The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the European Commission (EC) have established an Implementing Arrangement to facilitate research collaborations between Indian researchers and European Research Council (ERC) awardees. This initiative offers opportunities for ICSSR-funded early career researchers to collaborate with European researchers supported by ERC grants, fostering international research partnerships.

Overview of the Opportunity

This program enables Indian researchers in Social Sciences and Humanities, specifically Principal Investigators (PIs) of Research Projects, Senior Fellows, and Post-Doctoral Fellows funded by ICSSR, to engage in research collaborations with European researchers supported by EU-funded ERC grants. The collaborations can focus on similar areas of scientific interest or topics of mutual relevance.

The initiative aims to create mutually beneficial partnerships through cooperative activities during research visits, ultimately enriching future research endeavors in both India and Europe. The European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA) provides a list of ERC-funded Principal Investigators (PIs) and research teams interested in hosting ICSSR awardees.

ICSSR awardees should request the detailed list of ERC funded projects via email from Incharge, International Collaboration Programme Division, ICSSR, New Delhi at adinchargeics@gmail.com. Subsequently, ICSSR-funded researchers will be invited to communicate directly with the ERC-supported teams to negotiate the terms and conditions of the collaboration.

Eligibility Criteria

The opportunity is exclusively available to PIs and Fellows of active (ongoing) ICSSR awards, including Research Projects, Senior Fellowships, and Post-Doctoral Fellowships. It's important to note that supplemental funding cannot be used to support travel for senior personnel, postdocs, or others already funded on the award.

To be eligible, applicants must hold an active ICSSR award at the time of application and during the proposed research visit. The proposed research collaboration must align with the applicant's current research focus and contribute to their career goals.

• Must be a PI or Fellow of an active ICSSR award.

• Awards include Research Projects, Senior Fellowship and Post-Doctoral Fellowship.

• Supplemental funding cannot be used for senior personnel already funded.

Funding Details

Funding for activities under this arrangement is contingent upon the availability of funds and adherence to the applicable laws, regulations, policies, and programs of both the ERC and ICSSR. Indian researchers will continue to receive ICSSR funding as per the terms of their grants.

ICSSR will provide travel funds to and fro for Europe. Travel expenses, including visa fees and travel insurance, related to the research visits can be claimed under the ICSSR International Collaboration Programme grant. However, prior approval from the researcher's institution is required before commencing a collaborative agreement with European counterparts.

European hosts will provide funding to support in-country living expenses during the visits. Visiting Indian researchers may be incorporated into the research teams of the ERC-funded Principal Investigators, allowing relevant expenses to be claimed under the ERC grants.

Conditions and Requirements

ICSSR awardees can request supplemental funding for a single short-term visit, up to two months. Research visits should commence at least six months before the project or fellowship's completion and submission date.

ICSSR will provide supplemental funding for foreign travel expenses, including airfare and directly related expenses such as ground transportation to and from the airport and visa fees. In-country costs will be covered by the existing ERC funding, commensurate with the ICSSR grantee's level of experience.

ICSSR awardees are required to report on the research visits in their ICSSR annual and final project reports and may be asked to participate in follow-up evaluation activities. Awardees must consult with the ICSSR Division Incharge of their original award or Fellowship before submitting a supplemental funding request.

How to Apply for Supplemental Funding

To request supplemental funding, awardees must prepare a detailed proposal that includes a description of the research to be performed during the visit, its relation to current research and career goals (no more than 3 pages), and biographical sketches of both the Indian PI and the ERC-funded PI host (2 pages each).

The proposal should also include a timeline for the proposed activity, a budget and budget justification (e.g., estimated airfare, ground transportation, visa fees), and communication from the affiliating institution of the Indian PI endorsing the visit. Additionally, a communication from the ERC-funded PI host should indicate how the proposed visit fits within the ERC-funded project, the facilities and resources available to the ICSSR awardee, and the ERC-funded PI host's expectations for the visit.

Requests must be received at ICSSR at least 3 months prior to the proposed visit, but no later than December 31, 2025, for consideration using Fiscal Year 2025-26 funds. Supplemental funding requests will be reviewed internally by ICSSR, and all supplements are subject to the availability of funds and the quality of the request.