Research Development Office - Grants for independent researchers

Research Development Office

Grants for independent researchers

The Research Development Office has developed a database of currently available funding opportunities primarily for Indian researchers. This database is constantly being updated. Although most of the available funding comes from the Government of India, there are many other opportunities from India and overseas that can be applied for.

The table below lists funding opportunities for independent researchers. These include personal Fellowships, (tenable in India and abroad) mechanisms for funding independent research, infrastructure, International collaborations, International exchange, organization of workshops/seminars and travel.

Click here to download the Excel format of database with more details. The filter tool can then be used to search against various categories.

This information was last updated on 29 Apr 2013.

Personal Support (Tenable in India)
Agency	Scheme	Eligibility	Deadline	Duration
British Petroleum (BP)/Bird life International/ Conservation International/Fauna and Flora international/ Wildlife conservation society	Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP)-Kate Stokes Memorial Award	All continuation award winners of BP conservation schemes are considered, there is no need to apply.
DBT	Tata Innovation Fellowship	Age less than 60 years. emplyoment at a research institute.	To Be Announced	3 years with possibility of 2 year extension
DBT	Ramalingaswamy Re-entry Fellowship	PhD/Mtech/MD	To Be Announced	5 years
DST	Ramanujan Fellowship	PhD/MD with excellent proven track-record. Age less than 60 years.	Rolling programme	5 years
DST	J C Bose national Fellowships	PhD, less than 60 years. Needs to be nominated by the institute	Rolling programme	5 years
DST	Swarnajayanti Fellowships	PhD, Age 30-40 years	15-May-13	5 years
International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO)	Return home Fellowship	Scientists who are developing a successful basic/clinical research career in a developed country and wish to return to their country of origin or to a less developed country	1 Sep each year
Lady Tata Memorial Trust	Young Researcher Award	Strong scientific leadership with more than 10 years experience running an independent lab	To be Announced, Expected Jan 2014	3+2 years based on review of progress
Wellcome Trust-DBT India Alliance	Margdarshi Fellowship	Strong scientific leadership with more than 10 years experience running an independent lab	15-May-13	5 years
Wellcome Trust-DBT India Alliance	Intermediate Research Fellowship	5-7 years PD experience	Current round in process, next round expected Oct 2013	5 years
Wellcome Trust-DBT India Alliance	Senior Research Fellowship	7-12 years PD experience	Current round in process, next round expected Oct 2013	5 years

Personal Support (tenable abroad)
Agency	Scheme	Eligibility	Deadline	Duration
Alexander Humboldt Foundation	Fellowship for experienced researchers (Germany)	Independent PI (Assistant Professor/ Junior Research GL) with < 12 years experience	Rolling programme	6-18 months, can be divided into 3 blocks of minimum 3 months each in 3 years.
Alexander Humboldt Foundation	International Climate protection Fellowships (Germany)	Min Master's level education, first degree less than 12 years ago, practical experience in climate protection/ nature conservation,with leadership potential	To Be Announced	1 year
American Cancer Society	International Fellowships for Beginning Investigators (ACSBI, USA)	Beginer Independent investigator or clinician	1-Nov each year	6-12 months
Commonwealth Secretariat, U.K., administered by UGC	Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship (UK)	5-10 years research and upto 2 years teaching experience. Age less than 40 years.	To be Announced in July 2013	6 months
DBT/ NIH	Khorana- Nirenberg Scholar Program (India/NIH)	Fresh PhD/postdoc (> 5 years experience)	To Be Announced	2-3 years postdoc (NIH, USA)+ 2-3 years in independent DBT sponsored lab (India)
IBM - IUSSTF	IBM - IUSSTF Visiting Fellowships in Nanotechnology (Thomas J. Watson Research Laboratory New York)	PhD, permanent appointment in a research institute	To be Announced	3 months
Indo-US Science and Technology Forum	Indo-US Science and Technology Forum fellowships (USA)	PhD, age less than 40 years, with permanent position	To be Annouced	12 months
Indo-US Science and Technology Forum	ASM-IUSSTF Indo-US Professorship in Microbiology	Microbiologists with significant experience in research or teaching in the field	15 July each year	short term
Union for international cancer control (UICC)	Yamagiwa-Yoshida Memorial international study grants (any country overseas)	PhD/MD with min 2 years postdoc experience	15-Jan and 1-July	3 months
US-India Educational Foundation	Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships	Indian faculty/researchers with at least 5 years teaching experience, preferably below 50 years of ag	15 July 2013	4-9 months

