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 8 May 2012.

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, expected Nov 2012	3 years with possibility of 2 year extension
DBT	Ramalingaswamy Re-entry Fellowship	PhD/Mtech/MD	To Be Announced expected Aug 2012	5 years
DBT/ NIH	Khorana- Nirenberg Scholar Program	Fresh PhD/postdoc (less than 5 years experience)	To be Announced	2-3 years postdoc (NIH, USA)+ 2-3 years in independent DBT sponsored lab (India)
DST	Ramanujan Fellowship	PhD/MD with exellent proven tract-record. Age less than 60 years.	Rolling programme	5 years
DST	Ramanna Fellowship	Scientist supported by basic research projects of SERC	Rolling programme	3 years can be extended for another 3 years based on performance
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	To be Announced, in Jan/Feb 2012	5 years
DST (SERC)	SERC visiting fellowship	PhD with regular position in research inst/univ.	31-Oct each year	3 months
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 2013	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	14-May-12	5 years
Wellcome Trust-DBT India Alliance	Intermediate Research Fellowship	5-7 years PD experience	To Be Announced	5 years
Wellcome Trust-DBT India Alliance	Senior Research Fellowship	7-12 years PD experience	To Be Announced	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, expected Dec 2012	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 2012	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)
DST	BOYSCAST (Any country overseas)	PhD less than 35 years of age with regular position	To be Announced, expected Aug 2012	upto 12 months
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, expected Jan 2013	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 Announced, expected Dec 2012	12 months
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	Fullbright-Nehru Environmental Leadership program (USA)	master's or professional degree of at least 4 years duration + at least 5 years professional experience	16-Jul-12	Short term

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 Nov 2012	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 Nov 2012	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 years
DBT	Research Grant Neurosciences	PhD, regular appointment in a research institute	To Be Announced	3-5 years for R&D proposals, 18-24 months for pilot projects
DBT	Nanotechnology		15-May-12
DBT	BioCAre Research Grant opportunity (RGO)	PhD (age limit 55 years)	31-May-12	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	Project grant	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	30-Apr-12	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 in Dec 2012	Grants renewed annually, long-term research projects are encouraged. Principal investigators to indicate their projected research term.
Gates	Grand Challenges Explorations		15-May-12	1-6 years* (with extension)
Gates/ICICI Knowledge Park (IKP)	IKP-Grand Challenges Explorations	No restrictions	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)	2012 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 Announced, expected Mar 2013	3-6 years
James McDonnell Foundation (USA)	2012 RESEARCH AWARDS IN BRAIN CANCER	PIs of Assistant Professor or above level	To Be Announced, expected Mar 2013	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
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, Expected Nov 2012	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, Expected Dec 2012	5 years
DST	Fund for improvement of S&T infrastructure (FIST)		31-May-12	5 years

