Central Government · Ministry Of Science And Technology
SITARE-Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award Grant
Main benefit
Support provided to beneficiaries under the scheme:
Can you get this scheme?
Answer 9 quick questionsAbout
"Students Innovations for Translation & Advancement of Research Explorations (SITARE)” Scheme is started by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) for supporting innovative student projects in the area of biotechnology. The scheme's mandate is to promote and encourage young students for embracing translational research to develop innovative products and technologies addressing unmet needs. The scheme has two components: SITARE-Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award Grant (SITARE-GYTI) and SITARE-Appreciation Grant. SITARE-Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award Grant (SITARE-GYTI): Under the SITARE- GYTI scheme component, 15 innovative student projects will receive funding support of up to INR 15 lakhs each. The scheme encourages postgraduate and doctoral students to undertake projects with commercial potential leading to the creation of biotech startups. The fund recipients are recognized as BIRAC's SITARE-GYTI beneficiaries. "SITARE-GYTI” Award Grant is not a usual research fellowship.
Nature of Proposals supported:
Translational research proposals to develop innovative products and technologies with the potential to address unmet needs.
The work supported through the SITARE-GYTI Award Grant is expected to lead to the creation of biotech startups. Hence, only proposals with the potential to commercialize innovative products and technologies will be considered for support.
Areas covered:
SITARE-GYTI award grant proposals can be submitted in any domain including Healthcare, Lifesciences, Diagnostics, Medical Devices, Drugs, Vaccines, Drug Formulations and delivery systems, Industrial Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Agriculture, Secondary agriculture, Waste Management, Sanitation, Clean Energy and Artificial Intelligence/IoT with application in any of these areas.
BIRAC encourages interdisciplinary proposals from any stream that can help the conversion of innovative ideas into biotech products and technologies in any of the above fields.
Duration of project:
The funding is provided for a period of up to 24 months. The project is implemented in a milestone-based manner.
In case the grant award duration extends beyond the degree programme, the grantee is encouraged to incubate in any of the bio incubators for completing the SITARE-GYTI award grant mandate.
Extension:
Extension of grant award duration is discouraged. Request for extension of milestone/project can be considered (without any additional financial implications) only in selected cases based on the recommendation of the SITARE-GYTI Review Committee conducted by SITARE Partner/BIRAC. However, such a request with proper justification must reach SITARE Partner/BIRAC well before the scheduled date of completion of the grant award period.
Benefits
- Support provided to beneficiaries under the scheme:
- The funding support under SITARE is in the form of grant-in-aid.
- The extent of funding is up to INR 15 lakhs.
- The fund allocation is milestone-based and released in installments of up to INR 5 lakhs each based on the review of the milestone achieved.
- SITARE Partner and BIRAC provide continuous mentoring support to the fund recipients, including but not limited to the following:
- Technical MentoringIP Support
- Legal Support
- Networking and Outreach
- TrainingsRegulatory Advice
- Business Mentoring
- FundraisingNote: The award grant is non-transferable.
- Utilization of Grant Money:
- Development of Prototype (including outsourcing activity)- Up to 30%Travel: Up to 15%Incubator Rentals: Up to 15%Manpower: Up to 15% (may be drawn as salary by the Project Investigator (SITARE-GYTI Fund recipient) during incubation or may be paid to another team member for technical assistance anytime during the project).
- The fund recipient shall not be eligible to draw any manpower cost while pursuing a degree programme.
- Consumables: Up to 20%Training and conferences: Up to 10%Contingency: 5%
Who can apply
- An Indian student pursuing a Ph.
- D/Masters* in any discipline is eligible to apply for this award grant.
- The student should have a valid ID issued by the Institution/University.
- A No Objection Certificate (NoC), as per the prescribed format needs to be submitted along with the application.
- A student can receive a SITARE-GYTI Award Grant only once.
- The scheme encourages postgraduate and doctoral students to undertake projects with commercial potential leading to the creation of biotech startups.*Exceptions for exceptional talent: Meritorious candidature outside the above eligibility criteria may be considered for SITARE with the approval of BIRAC's competent authority.
Documents needed
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How to apply
Online
Application process:• Proposals shall be submitted online only during an active Call for Proposals.• Frequency of Call: Once a year• Month of announcement: August/September• Call Duration: The call is typically open for 45-60 days
The process for submitting the proposals online is detailed below:
- 1
Log on to the BIRAC website- www.birac.nic.in
- 2
If you are a registered user, login using the credentials, else you need to register yourself as an individual by clicking on 'New User Registration'.
