The DSIR through the PACE scheme provides catalytic support to industries and institutions for development and demonstration of innovative product and process technologies, traversing the journey from proof of concept or laboratory stage to pilot stage, so that they can be launched for commercialization. The scheme supports ingenious work and assists in development of new technologies or creative/innovative application of the existing technologies to solve unmet needs of industry. The scheme also strengthens the interface between industry, R&D organizations/ academic institutions/ universities/PFRIs (Public Funded Research Institutions) by supporting collaborative proposals.
1. OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME
i. To support development and demonstration of indigenous product / process technologies by industry alone aimed at commercialization of new products and processes;
ii. To support collaborative research between Indian industry and R&D organizations/ academic institutions/ universities for development and demonstration of lab scale technologies, aimed at commercialization of new products and processes;
2. SCOPE OF SCHEME
i. The scheme supports industry to develop and demonstrate the technology (either acquired technology or its own indigenous in-house technology) alone or in collaboration with R&D organizations/ academic institutions/ universities/PFRIs.
ii. The scheme shall cover proposals in any industrial sector except biotechnology and software as a service (SaaS) leading to industrially useful applications.
3. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
i. This scheme shall be open for:
(a) all industries registered in India, where at least 51% of the shares of the company should be held by Indian citizen, including NRIs. Industry having a healthy financial track record or a promising financial health forecast and should be in a position to furnish Bank guarantee for the loan. Preference would be given to industry having DSIR recognized in-house R&D units;
(b) R&D organizations/ academic institutions/ universities/ PFRIs.
ii. The R&D organization / academic institution / university / PFRIs for collaboration with the industry should have the requisite expertise and track record in the proposed area of research.
The proposal can be made by industry, either on their own or jointly with R&D organization / academic institution / university / PFRIs. If the project involves collaboration with/assistance from R&D organization / academic institution / university / PFRIs, international bodies/companies, individuals, then proposal should clearly highlight the scope of work and responsibilities of each entity participating in the project. MoUs/Agreements between the concerned entities, towards this should be submitted.
4. NATURE OF PROPOSALS SUPPORTED
(a) Development of a new or improved product resulting in prototype development and ending with demonstration in commercial environment.
(b) Development of a new or improved process resulting in establishment of process know-how, development of process equipment and demonstration of yield, efficacy etc in a pilot plant.
(c) Absorption and up-gradation of imported technology.
(d) Priority technology development projects of PSUs in consultation with and co-financing from economic ministries.
(e) Development and demonstration of technologies for common use by cluster of industries. (f) Development and demonstration of technologies for government’s flagship and mission mode projects.
5. ACITIVITIES SUPPORTED
The partial financial support by DSIR primarily covers prototype development, cost of pilot plant and process equipment development, test and evaluation of products, user trials and IPR protection. Bulk of the financial support to the projects has to be from industry’s resources. The financial support from DSIR is mainly to meet part of the developmental expenditures for:
a. Consultancy (cost of indigenous consultancy and equivalent services used exclusively for the research activity, including research, technical knowledge, patents, etc);
b. IPR protection, viz. Patenting in India and PCT filing, design registration, trademarks and any other forms of IPR protection;
c. Running costs (such as expenditure towards raw materials, consumables, hardware/ software tools, components/sub-assemblies for prototype, equipment for pilot plant etc. incurred directly as a result of proposed research activity)
d. Testing, trials & certification.
e. Support is available only when evidence of proof of concept exists and the project is for up-scaling innovations to address an unmet need.
Call closing date: 30th September 2022.
Deadline for submission of concept note/expression of interest to R&D Department –September 15, 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.