International Collaborations
Agency	Scheme	Eligibility	Deadline	Duration
BBSRC, DFID, UK; DBT, ICAR, India	Sustainable crop production research for International Development	All researchers eligible for DBT funding	To be announced	4-5 years
DBT	Indo-Australian Fund for S&T Cooperation in Biotechnology	Need Australian collaborator	To be Annouced Expected Oct-2012	3 years
DBT/Danish council for strategic research	Strategic Joint research collaboration within health science biotechnology	Needs Danish Collaborator	14-Sep-12	3-5 years
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 Expected Aug-2012
DBT/Academy of Finaland	INDO-FINLAND Joint Call for proposals in Food Biotechnology	Needs Collaborator in Finland	To be Announced expected May 2012	3 years
DBT/NIBIB/NIH	INDO-U.S. JOINT PROPOSALS IN THE AREA OF LOW-COST MEDICAL DEVICES	Needs US collaborator	26-Jan, 24-May, 23-Sep-2011	2 years
DST/ DFG (German Research Foundation)	Indo-German (DST-DFG) programme	Independent position in research institute/Univ	To be Announced	3 years
DST/ DIISR (australia)	AUSTRALIA-INDIA STRATEGIC RESEARCH FUND (AISRF)	Independent position in research institute/Univ	To be Annouced Expected Oct-2012	3 years
DST/ Max Planck Society	Max Planck Partner Groups at Indian Partner Institutions	Postdoc (age limit 39 years), with minimum 12 month experience in a Max Planck Institute (MPI)	To be Annouced Expected Sep-2012	3-5 years
DST/ Ministry of science and technology (MOST), China	Indo-China Programme of Cooperation in Science and Technology		To be Announced	3 years
DST/ Russian Foundation for basic research (RFBR)	Indo-Russian joint research	PhD, permanent position necessary	To be Announced, Expected Nov 2012	2 years + 1 year (based on merit)
DST/DIISR (Australia)	Grand Challenge Component	Requires australian collaborator and an end user	To be Announced	3-4 years
Human Frontier in Science Program (HFSP)	Young Investigator's grants	Junior Independent PI, within 5 years of obtaining an independent position	To Be Announced	3 years
Human Frontier in Science Program (HFSP)	Programme grants	Independent PI	To Be Announced	3 years
Human Frontiers in Science Program (HFSP)	Career Development Award	Need to have held one of 2 Feeder Fellowships	To Be Announced, Expected Nov 2012	3 years
Institute for Complex Adaptive Matter (ICAM)	ICAM senior faculty fellow	Faculty or permanent staff at ICAM branches	To Be Announced, Expected Dec 2012	1 year
ICMR/ Medical Research Council (UK)	Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Research Funding	Needs UK collaborator	To be Announced	3-4 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, expected Feb 2013
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
National Insititute of health (NIH)/ DBT	U.S. - India Bilateral Brain Research Collaborative Partnerships (U.S. - India BRCP) (R21)	Needs US collaborator	To be Announced expected Feb 2013	2 years
Swiss national Science foundation/ DST	Indo Swiss Joint Research Programme JOINT RESEARCH PROJECTS	Regular position in Indian research institute	To be Announced, Expected Apr 2012	36 months
WWF-India	Small Grants Program	individuals based in India for carrying out conservation research or undertaking a conservation project	To be Announced	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, expected Nov 2012	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. Expected Jul 2012	3 years
DST/ BMWF (austria)	INDIA – AUSTRIA SCIENTIFC-TECHNOLOGICAL CO-OPERATION	Needs austrian collaborator	To be Announced	2 years
DST/ DAAD (germany)	DST-DAAD Project based personnel exchange programme	Needs German collaborator	To be Announced, expected Dec 2012	2 years
DST/ Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal	Indo-Portugese Programme of cooperation in Science and Technology	Needs Portugese collaborator	29-Jun-12	3 years
DST/ Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science	India-Japan Cooperative Science Programme (IJCSP)	Needs Japanese collaborator	To be Announced Expected Sep-12	2 years
DST/ MINCYT, Argentina	Indo-Argentine Bilateral scientific cooperation	PhD, regular appointment in a research institute	To be Announced expected May 2012	short term 15days-3 months
DST/ National Authority of Scientific Research, Govt republic of Romania	INDO-ROMANIAN BILATERAL SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION	Needs Romanian Collaborator	To be Announced	3 years
DST/ National Office of Science & Technology (NKTH), Hungary	Indo-Hungarian Strategic Research Fund (IHSRF)	Needs Hungarian Collaborator	To be Announced	2 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	30-May-12	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, Expected May 2012	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	30-Aug12	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	To Be Announced	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-12	3-6 months
International Brain research Organization (IBRO)	IBRO-APRC Exchange Fellowship	senior PhD, postdoc or junior faculty	15-Oct each year	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 Expected Jun-2012	2-3 years
Royal Society, UK	International Exchange scheme	Postdoc or holding independent position in research institute/university	To be Announced Expected Oct-12	variable from 3months, 1 year or 2 years
UGC/UKIERI	UGC-UKIERI Thematic Partnerships	PhD, regular appointment in research institute in india or UK	To Be Announced	2 years (4 visits of 15-89 days/each side/year)
US-India Educational Foundation	Fullbright-Nehru Senior research fellowships	Indian/US faculty/researchers with at least 5 years teaching experience, preferably below 50 years of age	16-Jul-12	4-9 months
Utrecht University, Netherlands	Utrecht University Visiting Teaching fellowship	Professors in one of Utrecht University research focus areas	1-May-12	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
CSIR	Financial Assistance for organising Conference/Seminar/Symposium/Workshops		3 months before the event
Company of Biologists	Scientific Meetings Grant		15 Jan, 5 Apr, 15 Jun, 10 Sept
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	Rolling Programme. Results announced within 12-18 weeks
DST/ Russian Foundation for basic research (RFBR)	Indo-Russian Bilateral Workshop		To be Announced, expected Nov 2012
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	17-May-12
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-Jun, 15- Oct each year
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 2012	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
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	31-May-12	12 months
DST	Utilisation Of The Scientific Expertise Of Retired Scientists (USERS)	Age upto 67 years		2 years