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Knowledge R&D Networked Centers

Knowledge R&D Networked Centers aim to encourage joint project implementation on focal areas of thematic and knowledge research through networking, thus, paving way to sustainable interactions by promoting excellence and developing long term relationship based on synergy of activities. A networked Center may also provide opportunities for integrating research with education.

Public-Private Networked Centers

Public-Private Networked Centers aim to foster academia-industry partnership by promoting pre-commercial R & D activities having potential towards applied research and product development. These Centers are aimed to best capitalize on the scientific and technological innovation and entrepreneurship in translating ideas from bench to marketplace.

• Proposals received are sent out for peer-review in India and the United States. Reviewers are provided with an Evaluation Format wherein the evaluators are asked to rate the proposal on the following specific indices:
  • Impact (Scientific merit of the proposed activity. What is its significance to its field of study? What is the strength of its contribution toward the advancement of knowledge or future development in the field?)
  • Novelty (Creativity of the proposed activity. Does it introduce novel concepts or methodologies? Does it challenge existing standards and/or protocols to suggest new ones?)
  • Feasibility (Feasibility of the approach. Does the proposed project consist of a well-thought-out plan that can be easily executed given its particular environment and resources?)
  • Investigators (Appropriateness of the investigators for this project. Do their areas of expertise match the necessary requirements for the success of the proposed activity?)
  • Global Implications (Is the proposed activity relevant and does it contribute to scientific and technological capacity-building in both US and India? Does it promote future collaboration between researchers in these two states?)
• Additionally, the Reviewers provide subjective comments indicating any concerns and/or suggestions they may have regarding the proposal, and identify any issues that require further clarifications.
• Each proposal is reviewed by at least 3 Expert Evaluators on each side.
• Taking into consideration the reviewer comments and the overall scores from both India and the United States, IUSSTF prepares a list of proposals that would be eventually be considered for support based on the available budget for the activity in the said financial year

Each proposed center should have a minimum of 2 Indian and 2 US Partners. There can however be more than two partners on each side as well.

Industries can participate too -this center would then fall under the ambit of “Indo-U.S. Public-Private Networked Centers” Program. However, no travel support will be extended to Industry participants.

No, IUSSTF supports only bilateral (Indo-U.S.) activities, events, and initiatives that promote interactions between the scientific and research communities in India and the United States.

After a highly competitive evaluation process, IUSSTF offers partial support to a small number of Joint Centers due to availability of limited funds. The extent of funding is max. upto INR 50 lakhs for a two-year Center. (Disbursement as per IUSSTF guidelines). Applicants are welcome to approach other funding agencies for additional funding.

The air-tickets for all exchange visits under the joint center will be provided by IUSSTF travel desk only by economy class and shortest route. Advance intimation of travel (prior to two months) must be provided to IUSSTF by Nodal PI/Partner(s) to facilitate the ticketing by IUSSTF travel desk.

The grant-in-aid will be released to the Indian Nodal Institution (Lead Indian Partner). Nodal PI is mandated to provide advance intimation on travel request at least one month ahead of any exchange visit, subsequently the grants-in-aid will be released to the Indian lead Institution administering the Indo-U.S. Joint R&D Networked Center for facilitation of the said project.

The heads of expenditures covered under this grant will be strictly as indicated in the budget format. IUSSTF does not provide any financial support for items of expenditure (e.g. Overheads, indirect costs etc.) which are not mentioned in the budget format.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are subject to Annex I- Intellectual Property (IPR Annex) of the Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of India (S&T Agreement, 2005) and the respective standard IPR provisions of the Parties to the extent it is not in contravention with the IPR annex.

The Budget ceiling for contributions from each partner is left to the discretion of the Partnering institutions there is no specified ceiling/floor for this amount. Proof of Project funding refers to the contribution agreed upon by the Partnering Institutions, specifically towards the proposed center.

The JC funding does not support laboratory infrastructure of any kind. It is purely meant for connectivity i.e. movement of faculty/scientists and students between collaborating institutions.

There is no specified format for the letter of support from the partners. However, it should be a brief letter from the Partner Institution outlining the Investigator's support to the center, financially or for the manpower involved.

A whole Industry consortium can be considered. The composition of the consortium along with the roles and responsibilities of each partner should be clearly outlined in the proposal.

Reimbursements may be permissible in certain cases. However, prior approval should be sought from IUSSTF before making travel arrangements.

Budget Guidelines:

To encourage joint project implementation through networking, IUSSTF grant-in-aid is awarded for a period of two years. The budget should be under INR 50 Lakhs for a two-year center.

The budget majorly caters to the component of connectivity among the partnering institutions i.e. largely the exchange of faculty and students. The funds would include:

The following guidelines should be considered while submitting the budget details:

A. Travel: The air tickets will be facilitated by IUSSTF Travel desk by economy class and shortest route not exceeding INR 1,20,000/- per round-trip visit. Any additional cost would have to be borne by applicant(s).

B. I. Per-diem (Subsistence Allowance) - Towards daily allowance to cover living expenses U.S. Researchers to India:

U.S. Researchers to India:

Indian Researchers to U.S.:

II. Accommodation

U.S. Researchers to India:

Indian Researchers to U.S.: