Students Innovations for Translation & Advancement of Research Explorations (SITARE)
Students Innovations for Translation & Advancement of Research Explorations (SITARE) Scheme is aimed at supporting innovative student projects in the area of biotechnology. The scheme’s mandate is to promote and encourage young students for embracing translational research (defined under Section 4) to develop innovative products and technologies addressing unmet needs. SITARE-GYTI Award Grant is not a usual research fellowship. The scheme also provides an opportunity for orientation, training and mentoring through residential workshops etc.
The scheme has two components:
- SITARE-Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award Grant (SITARE-GYTI): 15 innovative student projects will receive funding support of upto INR 15 lakhs each. SITARE-GYTI encourages postgraduate and doctoral students to undertake projects with commercial potential leading to creation of biotech startups. The fund recipients are recognized as BIRAC’s SITARE-GYTI beneficiaries.
Eligibility: An Indian Student pursuing Ph.D/Masters* in any discipline is eligible to apply for this award grant. The student should have a valid ID issued by the Institution/University. A No objection Certificate (NoC), as per prescribed format needs to be submitted along with application.
*Exceptions for exceptional talent: Meritorious candidature outside the above eligibility criteria may be considered for SITARE with approval of BIRAC’s competent authority.
Frequency of Call: Once a year
Month of announcement: August/September
Call Duration: The call is typically open for 45-60 days
- SITARE-Appreciation Grant: Residential workshops called as Biotech Innovation Ignition School (BIIS) for undergraduate students are organized to provide hands-on-technical training and mentorship for problem identification in 3-4 weeks duration. Out of 30-40 students per workshop, 10 students are selected and provided a grant support of up to INR 1 lakh each to encourage their inquisitiveness and sustained efforts. The recipients are recognized as BIRAC’s SITARE-Appreciation beneficiaries. In a year, 3 such workshops are conducted.
About BIIS
The mandate of Biotech Innovation Ignition School (BIIS) is to provide an exposure and orientation for entrepreneurial journey through hands-on-technical training, interactive sessions with experts, access to bioincubation centre etc. This to promote grass root innovations and nurture ideas with societal impact, pioneered by undergraduate students, especially from Tier II/III cities. Selected few would receive financial support of INR 1 lakh as an encouragement to pursue their inquisitive entrepreneurial idea. The fund recipients would be recognized as SITARE-Appreciation recipients and may also receive follow on training and mentoring.
The BIIS is a national level programme to provide up to 4 weeks residential training benefitting up to 40 students in each session.
Eligibility
Students pursuing Bachelors programme in any discipline, preferably from Tier II/Tier III cities and aspirational districts within India. The student should have a valid ID issued by the Institution/University.
A student can avail only one opportunity for BIIS workshop training across all SITARE Partners, except for the SITARE-Appreciation Award Grantees who will be eligible to avail access to subsequent workshops by other Partners on recommendation by SITARE Partner/BIRAC.
SITARE-Appreciation Award Grants
The work done by students during BIIS is assessed on the last day of the school and the outstanding studies (up to 10 per BIIS) are identified for further support of INR 1 lakh each as SITARE-Appreciation Award Grant. The grantees are expected to conduct further research on the topic either at home institution or at SITARE Partner’s lab. SITARE Partner can extend mentoring and other support required for the same.
Tentative months for conduct of BIIS Workshops: February, June and December.
Application Process
Proposals shall be submitted online only during an active Call for Proposals
SITARE Partner
Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI), Ahmedabad is the current SITARE Partner.
Contact details of SRISTI:
SRISTI, AES Boys Hostel Campus, Near Gujarat University Library & SBI Bank,
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad-380 009, Gujarat, India.
Email: info[at]sristi[dot]org; Phone. 079-27913293, 27912792