VAIshwik
BHArtiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellowship Call-2025
(For
Indian Diaspora)
(For
NRI/OCI/PIO)
Closing Date: 30 May 2025 (5:00 PM IST)
The Department of
Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and
Technology, Government of India, is implementing the VAIBHAV Fellowship
Program. DST is one of the Government Departments under Ministry of Science and
Technology which plays the role of a nodal department for
organizing, coordinating and promoting S&T activities in the country with
the objective of promoting new areas of Science & Technology.
VAIBHAV Fellowship envisages a collaboration between scientists of Indian Diaspora with Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), Universities and/ or public funded Scientific Institutions. The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for collaboration and may spend up to two months in a year for maximum 3 years.
Emoluments
for the Fellow:
•
Fellowship
in INR 4 Lakh per month, for minimum 01 month and maximum up to 02 months
per year (in a single stretch) for a period
of maximum 03 years,
•
International
Travel from place of work in parent institute to place of work in India in
business
class once a year,
•
Fully
furnished Accommodation in guest house or hotel up to Rs.7500/- per day
•
Contingency
Rs.1,00,000 per year for research expenditure in India.
• Domestic Travel (economy class) for academic purposes up to two Indian academic/ scientific institutes in a year
Institutional
Financial Support:
In addition to the emoluments to VAIBHAV fellow, the financial support (up to Rs 5.00 lakhs per year for 03 years) will be given to host institution to facilitate the VAIBHAV fellow for research work as per DST norms. This funding will cover the following expenses in connection with a project;
Consumables and Accessories,
§ Contingency
§ Institutional Overhead
Justification for
budgetary support needs to be provided by the host institute, for which a
project proposal shall be submitted by the Host Institute in consultation with VAIBHAV
fellow as a part of VAIBHAV Fellowship application.
It may be noted
that total eligible grant will be released to Indian host Institute and these
institute would be providing Fellowship amount to the VAIBHAV Fellow and extend
other support.
Registration in Public Fund Management System (PFMS) is mandatory for all Host Institute. In case, Indian Host Institute is a private organisation, registration in Darpan portal of NITI Aayog is mandatory. Without DARPAN ID the host institute will not be able to submit the proposal.
Expectations
from the VAIBHAV fellow:
·
Sharing
the Best Practices on research and translation of research, incubation etc.
·
Build
long term connections,
·
Connect
Indian Students to the foreign faculty/scientists
· New approaches to Research processes and futuristic technologies
VAIBHAV Fellow is expected
to give a report to DST within 21 days of completion of travel indicating work
done/initiated, follow up required etc.
Expectations
from Host Institution
The
host institute will host the scientist and provide
office/lab facilities, consumables, access to lab equipment and facilitation
for various infrastructure support. The following activities will be done by
the host faculty/scientist:
· Will
start a project/technology translation/start-up/incubation which should be
aligned with the priorities area of the country
· The
VAIBHAV fellow would collaborate with the Indian scientist team during his
visit and beyond via online meetings.
· The
host institution would implement the project within 3 years in consultation
with VAIBHAV fellow.
· The
host Institution would submit the progress report and financial documents to
DST at the end of each year and a project completion report at the end of 3rd
year. The reports need to be jointly prepared by the host and the VAIBHAV
fellow.
· Host
institute will adapt the shared best practices
· Will
build the long-term research connections with the fellow
· Will
develop a new approach to research processes and try to develop new
technologies/innovation etc.
