VAIBHAV

VAIBHAV Fellowship envisages collaboration between scientists of Indian Diaspora with

Indian Higher Educational Institutions/Universities/Public Funded Scientific

Institutions. Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for collaboration &

may spend upto two months in a year for a max. of 3 years.

The “Vaishvik Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellowship” is a new programme which is implemented by the Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. This programme envisages collaboration between scientists of the Indian Diaspora with Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), Universities and/or Public Funded Scientific Institutions. The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for collaboration and may spend up to two months in a year for a maximum of 3 years.

Research areas under which applications may be submitted:

Proposals are sought in select identified verticals and horizontals of VAIBHAV (as mentioned in

the preamble):

• Quantum Technologies: Quantum Communication; Quantum Computing; Quantum Sensing and Metrology; Quantum Materials and Devices
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Foundation of AI/ML; AI/ML and Signals; AI for Social Good; AI and Robotics
• Computational Sciences: High-Performance Computing Architectures; Computational Atmospheric Sciences; Cyber-Physical Systems
• Data Sciences: Data Science Project Management; Data Science Infrastructure, Deployment and Hosting; Data Privacy and Security; Data Science Education; Data Science Applications
• Photonics: Photonic Devices; Optical Imaging and Bio-photonics; Photonic Materials and Sources; Nano-photonics; Integrated Photonics and Communication
• Energy: Future Electricity Systems; Sustainable Mobility Technologies; Advanced Fossil Technologies; Sustainable Future Fuels
• Electronics and Semiconductor Technologies: Semiconductor Materials and Process Technologies; Semiconductor Devices: Physics and Technology; Electronic Circuits and System Design
• Communication Technologies: Cellular Evolution 5G and Beyond (THz Comm); Communication Technologies for IoT/CPS; High-Speed Optical Communication – backbone networks; Cognitive Technologies for Futuristic Communication
• Aerospace Technologies: Aerospace Systems and Design; Propulsion Technologies; Flight Structure and Integrity; Modeling and Simulations; Unmanned Aerial Systems and Countermeasures
• Materials and Processing Technologies: Structural Materials; Materials Recycling & Purification; Advanced & Functional Materials; Catalytic Materials & Processes; Computational Materials Science
• Earth Sciences: Atmospheric Science; Polar Science; Ocean Science/Technology; Geo Science/Technology
• Environmental Sciences: Air Quality Management; Water Quality Management; Soil and Waste Management; Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity Conservation; Climate Change
• Advanced Manufacturing Technologies: Smart Manufacturing, IoT, Digital Manufacturing; Additive Manufacturing; Precision/Micro-nano Manufacturing/Surface Engineering; Industrial Machines, Robotics/Automation; Speciality Products Manufacturing
• Health, Medical Sciences and Biomedical Devices: Advanced Technologies in Health Care; Precision Health; Holistic Health; Remote and Rural Health - Reaching the Unreached
• Pharmaceuticals and Bio-Technology: Biotherapeutics and Biosimilars; Industrial Biotechnology; Infectious Diseases/ Disease biology; Drug Discovery, Repurposing and Drug delivery
• Agricultural Sciences: Precision Agriculture; Sustainable and Climate Smart Agriculture; Food Safety and Nutritional Security; Climate Resilient Livestock, Veterinary Therapeutics and Zoonoses control, Nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture and metabolic biology, Modern Fisheries and Aquaculture and seed production, Genome editing, Robotics, farm automation, Digital Agriculture
• Social Sciences for SDGs: Behavioral Community Approaches & its impact on Societal Development; Societal aspect of Technology Development with cause; Socio-Economic aspect of Development
• Management: Fostering academic collaborations; Mechanisms to increase R&D outputs from Indian institutions; Business innovation; Entrepreneurship for growth; Management of New-Age (Knowledge) Organizations; Making India R&D center of the world / Making India Center of Practice-Oriented Management Knowledge

> Eligibility: (For applicants- VAIBHAV Fellow):

• Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), currently working abroad.
• Ph.D/M.D/M.S/M.Tech degree from a recognized University.
• Engaged in active research.
• Working/worked in an Institute/University of top-200 QS World University Ranking (subject wise) (in regular/tenure employment) for at least 5 years or more. OR
• Working in Industry or Research Laboratories of repute in abroad for at least 5 years or more (but should not be a PhD or Post-doctoral fellow).

> Eligibility: (For host Indian Institutions):

• Higher Educational Institution/University ranked in the top 200 in NIRF overall rankings or having NAAC ‘A+’ grade or above and/or
• Public Funded Scientific Institutes/National Laboratories.

Expectations from the VAIBHAV fellow:

• Sharing the Best Practices on research and translation of research, incubation, etc.
• Build long-term connections,
• Connect Indian Students to the foreign faculty/scientists
• New approaches to Research processes and futuristic technologies
• VAIBHAV Fellow is expected to give a report to DST within 21 days of completion of travel indicating work done/initiated, follow-up required, etc.

Expectations from Host Institution:

The host institute will host the scientist and provide office/lab facilities, consumables, access to lab equipment, and facilitation for various infrastructure support. The following activities will be done by the host faculty/scientist:

• Will start a project/technology translation/start-up/incubation which should be aligned with the priorities area of the country
• The VAIBHAV fellow would collaborate with the Indian scientist team during his visit and beyond via online meetings.
• The host institution would implement the project within 3 years in consultation with a VAIBHAV fellow.
• The host Institution would submit the progress report and financial documents to DST at the end of each year and a project completion report at the end of 3rd year. The reports need to be jointly prepared by the host and the VAIBHAV fellow.
• Host institute will adapt the shared best practices
• Will build the long-term research connections with the fellow
• Will develop a new approach to research processes and try to develop new technologies/innovation etc.

> Emoluments for the Fellowship:

• Fellowship in ₹4,00,000/- roughly (equivalent to USD 5000 per month), for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of up to 2 months per year for a period of a maximum of 3 years,
• International Travel from place of work in parent institute to place of work in India in business class once a year,
• Fully furnished Accommodation in the guest house or hotel up to ₹7500/- per day,
• Contingency ₹1,00,000 per year for research expenditure in India

• Domestic Travel (economy class) for academic purposes up to two Indian academic/scientific institutes in a year.

Note: It may be noted that the total eligible grant will be released to the Indian host Institute and these institutes will be providing a Fellowship amount to the VAIBHAV Fellow and extend other support.

> Institutional Financial Support:

The financial support (up to ₹5 Lakhs per year for 3 years) will be given to the host institution to facilitate the VAIBHAV fellow for research work as per DST norms. This funding will cover the following expenses in connection with a project;

• Consumables and Accessories,
• Contingency
• Institutional Overhead