SERB – POWER Research Grants

SERB – POWER Research Grants

The SERB – POWER Research Grants aim to foster the participation of both emerging and established women researchers by providing individual-centric and competitive research funding. This initiative facilitates research and development (R&D) activities in cutting-edge areas of science and engineering across India.

About the Scheme

The “SERB – POWER Research Grants” is a key component of the SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research) initiative, established by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. This program is specifically designed to address the gender disparities that exist in the allocation of research funding within science and engineering fields across Indian academic institutions and research laboratories. The SERB-POWER initiative is dedicated to promoting diversity in research, ensuring that Indian women scientists have equitable access to research opportunities and funding.

Benefits of the SERB – POWER Research Grants

The grants are structured to empower women researchers by offering financial support under two distinct categories:

• Level I: Funding of up to ₹60 lakhs for a duration of three years.
• Level II: Funding of up to ₹30 lakhs for a duration of three years.

The POWER Grant can be utilized for various research-related expenses, including equipment, manpower, consumables, travel, and contingencies. Additionally, “overheads” will be provided to the implementing institutions according to the prevailing SERB regulations.

Note: The administration of the POWER Grant will adhere to the terms and conditions defined in the SERB-CRG guidelines.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the SERB – POWER Research Grants, applicants (Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Principal Investigator(s) (Co-PI(s))) must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must be Indian citizens.
• A regular academic or research position in a recognized academic institution or national laboratory is required.
• Applicants from IITs, IISERs, IISc, NITs, Central Universities, and National Labs of Central Government Institutions will qualify for Level I funding, while those from State Universities/Colleges and Private Academic Institutions should apply for Level II funding.
• Faculty members hired under the UGC-Faculty Recharge Program are eligible to apply.
• INSPIRE Faculty, Ramanujan, and Ramalingaswamy Fellows may apply if they have at least three and a half years of tenure remaining at the time of application submission.
• A female Co-PI from the same institution is mandatory; male Co-PIs are not permitted.
• PhD guides cannot serve as Co-PIs.
• Individuals who have previously received a POWER Grant are ineligible to apply again.
• JC Bose fellows and PIs who have completed two CRGs are also barred from applying.
• A maximum of two Co-PIs is allowed per project.

Important Notes:

• Women scientists may not hold both the POWER Fellowship and POWER Grant simultaneously.
• The POWER Grant will be governed by SERB-CRG guidelines.
• National Laboratories and Research Institutions will share 50% of the non-recurring costs.
• The budget for equipment is capped at ₹14 lakhs for Tier II institutions (with a total limit of ₹30 lakhs).

Application Process

The application process for the SERB – POWER Research Grants is conducted online. Here are the essential steps for successful submission:

1. Applicants must first register on the designated online platform. Click Here to Register
2. After logging in, applicants should complete all mandatory fields in the Profile Detail section, which includes bio-data, photographs, and institutional addresses.
3. If a Co-PI is included in the proposal, ensure that they are also registered in the system following the same registration procedure.
4. During the proposal submission, provide details such as Project Title (maximum 500 characters), Project Summary (maximum 3000 characters), Keywords (maximum 6), Objectives of the project (maximum 1500 characters), and Expected outcomes (maximum 1500 characters), along with the budget breakdown (Research Personnel, Consumables, Travel, Equipment, Contingency, Overheads).
5. Upload other relevant information in a single PDF file, not exceeding 10 MB, as other technical documents (OTD).

Note: The selection of applications will be based on the recommendations from the Program Advisory Committee (PAC) established by the Board. Applicants may be invited for discussions or presentations if necessary.

Official Source

For more information, visit myScheme.gov.in.