Research Grants
Agency	Scheme	Eligibility	Deadline	Duration
British Petroleum (BP)/Bird life International/ Conservation International/Fauna and Flora international/ Wildlife conservation society	Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP)-Conservation Follow-up Awards	Minimum team of three with at least 50% involved in previous CLP project and additional new team members with no more than 5 years of paid experience in the conservation sector	To Be Announced, Expected July 2013	Upto 2 years
British Petroleum (BP)/Bird life International/ Conservation International/Fauna and Flora international/ Wildlife conservation society	Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP)-Conservation Leadership Awards	Minimum team of three with at least 50% involved in previous CLP project and additional new team members with no more than 5 years of paid experience in the conservation sector	To Be Announced, Expected Sep 2013	upto 3 years
CSIR	CSIR research Grant	PhD, regular appointment in a research institute	Rolling Programme	3 years
DBT	Project grant	PhD, regular appointment in a research institute	Rolling Programme	3-5 years
DBT	Research Grant Neurosciences	PhD, regular appointment in a research institute	1-May-13 for Sept round	3-5 years for R&D proposals, 18-24 months for pilot projects
DBT	Nanotechnology		31-May-2013
DBT	Development of Next Generation Imaging Technologies for Biomedical Applications		To Be Announced
DBT	BioCAre Research Grant opportunity (RGO)	PhD (age limit 55 years)	To Be Announced	3+2 years
DBT/ EU countries	New INDIGO Partnership Programme (NPP) on Biotechnology applied to Human Health	Scientists from universities, research institutions and small and medium enterprises / companies from India as defined by BIRAP, DBT.	To Be Announced	3 years
DST	Extra Mural Research Funding (Individual Centric)	PhD, regular appointment in a research institute	Rolling Programme	3 years
DST (SERC)	Nano Mission		Rolling programme	3 years
DST	Woman Scientist scheme (WOS-A)	for unemployed women scientists	Rolling programme	3 years
DST	Woman Scientist scheme (WOS-B)	for unemployed women scientists	To Be Announced	2 years
EARTHWATCH Institute US/International	Research Grants	Advanced scholars and professionals of any nationality, covering any geographic region. EARTHWATCH supports doctoral and post-doctoral researchers, or researchers with equivalent scholarship or commensurate life experience	To be Announced	Grants renewed annually, long-term research projects are encouraged. Principal investigators to indicate their projected research term.
Gates	Grand Challenges Explorations		7-May-13	1-6 years* (with extension)
Gates/ICICI Knowledge Park (IKP)	IKP-Grand Challenges Explorations	No restrictions, but work to be conducted in India	To Be Announced	18 months with mentorship from Industry leaders upto 2 years
ICMR	AD-HOC RESEARCH SCHEMES	PhD, regular appointment in a research institute	Rolling Programme	2-3 years
International Foundation for Science (IFS)	IFS Research Grant	Citizen of a developing country with minimum Master's level education, under 40 years of age and with a regular employment at a research institute. Project needs to be based in a developing country (India Eligible).	To be Announced	1-3 years (maybe renewed upto 3 times)
James McDonnell Foundation (USA)	2013 Scholar Awards in Complex Systems Science	5-15 years post PhD with a regular position in a non-profit research institution. No nationality restrictions	To be Annouced	3-6 years
Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI)	SFARI Explorer Awards	PhD, MD or equivalent with faculty position in research or educational institute. No citizenship or country requirements	Rolling Program	1 year
Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI)	Circuit Dynamics Request for Applications	PhD, MD or equivalent with faculty position in research or educational institute. No citizenship or country requirements	21-Jun-13	2 years
Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI)	Analysis of Simons VIP Biospecimens Request for Applications	PhD, MD or equivalent with faculty position in research or educational institute. No citizenship or country requirements	21-Jun-13
USAID/NSF	Partnership for enhanced engagement in Research (PEER)	PIs in developing countries collaborating with a PI in US having a NSF grant active for the duration of the award	To Be Announced	1-3 years

