Centres of Excellence for Traditional Indian Science and Technology

Status:

Open

Funding Type:

Infrastructure Grant

Fund:

Not Specified

Applicants:

Academic Institutions|
Research Institutions

Activity Country:

India

Citizenship:

India

Residency:

India

Duration:

3 Years

Published Date:

23/04/2025 (UTC)

The Science and Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI) Cell, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, is dedicated to leveraging modern science and technology to preserve and promote India's rich scientific and technological heritage. This call for proposals aims to establish Centres of Excellence (CoE) focused on Traditional Indian Science and Technology within academic institutions and universities.

Objectives and Focus Areas

The SHRI Cell's primary objectives include promoting research on the evolution of civilization, exploring advanced technologies for heritage preservation, documenting and validating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), and strengthening the Heritage Science ecosystem through capacity building. DST invites proposals to establish Centres of Excellence (CoE) for Traditional Indian Science and Technology in Academic Institutions and Universities with proven record to work in the area of Heritage Science.

The initiative focuses on interdisciplinary themes, state-of-the-art technologies, and the engagement of diverse researchers. The goal is to utilize modern S&T tools to preserve, protect, and present ancient scientific and technological heritage of India at global platform.

The following indicative thematic research areas have been identified for establishment of CoE:

Ancient Astronomy and Mathematics
Ancient Materials and Metallurgy
Traditional Practices for Preventive Health and Well-Being
Ancient Building Architecture and Water Management Systems
Indian Heritage for Digital Space

Eligibility and Submission Guidelines

Applicants must be academicians or scientists working in public or private academic institutions or universities. Proposals should be submitted online through the DST portal (https://onlinedst.gov.in/) after registering as a PI. Registered PIs may get an option to “submit proposal”, under calls that are open and may submit the proposal under the SHRI Cell.

A single proposal for 3 years may be submitted, this could be extended further based on performance evaluation and recommendation of the Expert Advisory Committee. The proposed budget should be realistic and in line with the proposed objectives.

Key requirements include a realistic budget, quarterly deliverables in a Gantt chart, and a dedicated area of approximately 5000 sq ft for the CoE. Participation of stakeholders is desired in traditional practices and products.

Proposal Requirements and Evaluation

Proposals should clearly specify the problems being addressed, S&T interventions, process optimization, and application potential. Quantified outputs for each year/phase of the Centre should be clearly specified in the proposal.

Institutes/PIs with excellent record of successfully completed/towards completion project (s) under SHRI or Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Division of Ministry of Education will be preferred. Multiple submissions from one organization will not be considered. Head of the organizations must ensure single submission.

The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) constituted by DST will consider all received proposals for budgetary support. The group may seek expert opinion, wherever required and guide during the review of progress to achieve maximum outcomes.

Funding and Infrastructure Support

DST will not support basic infrastructure, buildings, and international travel under the proposal. However, expenses towards furnishing the Centre may be supported. DST will not give support towards the salary of permanent/regular employees and will only support temporary project staff.

Non-recurring grants for equipment(s) to be considered only if same/similar facility is not available in the Institution. All assets acquired from the grant will be the property of the Government of India.

DST can terminate financial support at any stage of the project implementation, if grant is found to utilize inappropriately or progress of the project is not in line with the submitted objectives/deliverables.

Required Documents and Format

The proposal must include an endorsement from the Head of the Institution, a certificate from the Investigator(s), details of the proposal, a declaration of conflict of interest, and registration documents of the institution. The proposal should follow the prescribed format, including sections for identification, technical details, work plan, budget estimates, and biodata of investigators.

Ensure all required documents are submitted through the online portal. A signed copy of the Conflict of Interest document must also be included.

The last date for submission of proposals is 20th May 2025.