ASEAN-India Collaborative R&D Scheme

General Description:

India has been the dialogue partner for ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) since 1992. In 2012, on the occasion of 20th anniversary as dialogue partner, India-ASEAN celebrated commemorative Summit and declared enhancement of its relations to strategic level. The ASEAN Member States are as below-

1. i.Brunei
2. ii.Cambodia
3. iii.Indonesia
4. iv.Lao PDR
5. v.Malaysia
6. vi.Myanmar
7. vii.Philippines
8. viii.Singapore
9. ix.Thailand
10. x.Vietnam

India S&T Collaboration started formally in 1996 with establishment of ASEAN India S&T working Group (AIWGST). Initially, the collaborative ASEAN-India S&T activities were supported through ASEAN India Fund (AIF). In 2008, Government of India established a dedicated fund viz ASEAN India S&T Development Fund (AISTDF) to support R&D projects and associated project development activities. The total budget of AISTDF is an equivalent amount of 5 Million USD in INR. This amount of 5 Million USD is jointly shared by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Department of Science & Technology (DST). The Department of Science & Technology is the nodal Department for execution and implementation of ASEAN-India S&T Cooperation program from Indian side.

The Plan of Action of the ASEAN-INDIA PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE, PROGRESS AND SHARED PROSPERITY (2016-2020), implements the goals and objectives of the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity on 30 November 2004 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and the Vision Statement of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, adopted by the Leaders of ASEAN and India on 20 December 2012 in New Delhi, India. Through the implementation of this Plan of Action, ASEAN and India will work towards supporting the ASEAN Community building and integration process, including the ASEAN Community’s Post-2015 Vision, for a politically cohesive, economically integrated, socially responsible and a truly people-oriented, people-centered and rules-based ASEAN, narrowing the development gap and enhancing ASEAN Connectivity. Both sides will also further promote cooperation in addressing common and emerging challenges and enhance coordination in other international fora on issues of common concern to contribute to overall peace, stability and prosperity.

 The main objectives of ASEAN-India Science, Technology and Innovation cooperation are based on following principles-

• • Encourage and promote cooperation in science, technology and innovation, including through joint research activity, and development on cross-sectoral areas such as health, communicable and emerging infectious diseases, environmental management, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, agricultural technologies, alternative energy, biodiversity, food processing, advanced materials for development of value-added products, and space technology and applications;

• • Encourage and promote cooperation in biotechnology including through capacity building and joint research and development for mutual benefit;

• Undertake activities and develop program / projects under the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund;

In order to support collaborative Research & Development (R&D) and to facilitate sharing of advance research facilities among researchers of ASEAN MS and India, India and ASEAN agrees to institute the scheme “ASEAN-India Collaborative R&D Program”.

The following types of proposals shall not be considered:

• Applicants who already have an existing ASEAN-India collaborative project which already covers travel and living expenses;
• Purely individual visits / training programme;
• Organisation of Seminars / Workshops or participation in a Conference / Congress.

Priority research areas

The research areas should be ASEAN centric and be aligned with the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation 2016-2025 (copy attached at Appendix-I)

The priority areas for present call are as below-

• Bio-medical devices related to COVID-19 pandemic
• Nano-Technology and Advance Materials
• Cyber physical systems, Artificial Intelligence and ICT

Goals

• To intensify interaction and scientific cooperation between Indian and ASEAN scientists / institutions
• To connect existing but separately funded research projects in India and ASEAN MS
• To enhance academic training and development of young scholars

Project duration

Up to 24 months (No extension with or without additional cost beyond 24 months of the project shall be considered)

Eligibility

Scientists with an appointment as a regular faculty / researcher at any eligible Indian / ASEAN MS institution, holding a Ph.D. degree can apply as Principal Investigator (PI). The maximum age of each project participant must NOT exceed 60 years as on date of submission of the project. The appointment of the PI must last until the end of the project. Additionally, the project may include a junior faculty/ scientist and/or a PhD student / post-doc. The total number of participants on each side should not exceed two.

Eligible institutions in India:
All Universities/ Academic Institutions recognised under Indian Laws by UGC, Publicly funded R&D Institutes/ Labs

Eligible institutions in ASEAN MS:
All Academic/ Research Institutions, Universities and other Research and Academic Institutions which are eligible to receive funding from ASEAN.

Composition of Project team and duration of visits:

• The project would necessarily have to be developed jointly by the scientists/ researchers in India and at least 2 ASEAN member countries, and duly forwarded by the Heads of the respective institutions.
• The project team must comprise of a Project Investigator from India and Co-PI from at least 2 different ASEAN member countries.
• The maximum number of project participants from each country must be only two (preferably one senior and one junior researcher ie ph.d student/post-doc).
• Only one visit per year from each participating country is permitted under this scheme to visit each participating country by Indian researchers where as ASEAN project participant to visit India. The duration of visits would be max 14 days per year for Sr. Scientists/ researchers/ faculty and max of 30 days per year for junior researchers . One visit is defined as a visit by a scientist/ expert to a partner country.