Infrastructure Grants
Agency	Scheme	Eligibility	Deadline	Duration
DBT	Project for creation of Infrastructural facility			5 years
DBT	Creation of Center of excellence and Innovation in Biotechnology (CEIB)	PIs with strong track record, permanent position at a non-profit research institution	To Be Announced	5 years
DST	Fund for improvement of S&T infrastructure (FIST)		31-May-13	5 years

International Collaborations
Agency	Scheme	Eligibility	Deadline	Duration
BBSRC/DBT	Joint DBT-BBSRC Call for Collaborative Proposals to support Crop Genomics	All researchers eligible for DBT funding	19-Jun-13	upto 3 years
DBT	Indo-Australian Fund for S&T Cooperation in Biotechnology	Need Australian collaborator	To be Annouced	3 years
DBT/CDTI, Spain	INDO-SPANISH JOINT CALL FOR TECHNOLOGICAL CO-OPERATION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY 2012	Need Spanish industry collaborator	15-Jul-13	1-3 years
DBT/Danish council for strategic research	Strategic Joint research collaboration within health science biotechnology	Needs Danish Collaborator	To be Announced	3-5 years
DBT/DFG	Indo-German International Research Training Groups	for training of doctoral students in both countries, in areas of mutual interest, covering all areas Biotechnology, with specific emphasis on interdisciplinarity within the main topic of the research area	21-Jun-13	4.5 years with possible extension for one more term
DBT/ ISTPCanada	Ontario (Canada) - India S& T Cooperation, ISTP Canada DBT Joint Call for Proposal in all area of Biotechnology in including Life Sciences and Medical Devices		To be Annouced
DBT/ISTP Canada	CANADA - INDIA SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION, ISTPCanada-DBT Joint Call for Proposals for Collaborative R&D Projects	Canadian lead to be a for-profit company, Indian side lead may be Companies; academic institutions; research hospitals; or other R&D institutes but participation from for-profit company from India mandatory	To be Annouced	12-24 months
DBT/ TEKES (Finland)	Indo-Finland Joint Call for Proposals in Health and Well Being	Projects from industry or research organisations. Industry-academia collaboration recommended.Needs Collaborator in Finland	To be Annouced
DBT/NIBIB/NIH	INDO-U.S. JOINT PROPOSALS IN THE AREA OF LOW-COST MEDICAL DEVICES	Needs US collaborator	24-May-13, 24-Sep-13	2 years
DBT/VINNOVA/SRC (Sweden)	Strategic Indo-Swedish Cooperative Innovation Programme- Joint call in the field of Health	Indian and Swedish partners from public, private and nonprofit organizations that perform R&D and innovation activities.	29-Apr-13	18-36 months
DBT/Swiss Embasssy in India	Indo-Swiss Collaboration in Biotechnology (ISCB)	Technical thrust areas are to improve input efficiency, stress resistance and targeted delivery using biotechnologies or life sciences approaches by (i) genetic enhancement of crops and (ii) novel inputs for improved crop production. Target crops are small millets. Preference to projects organised in networks lead by the individual network partners	To be Annouced	3 years
DST/ DIISRTE (australia)	AUSTRALIA-INDIA STRATEGIC RESEARCH FUND (AISRF)	Independent position in research institute/Univ	To be Annouced	3 years
DST/DIISRTE (Australia)	Grand Challenge Component (Round 2)	Requires Australian collaborator and an end user. Priority areas "food and water security" and "environment"	To be Annouced	3-4 years
DST/ Max Planck Society	Max Planck Partner Groups at Indian Partner Institutions	Postdoc (age limit 38 years), with minimum 12 month experience in a Max Planck Institute (MPI)	To be Annouced	3-5 years
DST/ Russian Foundation for basic research (RFBR)	Indo-Russian joint research	PhD, permanent position necessary	To be Annouced	2 years + 1 year (based on merit)
Global Innovation and Technology Alliance ( GITA), India/ISTP Canada	CANADA - INDIA SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION, ISTPCanada-DBT Joint Call for Proposals for Collaborative R&D Projects	Requires lead applicants from for-profit industry from both sides. Academic institutes encouraged to participate	To be Annouced	12-24 months
Human Frontier in Science Program (HFSP)	Young Investigator's grants	Junior Independent PI, within 5 years of obtaining an independent position	To be Announced, expected Dec 2013	3 years
Human Frontier in Science Program (HFSP)	Programme grants	Independent PI	To be Announced, expected Dec 2013	3 years
Human Frontiers in Science Program (HFSP)	Career Development Award	Need to have held one of 2 Feeder Fellowships	To Be Announced	3 years
India US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF)	US- India Science and Technology Endowment	entities from academia, national laboratories, non-governmental R&D institutions and start-up companies.	To Be Announced
Indo French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research IFCPAR	Indo-French Collaborative research projects	PhD, permanent appointment in a research institute	1 April and 1 Oct each year	3 years
National Geographic	Conservation trust	No restriction on educational qualification. applicants must provide a record of prior research or conservation action as it pertains to the proposed project.	at least 8 months prior to anticipated field dates	1 year
Swiss national Science foundation/ DST	Indo Swiss Joint Research Programme JOINT RESEARCH PROJECTS	Regular position in Indian research institute	To be Announced	36 months
WWF-India	Small Grants Program	individuals based in India for carrying out conservation research or undertaking a conservation project	15-Jun-13	6-12 months

