USISTEF Call for Proposals for COVID-19 Ignition Grant

Are you an academician, scientist, or entrepreneur? Are you interested in collaboration for research? The United States–India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) is looking for collaborations and partnerships of academician and entrepreneur from Indian and US applicants for COVID-19 Ignition Grant. Interested and eligible applicants submit their proposals and can check out all of the details on the program in this article like eligibility, programme details, funding details, application procedur

About USISTEF

The United States–India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) was established by the Department of State, Government of United States of America and the Department of Science and Technology, the Governments of India. The main motive of this USISTEF is to promote joint activities in the field of Science and Technology which leads to innovation and entrepreneurship through the latest application of science and technology. The Fund is working in harmony between the Governments of India and the United States. Activities under this Fund are executed and managed through the bi-national Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF). The Fund maintains and promotes joint applied R&D to generate public good through the commercialization of technology developed through continual partnerships between U.S. and Indian researchers and entrepreneurs. During this current global crisis, activities of USISTEF are being highlighted.

COVID-19 Ignition Grant

The whole world is facing a challenge to cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Many countries are involved to find a solution to this global problem. They are trying to develop new devices, vaccines, diagnostic tools, apps etc. by the help of Science, Engineering, and Technology. USISTEF is calling application for its COVID-19 Ignition Grant Programme through global collaborations and partnerships of Indian and US scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to work together to find solutions. USISTEF supports outstanding, novel ideas from the community to address the COVID-19 challenge. The main aim behind Ignition Grant is that proposals should deal with proof-of-concept based on science and engineering research, the potential for commercial viability and practicality of the idea/innovation/ technology.

Programme Objectives

The main objective of USISTEF programme is to select and support joint team of U.S.-India S&T based entrepreneurial initiatives that will address the "development and implementation of new technologies, tools, and systems to address COVID-19 related challenges including monitoring, diagnosis, health and safety, public outreach, information and communication".In this programme, government, academic, non- governmental or commercial entities can participate to work on applied R&D and have commercial potential. USISTEF persuades projects that exhibit a high degree of advance leveraging in science and technology.

Eligibility

Each proposal will be including one Indian and one U.S. partner. They will work together during the full project duration.
Primary partners either Indian or U.S. partner must have major and synergistic roles in the development and commercialization of technologies for the specific application described in the proposal.
The association between the U.S. and Indian partners must be mentioned in the proposal like ownership of intellectual property rights for the technology proposed to be developed and commercialized.
In both partners, it is necessary that one of the partners must be an entrepreneur.
The team will be consists of:
1. Individuals, or
2. Academic, governmental and non-governmental research institutions, or
3. Incorporated /Start-ups companies, or
4. Non-incorporated entities.

Award

Award (Endowment Fund) will be provided in the form of Indian Rupee Fund and denominated in Indian rupees (INR) only.
For U.S. Awardees, the award will be transferred after converting it to USD.
Fund installment will be provided milestones wise.
Awards will be provided phase-wise according to completed milestones as proposed. All milestones will be fixed at the time of the award.
Award for selected project activities will be decided by the Board. And all rights of the approval of funding will be reserved by the Board.
The teams will have to accept all the Terms and Conditions of the Award (T&C).

Program Categories

The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) is seeking proposals under two categories:

Ignition Stage I: It is a proof-of-concept stage which helps initial inventive ideas for the development of a design-concept and/or builds a trial product.
Ignition Stage II: To support a team with a practical, validated model and/or with the ability to repurpose existing new solutions to meet the COVID-19 challenge.

Funding Details

Stage I: Grant support of up to INR 50,00,000/- or approx. USD 66,000/- will be provided.
Stage II: Grant support of up to INR 1,00,00,000/- or approx. USD 133,000/- will be provided.

Application Procedure

The scheme is now open and applications are being submitted.
Applications will be accepted online only. Interested team, including one Indian and one US scientist, must register themselves on the website of USISTEF.
After registration, requisite details will have to be filled by the Team.

Approval by Lead Partners

All applicants must make sure timely submission of the application.
After application submission, Lead partners will examine the application.
An e-mail will be sent out to the other Lead Partner to examine and approval of the application.
Only after approval by both Leads, an evaluation will be done.

What are the Important Dates?

Begins of online application: from 15 April 2020 onwards
The last date of application submission: up to 15 May 2020 till 11:59 PM
Approval by the lead partner: 15 May 2020

Contact Information

Dr Nishritha Bopana
Principal Science Officer
Dr Babulal Chaudhary
Program Officer
Address: Fulbright House, 12 Hailey Road,
New Delhi-110001, India
Phone :+91-11-42691700 , 23321552
Website: http://www.iusstf.org/
Email: endowment@indousstf.org