Grant information

The funds under AISTDF are available only in INR. Therefore, budget / funds must be projected only in Indian rupee in accordance with following guidelines-

1. Generally, the funds are available only to support mobility of project participants/ researchers from India to partnering ASEAN MS and vice versa.
2. Some incremental funding ie Minor components, add-ons, accessories to existing equipment; chemicals and consumables etc (up to Rs 0.5 Million per year) is also available in addition to salary for scientific manpower (One JRF/SRF/RA/Post-doc etc),and shall be supported ONLY to Indian lead project Investigator.
3. General norms to support mobility of project participants shall be support as per following financial norms-
   • International airfare by lowest economy class from place of work in sending country to the place of work in receiving country including visa fees, overseas medical insurance, domestic travel related to international travel etc
   • The living expenses (local hospitality) for staying in respective visiting country (India to partnering ASEAN MS and vice versa) shall be supported as below-
     -Rs. 6,000/- per day (all inclusive) for senior researcher (ph.d degree holders and in regular positions at respective Institute/University etc)
     -Rs. 5,000/- per day (all inclusive) for junior researcher (ph.d students and post docs)
4. The total grant as recommended by the Evaluation Committee and approved by AISTDF shall be released and placed at the disposal of lead Indian Institute in INR.

Number & duration of visits under the project

• A project participant from either side will be allowed to undertake only one visit per year of the project for a duration of up to 14 days for senior scientists and up to 30 days for young scientists (PhD students, post-doctoral etc).
• The international visits would be supported only from India to partner ASEAN MS and vice-versa.

Submission

Project proposals must be prepared jointly by the Indian and ASEAN MS partner scientists and must be submitted only ONLINE (click here)

How to apply online:
For online submission of the project proposals the following points may be noted:

• Applicants should first register in ASEAN online portal click here to register
• After log-in, applicants are required to fill all the mandatory fields in Profile Detail section under User Profile, which includes Bio data, photo, Institute Address, etc.
• Some of the details of proposal like Project Title, Project summary, Keywords, Objectives of project, Expected output and outcome of the proposal etc have to be entered at the time of proposal submission.
• Other relevant information of the proposal has to be uploaded as a single PDF file, not more than 10 MB

The Applicant should submit the application online along with the following enclosures:

• C.V’s of each project participant
• List of on-going and recent research projects with Indian lead PI   (Format for list of ongoing and recent research projects)   Download
• A copy of the the endorsement letter from the partnering institution   (Format for endorsement letter from partnering institution)   Download

Application deadline

The completed applications / proposals can be submitted ONLINE. The last date of submission of project proposals is 31^st October 2020.
Incomplete and proposals not formulated as per guidelines of the announcement shall not be considered.

Evaluation and selection

The project proposals / applications will be evaluated independently by ASEAN COST and DST India. From ASEAN Side, applications will be considered and recommended by ASEAN-COST. In India, applications will be considered by DST.

 

Evaluation criteria: (not listed in the order of priority)

• Added value of the visits for ongoing research on both sides
• Scientific and technological merit of the proposed exchange activities and of the anticipated outcomes
• Feasibility of proposed approach
• Expertise and complementarities of the two laboratories/institutes
• Qualifications and experience of applicants
• Opportunities for training and development of young researchers
• Benefits of the proposed activities for the establishment of research partnerships and institutional links between ASEAN MS and India
• Potential for follow-on collaborative activities

The final results shall be notified by DST to the Indian applicants as and when it is jointly taken by DST and ASEAN COST.

Reporting

Grant recipients will have to submit a scientific and financial report after each financial year of the project to AISTDF.

Contact

For any further information and/or questions, please contact:

In India
Mr. R.K. Sharma, Scientist-F (Jt. Advisor Grade)
International Cooperation Division,
R.No-18 D, Technology Bhavan,
Department of Science & Technology (Govt of India)
Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, NEW DELHI-110022
Tel: 011-26590560; 011-26537976,
email: sharma_rk [at] nic [dot] in

In ASEAN
Mr Dimas Adekhrisna, Science and Technology Division
Sectoral Development Directorate, ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Department
ASEAN Secretariat | 70 A Jalan Sisingamangaraja | Jakarta 12110 Indonesia
Tel. (62 21) 724-3372, 726-2991 Ext. 240
Fax(62 21) 739-8234, 724-3504
email- dimas [dot] adekhrisna [at] asean [dot] org

 Retrieved From:

https://aistic.gov.in/ASEAN/aistdfCollaborative