International Exchange
Agency	Scheme	Eligibility	Deadline	Duration
BBSRC (UK)	India Partnering Award	UK partner needs to be BBSRC funded	To Be Announced	4 years
DBT/State of Queensland, Australia	INDO-QUEENSLAND EARLY CAREER FELLOWSHIPS 2012	0-5 years post PhD with a regular position in India or Queensland, Australia	To Be Announced, expected Mar 2013	3-9 months
DST/Unit for Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs	Executive Programme of Scientific and Technological Cooperation for the years 2012 – 2014	PhD with regular position in research inst/univ.	To be announced.	3 years
DST/ BMWF (Austria)	INDIA – AUSTRIA SCIENTIFC-TECHNOLOGICAL CO-OPERATION	Needs Austrian collaborator	To be Annouced	2 years
DST/ DAAD (Germany)	DST-DAAD Project based personnel exchange programme	Needs German collaborator	To Be Announced	2 years
DST/ Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal	Indo-Portugese Programme of cooperation in Science and Technology	Needs Portugese collaborator	To be Announced	3 years
DST/ Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science	India-Japan Cooperative Science Programme (IJCSP)	Needs Japanese collaborator	To be Annouced	2 years
DST/ MINCYT, Argentina	Indo-Argentine Bilateral scientific cooperation	PhD, regular appointment in a research institute	To be Announced	short term 15days-3 months
DST/ Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Czech republic	Indo-Czech Programme of cooperation in Science and Technology	Needs Czech collbaorator	To Be Announced	3 years
DST/MHESR( Tunisia)	Indo-Tunisian call for joint proposals	Needs Tunisian collaborator	To Be Announced	2 years
DST/ Research Council of Norway	Indian Norwegian joint research projects	Regular employment at a research institute. Needs Norwegian Collaborator	To Be Announced	3 years
DST/ Spanish Ministry of Science and innovation (MICINN)	Indo-Spain Joint Programme of cooperation in Science and Technology	Regular emplyment at a research institute. Needs Spanish Collaborator	To be Announced	3 years
DST/ Swiss Program Office	Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme Joint Utilization of Advanced facilities	Needs Swiss collaborator	To be Announced	30 days
DST/ Swiss Program Office	Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme Personnel Exchange Programme	Needs Swiss collaborator, should include at least 1 PhD or postdoctoral scientist on each side	To Be Announced	2 years (4 visits of 30-90 days)
DST-State Agency on Science, Innovations and Information of Ukraine	Indo-Ukraine Bilateral scientific cooperation	PhD, permanent appointment in a research institute	To be Announced	3 years
DST- National Science Council of Taiwan	India- Taiwan Programme of Co-operation in S&T, Joint Research Project proposals	Scientists and Engineers in India and Taiwan	To be Announced	3 years (2 visits of 30-60 days/each side/ year)
DST/UKIERI	DST-UKIERI Thematic Partnerships	PhD, regular appointment in research institute in india or UK	soft copy submission by 31st May, hard copies to be submitted by 15th June 2013	2 years (4 visits of 15-89 days/each side/year)
Matsumae International Foundation (Japan)	MIF Research Fellowship	PhD, permanent appointment in a research institute	31-Aug-13	3-6 months
International Brain research Organization (IBRO)	IBRO-APRC Exchange Fellowship	senior PhD, postdoc or junior faculty	1-Jun-13	4-6 months
National Council for Science & Technology (CONACYT) of United Mexican States/ DST	Indo-Mexican Scientific-Technological Cooperation Programme	Needs collaborator in Mexico	To be Announced	2-3 years
Royal Society, UK	International Exchange scheme	Postdoc or holding independent position in research institute/university	26-June -13, 23-Oct-13	variable from 3months, 1 year or 2 years
UGC/UKIERI	UGC-UKIERI Thematic Partnerships	PhD, regular appointment in research institute in india or UK	soft copy submission by 31st May, hard copies to be submitted by 15th June 2013	2 years (4 visits of 15-89 days/each side/year)
Utrecht University, Netherlands	Utrecht University Visiting Teaching fellowship	Professors in one of Utrecht University research focus areas	Rolling program upto 1-Dec-13 for the fellowships in 2013-14	2 weeks- 1 semester

