The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Deutsche For schungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) wish to inform the Indian and German scientific communities that, effective immediately, it is possible for teams of Indian and German researchers to seek synchronised funding for integrated Indo-German cutting-edge fundamental research projects proposing innovative approaches in the academic disciplines covered by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, with a duration of up to three years.

DBT and DFG expect that proposals submitted under this funding initiative describe ambitious projects of curiosity-driven research, which do not just benefit from but essentially require international collaboration to achieve the defined objectives. The basis for this funding initiative is the Programme of Cooperation signed by the two agencies on 25 October 2012.

Funding Information

• DBT will support (Grant-in-aid) 100% of the approved budget costs to the following two categories of organizations subject to obligatory fulfilment of eligibility criteria:
  • Government of India supported or recognised public or private academic institutions or research organisation, and urban or other local bodies;
  • Not-for-profit, NGO(s)/ VO(s)/ Trust(s)/Research foundations, having research as one of the imperative mandates.
• DBT will fund the Indian investigators as per requirement of the project, for the project duration up to 3 years.

Eligibility Criteria

• Participation
  • Any legal entity/ organization established in India with expertise in relevant and distinct disciplines.
  • The call is open to all career groups (i.e. early, intermediate and senior); however, it is expected that investigators will have adequate service tenure to accommodate key research, coordination and outreach responsibilities. Early career investigators are encouraged to participate.
  • The number of project partners should be optimum and correspond to the objectives of the project. Each project should clearly demonstrate the partner’s essentiality, complementarities, and added value in jointly addressing the topic.
  • The participating entities/organisations have to be a legal entity as per Indian law (Indian applicants)
• Eligible Entities
  • Government of India supported or recognised (Public or Private) academia; research organisations and urban or other local bodies;
  • Government of India recognised not-for-profit, NGO(s)/ VO(s)/ Trust(s)/ Research foundations, having research as one of the imperative mandates;
• Academic/ Research Partners:
  • Public and/or private universities and research organisations must have a well- established research support system,for basicor applied research;and
  • Submission of proof of establishment under Indian statue;recognition documents and registration at Government of India's Public Finance Management System(PFMS) shall be obligatory.
• Not-for-profit, NGO(s)/ VO(s)/ Trust(s)/ Research Foundations:
  • The Indian private R&D performing institutions and Not-for-profit, NGO(s)/ VO(s)/ Trust(s)/ Research foundations should have experience of at least 3 years in scientific research,teaching,training and extension activities;and
  • Proof of registration at ‘NGO DARPAN’ of NITI Aayog Certificate of registration under Society Registration Act; certificate of DSIRin-house R&D recognition and registration at Government of India's Public Finance Management System(PFMS) shall be obligatory.
• Ineligible Organization/ Investigators
  • Research centres and academic organisations headquartered and owned outside India and their subsidiaries in India, or vice versa, are not eligible to receive funding from DBT under this programme.

For more information, visit DBT.