Research areas under which applications may be submitted
Proposals are sought in select identified verticals and horizontals of VAIBHAV
(as mentioned in the preamble):
1. Quantum Technologies: Quantum Communication; Quantum Computing; Quantum Sensing and Metrology; Quantum Materials and Devices
2. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Foundation of AI/ML; AI/ML and Signals; AI for Social Good; AI and Robotics
3. Computational Sciences: High Performance Computing Architectures; Computational Atmospheric Sciences; Cyber Physical Systems
4. Data Sciences: Data Science Project Management; Data Science Infrastructure, Deployment and Hosting; Data Privacy and Security; Data Science Education; Data Science Applications
5. Photonics: Photonic Devices; Optical Imaging and Bio-photonics; Photonic Materials and Sources; Nano-photonics; Integrated Photonics and Communication
6. Energy: Future Electricity Systems; Sustainable Mobility Technologies; Advanced Fossil Technologies; Sustainable Future Fuels
7. Electronics and Semiconductor Technologies: Semiconductor Materials and Process Technologies; Semiconductor Devices: Physics and Technology; Electronic Circuits and System Design
8. Communication Technologies: Cellular Evolution 5G and Beyond (THz Comm); Communication Technologies for IoT/CPS; High Speed Optical Communication - backbone networks; Cognitive Technologies for Futuristic Communication
9. Aerospace Technologies: Aerospace Systems and Design; Propulsion Technologies; Flight Structure and Integrity; Modeling and Simulations; Unmanned Aerial Systems and Countermeasures
10. Materials and Processing Technologies: Structural Materials; Materials Recycling & Purification; Advanced & Functional Materials; Catalytic Materials & Processes; Computational Materials Science
11. Earth Sciences: Atmospheric Science; Polar Science; Ocean Science/Technology; Geo Science/Technology
12. Environmental Sciences: Air Quality Management; Water Quality Management; Soil and Waste Management; Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity Conservation; Climate Change
13. Advanced Manufacturing Technologies: Smart Manufacturing, IoT, Digital Manufacturing; Additive Manufacturing; Precision/Micro-nano Manufacturing/Surface Engineering; Industrial Machines, Robotics/Automation; Speciality Products Manufacturing
14. Health, Medical Sciences and Biomedical Devices: Advanced Technologies in Health Care; Precision Health; Holistic Health; Remote and Rural Health - Reaching the unreached
15. Pharmaceuticals and Bio-Technology: Biotherapeutics and Biosimilars; Industrial Biotechnology; Infectious Diseases/ Disease biology; Drug Discovery, Repurposing and Drug delivery
16. Agricultural Sciences: Precision Agriculture; Sustainable and Climate Smart Agriculture; Food Safety and Nutritional Security; Climate Resilient Livestock, Veterinary Therapeutics and Zoonoses control, Nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture and metabolic biology, Modern Fisheries and Aquaculture and seed production, Genome editing, Robotics, farm automation, Digital Agriculture
17. Social Sciences for SDGs: Behavioral Community Approaches & its impact on Societal Development; Societal aspect of Technology Development with cause; Socio-Economic aspect of Development
18. Management: Fostering academic collaborations; Mechanisms to
increase R&D outputs from Indian institutions; Business innovation;
Entrepreneurship for growth; Management of New-Age (Knowledge) Organizations;
Making India R&D center of the world / Making India Center of
Practice-Oriented Management Knowledge
Eligibility:
(For applicants – VAIBHAV Fellow)
·
Non-Resident
Indian (NRI), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizen of India
(OCI), currently working abroad
·
Ph.D/M.D/M.S/M.Tech
degree from a recognized University
·
Engaged in active research
·
Working/worked in foreign Institute/University (in
regular/tenure employment as a faculty) for at least 5 years or more.
[Desirable: top-200 QS World University Ranking (subject-wise)]
OR
Working in foreign Industry or Research Laboratories of repute in abroad for at least 5 years or more
·
It is
to be noted that experience of PhD and Post-doctoral fellowship period shall
not be counted as experience.
· The applicant should not be PhD/ Post-doctoral fellow.
Eligibility: (For host
Indian Institutions)
·
Higher
Educational Institutions / University ranked in top 200 in NIRF overall
rankings or having NAAC ‘A+’ grade or above
and/or
· Public funded Scientific Institutes/National Laboratories.
