IndiaBioscience invites applications for the Regional Young Investigators’ Meeting Grants (RYIM Grants) 2025 – 2026. These grants support Young Investigator (YI)-led initiatives that build on the ethos of national YIMs, strengthen local scientific communities, and foster collaborative leadership among YIs.

Each RYIM team must include:

• One YIM alumnus (as lead organiser) who has attended a previous national Young Investigator Meeting (YIM) as a YI.

• 2 – 4 co-organisers from different research institutes, organisations or universities in the region. Co-organisers need not be YIM alumni.

Teams are strongly encouraged to reflect diversity across scientific disciplines, demographics, and institutional types (national, state, private, and research institute or university).

The RYIMs are expected to be in-person meetings, typically 2 – 3 day events hosted at a local institute or university affiliated with one of the organisers. Meetings should engage researchers and research professionals from the broader region. While regions can be broadly defined (North, South, East, West, Central, or North-East India), other locally meaningful definitions are also welcome.

Each selected RYIM will receive funding of up to INR 1.5 lakh from IndiaBioscience.

IndiaBioscience launched the Regional Young Investigator Meetings (RYIMs) in 2018 to strengthen local networks and promote regional collaborations among researchers and research professionals. Born out of community-driven discussions at the 10^th Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM) in Thiruvananthapuram, RYIMs address region-specific needs and challenges. The first four meetings held in Hyderabad (South), Kolkata (East), Jodhpur (West) and Delhi-NCR (North) featured plenary lectures, special talks and panel discussions on collaborations, resource sharing, mentorship, science education, industry partnerships, and DEI in science, alongside skill-building workshops and networking sessions.

In 2023 – 2024, the RYIM were held in response to the RYIM Grants call at Lucknow, Srinagar, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Pilani, Hyderabad and Pune, which were thematic meetings on topics relevant life science community. IndiaBioscience conducted Crafting Your Career (CYC) workshops for undergraduates, master’s students, PhD researchers and postdoctoral fellows at all RYIMs across 2023 – 2024.

Likewise, in 2024 – 2025, RYIMs were held at Visakhapatnam, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, based on the thematic topics, along with our most popular CYC. This year, we introduced childcare grants to the participants and introduced train-the-trainer sessions to conduct the CYCS with one of the organisers. 

RYIMs are intended to be broad and encompassing meetings focused on networking, mentorship, training and collaborations and not discipline or field-specific meetings.

Applications for RYIM Grants 2025 – 2026 will open on 21 April 2025 and close on 21 May 2025 (11:59 PM IST).

Submission will be accepted only through the online application form with the required documents. Email applications will not be considered.

Selected projects will be notified by email by mid-June 2025, and RYIMs must be conducted before March 2026.

Lead Organiser: Any YIM alumnus who has previously attended a national Young Investigator Meeting (in-person or virtual YIM) as a Young Investigator and has been in an independent scientist/​researcher position for less than eight years can apply as the lead organiser.

Co-organisers: The lead organiser must apply for the RYIM grant along with 2 – 4 local co-organisers, each also in an independent position (less than eight years) at different institutes or universities in the region. Co-organisers need not be YIM alumni. 

Together, the lead organiser and co-organisers will form the RYIM organising team.

Diversity across scientific disciplines, demographics, and host institutions (including national, central, private, and university settings) is strongly encouraged. Previous RYIM organisers and host institutes are eligible, provided they meet the above criteria.

If you are interested in applying for an RYIM Grant, please read the information below before filling out the application form.

You will need the following information and documents:

1. Organising team details: Names, affiliations, designations and contact information of the lead organiser and all co-organisers (RYIM team).

2. RYIM theme: A broad, inclusive theme relevant to the scientific community, and not discipline- or field-specific. For ideas, refer to previous RYIM themes.

3. CVs: Two-page CVs of the lead organiser and co-organisers.

4. Letters of support: Letters of Support are required from the host institutes of the lead and co-organisers, confirming: 

• The applicants hold full-time, independent position (less than eight years in).
  

• Institutional support for their participation as RYIM organisers.
  

