INDIA-SPAIN PROGRAMME OF CO-OPERATION ON INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT-2022
The Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Science and Technology, India) and the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (Secretariat of State for Research, Development and Innovation, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain) signed on January 30th 2013, a Programme of Cooperation in order to develop a joint mechanism to promote and fund innovation-driven research and technology development between S&T stakeholders of both countries as well as to encourage partnerships and business-led R&D&I projects in areas of mutual interest. Companies and other R&D-performing organisations may seek support for joint India-Spain R&D projects and other activities intended to generate new or expanded research and technology-based partnerships between the two countries.
1. Eligible technology sectors
(i) Clean Tech (Renewables, Water, Environmental):
Economically competitive production processes and products, critical materials and/or energy that reduce, replace and/or reuse resources and/or aim for sustainability and environmentally friendly processes and/or technologies. Also including Drinking Water, Water Purification, Water Desalination, Irrigation Technologies and Waste Water Treatment & Management in the subarea of Water Technologies.
(ii) Internet of Things (Smart Mobility, Smart Grids, Smart Cities, etc.)
(iii) Digital Health and Medical Devices:
includes categories such as mobile health (mHealth), health information technology (IT), wearable devices, telehealth and telemedicine, and personalized medicine.
(iv) Agro & Food Technologies:
Competitive and sustainable technologies and applications to improve agriculture, aquaculture and food production, the supply chain, including cold engineering/cold chain technology, distribution channels until the end consumers and looping cycle/end of life (food safety, farming and food processing technologies, processing and packaging technologies).
(v) Any Other Sector of Mutual Interest.
2. Eligibility criteria
Eligible projects under the present RFP are R&D projects falling under the thematic areas described above in section 2, to be performed by an international consortium of independent companies from India and Spain. This international consortium shall be formed at least by one qualified partner from each country (1 Indian company + 1 Spanish company), meeting the eligibility criteria for Indian Applicants and Spanish Applicants laid down below.
R&D project proposals will be strengthened by the participation of research centers, academic entities or other R&D performing organisations as a component of the R&D.
2.1. Indian Applicants
Eligible Indian applicants must be researchers or managers of for-profit companies that operate and are headquartered in India. Academic institutions, research centers, hospitals (including not-for-profit research institutes recognized by DST/GITA) that are headquartered and operate in India are strongly encouraged to participate in the project as co-investigators.
2.2. Spanish Applicants
Eligible Spanish applicants must be individual Spanish companies or an Economic Interest Grouping (EIG) or a consortium made up of at least two independent companies. The applicant companies must be either private or public, operating and registered in Spain, and holding a valid Spanish company tax code (NIF). No minimum Spanish capital percentage ownership is required. Spanish subsidiaries of companies headquartered outside of Spain may also be eligible for support.
3. Funding support
(i) Total project funding as a Grant (by DST) for Indian applicants is up to 50% with a limit of maximum of INR 150 lakhs per project.
(ii) Indian Industry may receive up to 50% of their part of the eligible costs on a “Reimbursement Basis”, for costs already incurred on a proportionate basis.
(iii) Indian R&D organisation/academic institution may receive up to 100% of their costs.
(iv) DST funding support to industry for the project must be matched equally (1:1) by the Indian industry.
(v) The exact amount of funding will be approved by the Indian Project Evaluation Committee based on merit and the contribution of industry, R&D organisation and academic partners respectively.
(vi) Funding from other public sector sources will be taken into account when awarding grant, and applicants will be asked to declare funding from other sources in the application.
4. Application process
The Bilateral Application Form, Guidelines and other relevant documents and information regarding the RFP are made available on GITA’s and CDTI-E.P.E.’s websites for Indian and Spanish applicants respectively from the date of official launch of the Indo-Spanish Call for Industrial R&D Proposals until the last date of submission of the application. During this period Indian applicants can register on GITA’s website (www.gita.org.in), access, download and submit the on line application form. Similarly, Spanish applicants can register on CDTI-E.P.E.’s website (www.cdti.es), access templates and relevant information regarding the RFP, and submit electronically the R&D proposals.
Note: Joint R&D proposals must be submitted to both of the nodal agencies (GITA in India, CDTI-E.P.E. in Spain) before deadline, 22 July 2022. Unilaterally submitted proposals shall not be considered.
5. Key documents required from Indian side
(i) Where the IPL/Partners are recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India or any other competent authority as an in–house R&D unit, supporting document for the same.
(ii) Know Your Customer (KYC) documents of IPL/Partners.
(iii) Copy of the Company Registration Certificate of IPL/Partners.
(iv) Audited Annual Reports (including Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss Account & Auditor’s Reports) of IPL/Partners for the last three Financial Years. Annual Report can be exempted in case of institutions managed by a Government Agency.
The above list is indicative and GITA, in India, may seek additional documents/information from individual project applicants.
Call closing date: 22nd July 2022: 18:30 hrs.
Deadline for submission of concept note/expression of interest to R&D Department –July 10, 2022, EoD. The project proposal in prescribed format or the concept note as the case may be, should be sent to Dean R&D (dean.research@ddn.upes.ac.in), with CC to Associate Dean (R&D) (smtauseef@ddn.upes.ac.in) well in time.
For more information, please visit https://www.gita.org.in/OnlineRfp/ProgramInfo.aspx?GITA=kZdo4yRVS4gRExygXA1GyqtTOQwszRK9p056sN+BNu0=