Grants

United States-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund COVID-19 Ignition Grants

Profile

Across the world, countries are being challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic in ways they have never been before. Science, Engineering, and Technology will play a critical role in finding solutions to this global challenge through the development of new vaccines, devices, diagnostic tools, and information systems, as well as strategies to help communities and nations manage and deploy resources to combat this pandemic. Global challenges call for global collaborations and partnerships, bringing together the best and brightest scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to work together to find solutions not only to address the current pandemic, but also for the challenges that lie ahead. Collaborations and networks not only help to leverage and share expertise across S&T communities, thereby creating synergy, but often lead to the generation of innovative and transformative solutions. Collaboration, both national and international, facilitates the development of a diverse, globally-engaged science, engineering, and technology-enabled workforce.

The United States – India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) seeks to support and foster joint applied R&D to generate public good through the commercialization of technology developed through sustained partnerships between U.S. and Indian researchers and entrepreneurs. The current global crisis underscores the importance and relevance of USISTEF activities.

In keeping with its’ mission and vision, the United States – India Science & Technology Endowment Fund announces a Call for Proposals under the category of Ignition Grants. USISTEF encourages out-of-the-box, innovative ideas from the community to address the COVID-19 challenge. Ignition Grant proposals should address proof-of-concept based on sound science and engineering research, potential for commercial viability and practicality of the idea/​innovation/​technology.

Read more here.

Qualification

  • Proposals must have at least one Indian and one U. S. partner for the complete duration of the proposed project. Primary partners from both sides must have significant and synergistic roles in the development and commercialization of technologies for the specific application described in the proposal.
  • The relationship between the U.S. and Indian partners must be clearly defined, including ownership of intellectual property rights for the technology proposed to be developed and commercialized.
  • At least one of the partners must be an entrepreneurial entity (preferably a small or medium- scale enterprise) and the team may include any combination of the following: 
    • Incorporated companies including start-ups; or
    • Non-incorporated entities; or
    • Academic, governmental and non-governmental research institutions or their consortia
    • Individuals

To Apply

Program Structure

The Indo‑U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) would solicit proposals under two categories: 

  • Ignition Stage I: To help early-stage creative ideas develop a proof-of-concept and/​or build a prototype [Grant support up to INR 50,00,000/- or approx.. USD 66,000/-]
  • Ignition Stage II: To support a team with a workable, validated prototype and/​or with the ability to repurpose existing innovative solutions to meet the COVID-19 challenge [Grant support up to INR 1,00,00,000/- or approx.. USD 133,000/- ]

Applications are due on May 15, 2020 11:59 PM, including approval by the Lead Partner. Please ensure that you keep enough time to submit the application. Once you submit the application, a mail will be sent out to the other Lead Partner to examine and approve the application. Only after approval by both Leads, will it be accepted for evaluation.

For more information click here.

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