- 3
In case of new user registration, a computer-generated password will be sent to the email provided at the time of registration. The password can be changed later.
- 4
Once you login, you will be navigated to the page displaying the SITARE link.
- 5
Click on the SITARE-GYTI link under Programmes and the active call will be highlighted.
- 6
Click on the active call against which you wish to submit the proposal. Selection Process: The applications received will be subjected to a basic eligibility check. Stage-wise screening of applications will be done by relevant Committees with domain experts. Initial Stage: At this stage, proposals will be examined for preliminary technical strength and suitability of translational research mandate. Shortlisting Stage: This stage will have a review of applications by a team of experts based on online review comments and a specific project/work plan. Recommendation Stage: At this stage, final shortlisted candidates* will be called for presentation before an Expert Panel.*Class II Rail fare can be reimbursed to the invited outstation students. Evaluation Criteria: The evaluation of proposals received will include the following criteria at each step of selection:• Novelty• Technical Rigor• Competence of Student• Societal/Commercial Value• Frugality
Common questions
What is the "SITARE Scheme"?
Students Innovations for Translation & Advancement of Research Explorations (SITARE) Scheme is aimed at supporting innovative student projects in the area of biotechnology. The scheme's mandate is to promote and encourage young students for embracing translational research to develop innovative products and technologies addressing unmet needs. The scheme has two components: SITARE-Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award Grant (SITARE-GYTI) and SITARE-Appreciation Grant.
What is the "SITARE-GYTI”?
Under the SITARE-Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award Grant (SITARE-GYTI), 15 innovative student projects will receive funding support of up to INR 15 lakhs each. The scheme encourages postgraduate and doctoral students to undertake projects with commercial potential leading to the creation of biotech startups. The fund recipients are recognized as BIRAC's SITARE-GYTI beneficiaries.
Is "SITARE-GYTI” Award Grant a usual research fellowship?
No, "SITARE-GYTI” Award Grant is not a usual research fellowship.
What should be the nature of Proposals?
The nature of the proposal should be as given below: • Translational research proposals to develop innovative products and technologies with the potential to address unmet needs. • The work supported through the SITARE-GYTI Award Grant is expected to lead to the creation of biotech startups. Hence, only proposals with the potential to commercialize innovative products and technologies will be considered for support.
What are the areas covered under the scheme?
• SITARE-GYTI award grant proposals can be submitted in any domain including Healthcare, Lifesciences, Diagnostics, Medical Devices, Drugs, Vaccines, Drug Formulations and delivery systems, Industrial Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Agriculture, Secondary agriculture, Waste Management, Sanitation, Clean Energy and Artificial Intelligence/IoT with application in any of these areas. • BIRAC encourages interdisciplinary proposals from any stream that can help the conversion of innovative ideas into biotech products and technologies in any of the above fields.
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)Who is eligible to apply under the scheme?
An Indian Student pursuing Ph.D/Masters in any discipline is eligible to apply for this award grant.
Is there any exception for eligibility critera?
Yes, the meritorious candidature outside the above eligibility criteria may be considered for SITARE with the approval of BIRAC's competent authority.
What is nature of support provided to beneficiaries under the scheme?
Support provided to beneficiaries under the scheme: 1. The funding support under SITARE is in the form of grant-in-aid. 2. The extent of funding is up to INR 15 lakhs. 3. The fund allocation is milestone-based and released in installments of up to INR 5 lakhs each based on the review of the milestone achieved. 4. SITARE Partner and BIRAC provide continuous mentoring support to the fund recipients, including but not limited to the following: •
Technical Mentoring • IP Support • Legal Support • Networking and Outreach • Trainings • Regulatory Advice • Business Mentoring • Fundraising What is the duration of the project?
The funding is provided for a period of up to 24 months.
Is there any provision for extension of the duration of the project?
Extension of grant award duration is discouraged. Request for extension of milestone/project can be considered (without any additional financial implications) only in selected cases based on the recommendation of the SITARE-GYTI Review Committee conducted by SITARE Partner/BIRAC. However, such a request with proper justification must reach SITARE Partner/BIRAC well before the scheduled date of completion of the grant award period.
Is the award grant is transferable?
No, the award grant is not transferable.
How many times can a student receive the grant?
A student can receive SITARE-GYTI Award Grant only once.