RFP - India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research & Development Programme 2020

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About the Organization

Department of Science & Technology (DST) was established in May 1971, with the objective of promoting new areas of Science & Technology and to play the role of a nodal department for organizing, coordinating and promoting S&T activities in the country. The Department of Science & Technology plays a pivotal role in promotion of science & technology in the country. The department has wide ranging activities ranging from promoting high end basic research and development of cutting edge technologies on one hand to service the technological requirements of the common man through development of appropriate skills and technologies on the other.

India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research & Development Programme 2020

Department of Science & Technology (DST) India and Swedish Energy Agency (SEA) Sweden, invite proposals in collaborative industrial research and development projects in the area of Smart Grid. The call includes applied R&D projects focused on co-development of new technologies, services or processes to address challenges within the context of electrical smart grid.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is open for Indian and Swedish companies who jointly aim to develop new innovative technologies, processes and advanced or technology based services which will in subsequent steps generate sustainable solutions for society coupled with market potential. The cooperation should be led by a commercial company in the respective country and the consortium could in addition include research performing organisations such as universities, research institutes or other similar entities.

Who Can Apply?

Indian Applicants

• The Indian Project Coordinator (IPC) must be a commercial (for profit) company under the Indian Companies Act 1956/2013, which operates in and is headquartered in India. The Indian Project leader must be employed at the IPC.
• At least 51% stake of the IPC Company must be owned by Indian citizens.
• The IPC should have the required expertise and team capacity to manage the proposed project.
• Sole proprietors and partnership firms are not eligible for support under this programme.
• Companies headquartered and owned outside India and their subsidiaries in India, or vice versa, are not eligible to apply as Indian applicant and/ or receive funding from DST under this programme.
• IPC should lead the project from Indian side and if required bring in other Industry Partners and/or Academic/R&D Institutions (including not-for-profit research institutes recognised by DSIR/ registered at DARPAN portal) as Consortium Partner.

Eligibility Criteria for Applicants:

In India -

The Indian Project Coordinator (IPC) must be a commercial company that operates in and is headquartered in India. (Researchers or managers of these companies should be nominated as project coordinators).

Specific criteria for eligible applicants are as follows:

• The Indian Project Coordinator (IPC) company applying for the project must be incorporated in India under the Companies Act 1956/2013.
• At least 51% stake of the IPC Company must be owned by Indian citizens.
• The IPC should have the required expertise and team capacity to manage the proposed project1
• For each project at least one Indian & one Swedish applicants. If there are more than one applicant then one of them represent them as IPC/SPC.

Project Requirements:

A consortium of Indian and Swedish participants proposing an R&D project that meets the requirements in this section is eligible to apply to this RFP and does so in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations and procedures of their jurisdiction or country.

Any team proposing an R&D project that addresses the requirements detailed below is eligible to apply to this RFP:

• An Indian registered company Project Coordinator (IPC), responsible for the Indian application submission, leading the Indian part of the project and communicating with the Swedish Project Coordinator. Project Investigator (PI) will be an individual duly authorised by IPC to this project.
• A Swedish registered company Project Coordinator (SPC), responsible for the Sweden application submission, leading the Swedish side of the project and communicating with the Indian Project Coordinator.
• For the Swedish and Indian side, a well-balanced input from the participants is desired.
• The project budget should be balanced between the Swedish and the Indian partners.
• Cost estimates must be congruous with the planned activities. The planned activities in the project should thus be clearly presented in the proposal.
• From the Swedish side, projects must be in conformance with the definitions of ‘industrial research2 ’ and/or ‘experimental development ’ of the General Block Exemption Rules, article 25, of EU and have a good potential to be commercialised after the completion of the project.
• Projects must be innovative and market-driven, leading to the proposed development of a new technologies or processes or new/improved services, with a strong potential to future commercialisation.
• On the Indian side, the projects should be committed in advancing the Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) between 5-8 for the products. However, for new processes or technologies, the project should be capable for creation of lowcost alternatives of an existing technology.

Project Funding Support:

DST and the Swedish Energy Agency will implement a joint, merit-based project evaluation and selection process using their respective assessment processes. Funds will be provided in accordance with the applicable laws, rules, regulations and procedures established by each organisation, and/or in each jurisdiction/country.

In India -

Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, will fund the successful projects, as follows:

• Funding support for the project must be balanced by Indian Industry and other partners. The share of Indian Public Sector R & D Organisation /Academic Institution/Other Non-economical organisation could be up to 50% (maximum) of the total Indian project cost.
• The funding award will be basis appropriate due-diligence and expert evaluation.
• Funding from other sources will be considered into account when awarding grant, and applicants will be asked to declare funding from other sources in the application.
• Following award notification, DST will advise the IPC of all administrative and legal requirements to be addressed prior to the start of the project and the release of funds. The general guidelines on intellectual property rights (IPR) is enclosed at Annexure -7, which will be discussed with consortium partners.

Deadline: May 20, 2021

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