Department of Biotechnology Ministry of Science & Technology Government of India Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund CALL FOR PROPOSALS (11th Round) Applications are invited for joint research projects to be implemented by Indian scientists in collaboration with the Australian counterparts. The priority areas of research for Round Eleven of the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund are: 1. Plant genomics 2. Neurodegenerative diseases, including palliative care Call for proposal is open from 14th December, 2018 to 23rd January, 2019.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund (IABF) is a platform for bilateral collaboration in science jointly managed and funded by the governments of India and Australia. Since its establishment in 2006, the IABF has supported collaborative, leading-edge research between scientists in Australia and India across a range of agreed priority areas.
It has also helped to build linkages between premier research and educational institutions in both countries.
The objectives of the IABF are to:
- Increase the uptake of leading edge science and technology (S&T) by supporting: collaboration between Indian and Australian researchers in strategically focussed, leading edge, scientific research and technology projects; and strengthening strategic alliances between Indian and Australian researchers.
- Facilitate India and Australia’s access to the global S&T system.
The Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund is managed jointly by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India and Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS), Australian Government.
GRANT OPPORTUNITY UNDER ROUND ELEVEN OF THE IABF :
Support is provided under Indo-Australian Fund for S&T Cooperation in Biotechnology (Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund) for Bilateral collaborative research projects involving Indian & Australian partners. An application should clearly demonstrate that the activities will ‘add value by achieving something worthwhile that would not occur without the grant’.
Under the IABF, the Indian Government will contribute towards the direct costs of bilateral activities in one of the priority areas for collaboration Higher budget can be provided to projects which engage industry and other end user partners in research activities. Examples of an ‘end user’ partner include for-profit industry bodies and companies, not-for-profit organizations, non-government organizations and public sector agencies.
End-users may be located in any country but should be able to provide benefits to both the countries. This must be taken into account when drafting the project plan and budget.
The grant will be provided for 3 years with a maximum cap of Rs. 2.5 crores. Further information is available on the DBT website: http://www.dbtindia.nic.in
OTHER GOVERNMENT FUNDING IABF : grants are not intended to duplicate support available from other sources, including other Indian Government funding mechanisms. Where applicants already receive Indian
DURATION OF ACTIVITIES :
Projects may be submitted for financial support for three years. Indian Government support will not be provided for activities undertaken or expenses incurred prior to the execution of a funding agreement
PRIORITY AREAS :
The priority areas of research for Round Eleven of the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund are:
1. Plant genomics
2. Neurodegenerative diseases, including palliative care.
TIMELINES FOR ROUND ELEVEN OF THE IABF :
The call for applications under Round Eleven of the IABF will be open for Six weeks. The round will open at 10.00 am (IST) on 14th December, 2018, and close at 5.30 pm (IST) on 23rd January, 2019. The table below summarises the steps and indicative timing for the selection process for Round Eleven:
Important dates :
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA :
To be eligible to apply for funding under the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund, the Indian applicant must:
- Submit an IABF application in one of the priority areas of research
- Be one of the following ‘eligible organisations’ (or a consortium of eligible organisations): Indian Education institution; Indian Cooperative Research Centre / University; Indian Public research company; Indian Private research company; Indian State/Territory-funded research organisation; Indian not for profit research organisation; or Other Indian incorporated entity;
- Be from an organisation that is registered under DSIR, is incorporated or if a university, is exempt from income tax; and
- Have at least one Australian partner and confirmation from the implementing Australian agency that a corresponding application from that Australian partner has been received (this confirmation will be obtained by the Indian Government).
- Joint applications involving more than one Indian partner are acceptable, provided the lead applicant is the main driver of the project and eligible to apply.
- IABF projects should ‘link Indian and Australian research institutions, as well as other end-user partners, collaborating on a single substantial project or conducting a range of research-related activities in a specified field. These Projects may be used as a catalyst to bring together leading institutions in India in a particular research field with Australian partners to help build research capacity and maximise the application, commercialisation and sustainability of research outcomes in support of economic growth and development in India. While not mandatory, involvement by other end-user partners is strongly encouraged and funding will be aimed at Projects that can demonstrate a clear path to end use in support of economic growth and development in India and Australia.