• If the host institute is the event venue, the letter must also confirm its willingness to host the in-person event.

5. Proposal document (as a single PDF package, shared via Google Drive link):

Maximum five pages (Font 12 pt, Times New Roman) including:

• Purpose, brief description of the theme and goals of the RYIM

• Details and roles of the RYIM team and their host institutes

• Proposed venue (must match Letter of Support), potential contributions from other institutes

• Draft schedule with suggested dates and speakers/​panellists (speaker confirmations are not required at this stage)

IndiaBioscience encourages a good mix of plenary talks, special talks, structured panel discussions, poster presentations, networking sessions, and workshops on various topics relevant to the scientific community. RYIM teams are encouraged to think of issues pertinent to the regional community.

• Expected number and diversity of participants (target at least 100), e.g., young investigators, faculty, researchers, clinicians, educators, industry professionals, science communicators.

• Expected outcomes of the meeting

• Detailed budget table of the RYIM

• Total estimated cost

• IndiaBioscience seed grant request (up to INR 1.5 lakhs for each proposal selected)

• Plans for additional fundraising (from grants, host institutes, sponsorships, etc.)

• Breakdown of expenses (e.g., travel, accommodation, meals, registration fees)

6. Funding request letter: A formal request letter (format here) signed by the host institute that will receive the funds. Upload the completed form as a separate PDF. 

If you have any further questions/​need clarification, please watch the informational webinar recording here.

Important notes:

• Check organiser eligibility before applying.

• Submit only via the online application form; email submissions will not be considered.

• Ensure Google Drive links are set to ​“Anyone with the link” for access.

Crafting Your Career (CYC) Workshop:

Applicants for the RYIM Grants 2025 – 2026 are encouraged to opt for an IndiaBioscience-led Crafting Your Career (CYC) workshop for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers at the RYIM host institute (option available in the online form).

• This is a 3‑hour workshop conducted by one IndiaBioscience team member for ~30 – 50 participants, scheduled on Day 2, Day 3, or the day before the RYIM.

• IndiaBioscience will cover the team member’s round-trip air/​train travel (IndiaBioscience will incur this expense in addition to the financial support provided via the RYIM grant). Local transport, accommodation, and meals are to be arranged by the organisers.

• Organisers are expected to (a) Coordinate with IndiaBioscience to select/​shortlist participants and (b) Provide venue and tech support

• Participants who complete the workshop will receive an e‑certificate from IndiaBioscience.

Note: RYIM organisers will need to work with IndiaBioscience to select workshop participants and provide space and tech support for the workshop.

IndiaBioscience will confirm their availability to conduct the CYC workshop based on the number of requests, timelines and logistical feasibility.

Childcare grants:

On request, IndiaBioscience can provide an additional INR 15,000 to support childcare for a maximum of three attendees.

RYIM organisers will be responsible for designing and administering the childcare grant process, which should include:

• An open call 

• Eligibility for organisers, participants, speakers and mentors 

• Clear criteria and selection process

• Gender representation in the application process

• Announcement of selected grantees

• The RYIM childcare grants are supported by EMBO.

All related communication should include the name and logo of the IndiaBioscience Childcare Grants if this provision is availed.

Post-meeting report/​interview series:

RYIM organisers may submit ONE meeting report or interview series within four weeks of completion of the event for potential publication on the IndiaBioscience website. 

• IndiaBioscience will not author reports for RYIM 2025 – 2026. 

• For the interview series, IndiaBioscience can share questions and a template. Organisers are expected to draft the responses. 

• Submission will be edited and published only if found suitable.

Applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee based on:

• Eligibility and completeness

• Feasibility of the meeting plan (based on the RYIM team, host institutes, and plan to raise additional funding)

• Quality and novelty of the proposed program of the RYIM

• Anticipated value for regional scientific communities

Up to four RYIM grants will be awarded.

Selected applicants will be notified by mid-June 2025.

All RYIMs must be conducted before end-March 2026 as in-person events (~2 – 3 days).

IndiaBioscience reserves the right to modify the terms and conditions during the grant period.