

3. The incorporation of new groups in the cooperation program (priority will be awarded to the proposals that had not received previous funding)

 

DURATION OF PROJECTS:

 Projects shall normally be of 2-year duration.

 

 ELIGIBILITY:

 Programme is open to scientists, engineers, institutions engaged in advanced research in the above referred areas in India and Iran. Joint project proposal may be submitted simultaneously by the Indian researchers to DST and by the Iranian partners to MSRT i.e. CISC in the prescribed proforma annexed herewith (Annex I). Unilaterally submitted projects shall not be considered. The project proposal must include one Principal Investigator (PI) and a Co-PI each in India and Iran. The PIs/Co-PIs have the main responsibility for scientific and financial reporting which must be done annually before the next disbursement of funding. They are also responsible for the technical as well as administrative co-ordination of the project. The project duration would be of 2 years. The Principal Investigator (PI) and other investigators in India and Iran should be Scientists/faculty members working in regular capacity in Government recognized Universities/ Deemed Universities, Academic Institutes and National Research & Development Laboratories/ Institutes. The Indian PI should not be retiring during the proposed duration of the project.

 

COMPONENTS OF GRANT:

It is expected that participating institutes themselves make provision for the use of equipment, manpower, consumables, etc. required under the project. However, in deserving cases, incremental costs may also be considered on recommendations of the Project Assessment/Expert Committees. Financial provisions available for the exchange visit component are as follows:

The international travel cost for their scientists to the capital city/arrival city and medical insurance shall be provided to the visiting scientists by the sending side.

 

The receiving side will make the following arrangements:

Iranian Side

1. a)The Indian Scientists visiting Iran shall be provided per diem amount Iranian Rial 1,000,000 per day for food, local transport and out of pocket expenses in case of short term visit (upto 21 days) , and Iranian Rial 2,500,000 calculated on per month basis in case of long term visits (more than 21 days).
2. b)Free furnished accommodation in Guest House/Hotel with reasonable amenities.
3. c)In country transport from Capital city/arrival city to the visiting institute by appropriate means, and
4. d)Pickup from and dropping facility at the airport to all visiting researchers

Indian Side

1. a)The Iranian Scientists visiting India shall be paid per diem amount INR 2,000 per day in case of short term visit (up to 21 days), and INR 50,000/- calculated on per month basis in case of long term visits (more than 21 days). These amounts will cover expenses related to local transport and out of pocket allowance
2. b)Free furnished accommodation in Guest House/Hotel with reasonable amenities
3. c)In country transport from Capital city/arrival city to the visiting institute by appropriate means, and
4. d)Pickup from and dropping facility at the airport to all visiting researchers

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

 

Joint research projects in the prescribed format duly forwarded by the respective Heads of the Institutions are to be submitted simultaneously, by the Indian Project Investigator to the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, and by the Iranian Project Leader to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT). Applications received by both the agencies with all necessary documents shall only be considered.

 

Indian PIs will submit 5 hard copies (including 1 original) and in PDF format the project proposal in prescribed format to DST and Iranian PIs will submit 5 hard copies of the proposal (including 1 original and in PDF format) to CISC at their respective addresses indicated as under:

 

Indian side:   Dr. Jagdish Chander Scientist – G/Adviser, International Cooperation, Department of Science & Technology, Technology Bhavan New Mehrauli Road New Delhi - 110 016  E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Iranian side:  Dr. A. Koohian Deputy Director Center for International Scientific Cooperation (CISC), Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Tehran, Iran Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Important:         Applications received after closing date i.e. 15^th February 2018 will not be considered.

Annex I

INDIA–IRAN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL

PROGRAMME OF COOPERATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 Proforma for Submission of Joint Projects Proposals

A. PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

1. Title of the Project:

2. Duration of the Project:

3. Expected Date of Commencement

4. Field of Science and Technology Covered by the Proposal

(4 Keywords qualifying the scope of proposal)

5. Project Investigators (PI) and Collaborating Institutions:

	INDIAN	IRANIAN
Name of PI: Designation: Institution's Address Tel: Fax: E-mail: Date of Birth:
Name of Co-PI Designation: Institution's Address: Tel: Fax: E-mail: Date of Birth

B. TECHNICAL INFORMATION

1.    Objectives of the Project (upto 200 words)

2.    Justification for collaboration & brief information about national and international scenario in the proposed area of research (upto 200 words)

3.    Scientific & technical description of the project including methodology (upto 400 words)

4.    Methodology

5.    Plan of work

Time Schedule	Indian Responsibilities	Iranian Responsibilities
1st Year
2nd Year
3rd Year

 

1. 6.Infrastructural facilities related to the project activity available in the institutions where the project work will be carried out :

At the Indian Collaborating Institutes	At the Iranian Collaborating Institutes

1. 7.Number of exchange visit required to achieve the Project Objectives (Year wise)

Period	India to Iran		Iran to India
	Number	Duration	Number	Duration
1st Year
2nd Year
3rd Year

8.    Expected results of this cooperation (e.g. joint publications, patents etc.). Are any of the expected results likely to have commercial value? (upto 100 words)

9.    Bio-data of Indian and Iranian investigators to be attached. [The description should highlight the expertise of the PI(s) in the proposed field of work supported by citing relevant publications only (to be appended in about 2 pages)]

C . ADMINISTRATIVE & FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1.    Project Cost (Indian side)

Year	Exchange Visits	Local Hospitality to Iranian scientists visiting India	Contingencies	Total
	Indian Scientists to Iran (international travel from place of work in India to place of work in Iran including local travel, medical   insurance, visa fee etc.)
1st Year
2nd Year
3rd Year
Overheads (@10%)
Total

Project Cost (Iranian side)

Year	Exchange Visits	Local Hospitality for Indian Scientists visiting Iran	Contingencies	Total
	Iranian Scientists to India (international travel from place of work in Iran to place of work in India including local travel, medical insurance, visa fee etc.)
1st Year
2nd Year
3rd Year
Overheads (@10%)
Total

2. Signatures of the Project Investigators & Co – investigators

INDIAN                                                                                      Iranian

3.    Declaration from the Heads of the Collaborating Institutions:

It is certified that

i)     the Institutions agree to participate in this Joint Research Project;

ii)    the Institutions shall provide infrastructure & necessary facilities for implementing the joint project;

iii)   the Institutions assume to undertake financial & other management responsibility for the part of the project work to be carried out at their institution; and

iv)   the back-up funding for manpower, consumable etc. is available to this project.

Signature & Seal of the Head of the Institutions

INDIAN                                                                                       Iranian