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION :
Applicants for funding should submit completed application form only in the format provided. Five (5) hard copies and a soft copy in a CD and one soft copy through single e-mail) with all relevant, clearly labelled attachments to the following address:
Dr. Suraksha S. Diwan, Scientist ‘E’ Department of Biotechnology Ministry of Science & Technology
Block No: 3, 5th Floor,
Room No. 517 CGO Complex,
Lodhi Road New Delhi – 110 003
INDIA
E-mail : ssdiwan.dbt@nic.in
Download Guidelines
Download Application Format
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE APPLICATION :
The application contains the following pages and fields, which must be completed as described below: 8.2.1 APPLICANTS’ DETAILS Organisation name and type: the eligible organisation (see Eligibility Criteria) being an Indian legal entity, which if successful, will enter into a contractual funding agreement with the Indian Government. Project Coordinator: the researcher who will manage the project. Contact Officer: the officer nominated to receive all correspondence in relation to the application, including the round outcomes. If the applicant is from a University, the Contact Officer must, where possible, be from the University’s Research Office.
PROJECT DETAILS :
- Project Title: limited to 200 characters or 25 words.
- Activity Type: A collaborative research project.
- Priority Area of Research: select the most appropriate priority area of research Tentative Proposed start date and finish date: please note that projects may only span up to a maximum of 3 years in duration. Number of Indian and Australian personnel participating in the project. Amount of Indian and Australian funding sought for the project.
- Project Summary: provide a summary of the project, including aims and objectives. Use plain-English, non-technical terminology (maximum of 200 words).
- Expected Outcomes: detail the anticipated outcomes of the project. Specify the key outcomes, including any joint publications, from the original IABF funded project - whether completed or nearing completion and explain how the proposed project will bring the research closer to end-use stage. Use plain-English, non-technical terminology (maximum of 200 words).
- Project Snapshot: provide a brief, non technical, overview of the project objectives which, if successful, may be used to publicly promote the project (maximum of 50 words)
PROJECT PARTNERS :
Indian partner(s): provide contact details of each Indian partner.
Australian partner(s): provide contact details of each Australian partner.
PROJECT PLAN AND BUDGET :
Project phase details : a maximum of 6 activities can be inserted and each must include:
- the activity name;
- funding sought for the activity from the IABF;
- a description of the activities to be undertaken during the activity, including a detailed costing/breakdown of eligible expenses to be supported using IABF funding.
- a list of the key personnel that will be involved in the activity;
- the expected outcomes from the phase activities; and
- measurable performance indicators against the phase activities. Contributions: applicants do not need to demonstrate that the Indian contribution (cash and/or in-kind) to the project matches or is more than the funding sought from the IABF. However, the level of support (cash and/or in-kind) for the project from Indian and Australian organisations (including the applicant’s own organisation) will be considered in the assessment of the proposal (see Assessment Criteria and Cash and in sources).
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS Applicants must provide details of the Intellectual Property (IP) issues in their applications. This includes both the use of IP in the project and the proposed ownership of rights of IP generated by the project as well as strategies for protecting India’s interests. Where IP is likely to be generated by the project successful applicants will be required to conclude protoc ols or contracts with their Indian partners on the management of IP issues. These agreements should be in accordance with laws and regulations prevailing in India and Australia and provide for:
- adequate and effective protection and equitable distribution of any benefits from IP rights created in or resulting directly from cooperative activities (foreground IP rights), ownership of foreground IP rights to be allocated on the basis of respective contribution and equitable interests, terms and conditions for the commercialisation and other forms of dissemination of the foreground IP rights, and Adequate and effective protection of IP rights provided by the organisations, enterprises and institutions prior to or in the course of such cooperative activities, fo r example the licensing or utilisation of such IP rights on equitable terms (background IP rights). Please note that a written agreement duly signed by both Indian and Australian partners is mandatory to be provided alongwith /in Eleven 201 8 1 9 of the Indo the application. Australian Biotech Fund 19 Guidelines for Round.