Organising Meetings/Symposia/Workshops
Agency	Scheme	Eligibility	Deadline	Duration
DBT	Financial Assistance for organising Conference/Seminar/Symposium/Workshops
DST	Financial Assistance for organising Conference/Seminar/Symposium/Workshops		3-6 months prior to the event
CSIR	Financial Assistance for organising Conference/Seminar/Symposium/Workshops		3 months before the event
Company of Biologists	Scientific Meetings Grant		2 Jan, 1 Mar, 17 May, 9 Aug
Company of Biologists	Small Meetings grant		15 Jan, 5 Apr, 25 Jun, 10 Sept
Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advance Research (IFCPAR)	Grant for organizing Seminars and Workshops	Needs French collaborator	1-Apr and 1-Oct every year
DBT/ ISTPCanada	Canada - India S& T Cooperation, Proposal for Partnership Development activities (PDAs)	Needs Canadian Collaborator	To be Announced
DST/Royal Society and Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) UK	India-UK Scientific Seminars	PhD with regular appointment at a research institute in India or UK	31-May-13
Indo-US Science and Technology Forum	Indo-US Bilateral Workshops/ Symposia/ Conferences	Qualified scientist from all science disciplines working at Indian and American institutions	15-Feb, 15-Aug each year
Lady Tata Memorial Trust	Meetings/Symposia/Workshops in the area of medical research		2 months prior to the event
TWAS	International Scientific meetings	Organiser must be developing country	1-Dec for July-Dec meetings and 1 June for Jan-June meetings following year

Travel
Agency	Scheme	Eligibility	Deadline	Duration
DBT	Travel Support for attending International Conference/ Seminar/ Symposium	PhD, Age less than 50 years	At least 8 weeks prior to travel date
DBT	CREST Award	Applicant must have a permanent job	To be Announced, Expected Dec 2013	1-12 months
DST	International Travel support Scheme	open to all researchers. Senior researchers (> 35 years) cannot apply to Int Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) sponsored events	Rolling programme. App. to reach two months prior to the event
International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO)	International Travel Grants	For participation in international Neuroscience meetings	1-Mar-13 for meetings in Jul-Dec and 1-Sep for meeting in Jan-Jun following year
ICMR	International Travel by Non-ICMR Scientists	Biomedical scientists engaged in R&D. Senior Scientist (above 35 yrs of age) are eligible to apply only to international scientific events which are not sponsored by international Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU).	6 weeks before the commencement of the event
INSA-CSIR-DAE/BRNS-DOS/ISRO	CICS Travel Fellowship Programme	PhD, Indian nationality	committee meets six times/year with specific deadline for each meeting
Ratan Tata Trust and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust	Education grant- Travel grants	PhD with regular position in research institute, Indian nationality	at least 3-4 months prior to departure

Others
Agency	Scheme	Eligibility	Deadline	Duration
DBT	BioCAre. Career Re-orientation Fellowship (CRF)	PhD (age limit 55 years). Women currently unemployed, temporarily employed or looking for change in career path	To Be Announced	12 months
DST	Utilisation Of The Scientific Expertise Of Retired Scientists (USERS)	Age upto 67 years		2 years