Documents needed to apply
|
i. |
Biodata
of applicant (07 pages max) (format attached as Annexure-I) |
|
ii. |
List
of recent publications (last three years) with impact factor |
|
iii. |
Copy
of certificate for highest qualification |
|
iv. |
Copy of certificates showing that applicant is having 5 or more
than 5 years of experience as faculty/scientist in abroad [It
is to be noted that experience of PhD and Post-doctoral fellowship period
shall not be counted as experience] |
|
v. |
Copy
of passport |
|
vi. |
Copy
of OCI/PIO Card /Work Visa |
|
vii. |
Undertaking
by the Applicant and the host in the prescribed format (format attached as Annexure-II) |
|
viii. |
Consent
Letter / No-Objection letter / Forwarding letter from Indian Host Institution
(on letterhead expressing consent to allow the applicant’s research work in
his institution) (format attached as
Annexure-III) |
|
ix. |
Consent
Letter/ No-Objection letter/ Forwarding letter from Applicant’s Institute/
University/ Company (format attached
as Annexure-IV) |
|
x. |
Bio-data
of the Host Scientist and his list of publications of last three years
including the impact factor (format is
same as Annexure-I) |
|
xi. |
Conflict
of Interest (to be given by the Host Scientist in prescribed format) (format attached as Annexure-V) |
How to apply
Each application should be submitted to DST. Please note following
important application instructions:
§ The application should be submitted on-line to
DST. Host Scientist need to apply on
behalf of the Indian Diaspora as DST would release the funds to the host
Institution which will be reimbursed to the fellow by the host Institution.
§ The applicant can apply
online by using the following link https://onlinedst.gov.in/Projectproposalformat.aspx?Id=2317 and should submit
completed application with all relevant information through e-PMS portal of the
DST. Applications
would be received in on-line mode (through ePMS) only. Physical or e-mail
applications will not be considered.
§ Any shortcomings in the proposal or non-submission
through the e-PMS portal will result in rejection of the proposal. DST will not
be responsible for these shortcomings.
§ It may be noted that after submission, applicant will get Temporary Project Number (TPN), auto generated by the system, which should be mentioned in all future correspondence.
Terms
and Conditions
§ Multiple applications
from Host/Applicant shall be rejected. One host/applicant can submit only one
application.
§ In case applicant could
not submit the proposal in time, DST shall not entertain that project offline
and also no request to extend the date would be entertained.
§ Without consent letter
from Head of Institute of Host and applicant, the application shall not be
entertained and shall be treated as disqualified.
§ No calls/emails will be
entertained 72 hrs prior to the closing of call.
§ All the certificates/documents should be duly signed and stamped by the competent authority of the Institution.
Important Dates
o Launch of
VAIBHAV fellowship at DST websites: April
15, 2025
o Deadline to submit Application in current cycle: May 30, 2025 (5:00 PM IST)
Merit Evaluation Criteria
and Deliverables
We support research excellence and therefore contributions to research,
training and mentoring are considered and valued as part of the merit review
process, with a focus on the quality and impact of these contributions.
Applications must address all of the following criteria in order to be
considered for funding:
|
Assessment Criteria |
|
|
1. |
Scientific
and Technical merit including novelty of the proposal |
|
2. |
Proposed
methodology and viability of the proposal |
|
3. |
Research
Accomplishments (As evidenced by impactful papers / patents etc.) of Indian
Diaspora |
|
4. |
International
Recognitions / Awards / Fellows of Academies etc. of Indian Diaspora |
|
5. |
Successful
/ noticeable research collaborations with Indian research systems in the past
of Indian Diaspora |
|
6. |
Research
Accomplishments including national / international recognitions of Indian
Host |
|
7. |
Research
Infrastructure available of Host Institution |
|
8. |
The
lead initiatives taken / existing in the host Institution to accelerate
international research collaborations |
|
9. |
Reason
of collaboration and if the work may be done without collaboration |
|
10. |
Specific
advantage of collaboration for Indian S&T |
|
11. |
Whether
new / improvisation on existing technology development OR Possible
commercialization OR Development of new boundaries of research |
|
12. |
Expected
outcome / deliverables |
|
13. |
Long
term alignment with national priorities / missions |
Review Process for Evaluation
of Applications
- All
applications will be handled in the strictest of confidence.
- A
Review Committee comprised of representatives and independent external
reviewers from India and government departments will examine the proposals.
- DST may consider inviting the
shortlisted applicants for online presentation of their proposed work as
part of the review process. Applications must attain a positive rating to
be considered eligible for funding.
- The Experts Review Committee will prioritize applicants in given vertical. The final decision would be taken by the Government on recommendation of the VAIBHAV Apex Committee.
Contact
Details:
For more details the
following may be contacted:
|
VAIBHAV
Cell International
Cooperation Division Technology
Bhawan Department
of Science and Technology Ministry
of Science and technology New
Delhi-110016
Email:
vaibhav-india@gov.in |
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