This call for proposals aims to foster scientific and technological cooperation between Tunisia and India, encouraging joint research projects that address key global challenges. The General Directorate of Scientific Research (GDSR) in Tunisia and the Department of Science & Technology (DST) in India are jointly funding this initiative.

Priority Research Areas

This call focuses on specific areas critical to both nations. Joint research projects must align with one of the following themes to be considered for funding.

The key areas are: climate change and eco-innovation, e-health, and geospatial technology. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the research contributes to advancements within these fields.

Projects should address significant scientific and societal challenges within these areas. The selection process will prioritize proposals that offer innovative solutions and demonstrate potential for high impact.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, proposals must involve research entities from both Tunisia and India. Each joint application requires a Tunisian and an Indian Principal Investigator (PI), responsible for technical and administrative coordination.

The involvement of industrial or socio-economic sector partners is highly encouraged. These partners can contribute to collaborative research and enhance the practical application of scientific outcomes.

Specific requirements for PIs include:

• Tunisia: PI must be a Full Professor or Associate Professor affiliated with a public research laboratory. The research team must include at least five statutory researchers, with at least two holding professorial ranks.

• India: PI and Co-Is must be scientists/faculty members in regular positions at universities, academic institutes, or national R&D labs. They should not be retiring or leaving during the project duration and should not be involved in more than two ongoing DST-funded international projects.

Financial Support Details

The financial support available for each project is substantial. For Tunisian research entities, funding is available up to TND 50,000 per year for a maximum of three years, totaling TND 150,000.

Indian research entities can receive funding up to 45 lakhs for a maximum of three years. Eligible costs include expenses directly related to the project's objectives and incurred within the project's duration.

Eligible expenses include: exchange visits for project team members (covering airfare and accommodation), consumables (up to 30-40% of the budget), human resources, scientific events and meetings, and research-related expenses (publication fees, sample analysis). Indian applicants can also claim institutional overhead costs based on DST norms.

Proposal Submission Guidelines

Proposals must be written in English and jointly prepared by Tunisian and Indian applicants. The application should include completed forms, CVs of all team members, a letter of intent between PIs, and a signed submission request.

Tunisian applicants must submit the proposal electronically to partenariat.scientifique@gmail.com as a single PDF file. Indian applicants should submit via https://onlinedst.gov.in by 5:00 PM (India time) on July 31, 2025.

Ensure that the Tunisian and Indian counterparts submit applications with identical titles by the deadline. Incomplete or non-compliant applications will not be considered.

Evaluation and Selection Process

Proposals will undergo independent evaluation by MHESR/GDSR and MST/DST. Funding will only be granted to projects accepted by both sides.

Evaluation criteria include: strategic alignment and project relevance, scientific quality and methodological robustness, expertise and complementarity of research teams, and impact, dissemination, and exploitation of results.

Key considerations include the project's alignment with priority research areas, its innovation, the added value of bilateral collaboration, and its potential scientific and societal impact.

Reporting and Schedule

The Tunisian PI must submit an interim scientific and financial report to MHESR. Continued funding depends on the positive evaluation of these reports. A final report is required at the end of the third year.

Similarly, the Indian PI must submit annual financial year-wise reports to DST. The granting of subsequent budgets depends on the submission and positive evaluation of these reports. A final report is also required at the end of the third year.

Key dates: Publication of the Call: May 19, 2025; Deadline for Proposal Submission: July 31, 2025.