######## Criterion 3: Impact and benefits of the project

- • Overall impact of the project, including scientific, technological, economic, and social aspects.
- • Appropriateness of description of how socio-economic questions are incorporated and end users involved, where feasible. Consideration of safety aspects.
- • Ambition of the project in terms of targeted TRL.

########## External peer reviewers and panel members use . the same evaluation grid

With regard to the sub-criterion "Appropriateness of resources and funding requested" of Criterion 2 "Consortium, Collaboration, and Implementation", the economic context of the partners' countries is taken into account. PIs are informed that under the bilateral agreement, the DST will provide Indian partners with a maximum funding of 2.25 crores or approximately 250k€ for a project for the three -year duration of the project. French applicants are invited to submit projects t hat justify ANR funding for indicative amounts of 200 k€ to 350 k€, depending on the project's ambition and the number of partners applying for ANR funding. The maximum amount that can be requested from the ANR to fund a project is set at 500 k€.

######## 3.4 SELECTION AND FUNDING DECISION

Once the peer reviewers have completed their evaluations, the joint scientific panel meets in a plenary session (virtual meeting). The collective discussion results in ranking the full project proposals in relation to each other. The outcome of the discussion is recorded in a final evaluation report reflecting the consensus reached by the joint scientific panel. The list of projects selected for funding will be published on the ANR and DST websites around July 2025. The ANR and the DST will notify the successful applicants individually when the results are published.

### 4. KIND OF SUPPORT AVAILABLE

The successful projects will be jointly funded by India and France. For the French counterpart, funding will be disbursed by ANR, and similarly for the Indian counterpart by DST.

The French side (French National Research Agency - ANR) will allocate 1 million EUR and the Indian side (DST) will allocate 90 million INR i.e. (Rs. 9 crores) to support at least 2-4 joint research and innovation projects. The duration of the projects is expected to be up to 3 years for both sides.

Significant co-financing as well as the participation of relevant public partners and/or private enterprises other than the main applicants is encouraged.

The project budget must clearly delineate justified Indian and French costs. The costs of the Indian partnermust be eligible as per the guidelines of the DST. Accordingly, the costs of the French partner must be eligible as per the guidelines of the ANR. As the joint projects are funded in bilateral mode the mobility between the two countries should be balanced. Applicants are reminded to include a sufficient budget for travel between India and France to ensure successful collaboration. The sending side will provide round-trip economy-class airfare to the relevant entry city of the host country as well as medical insurance. The receiving side will provide accommodation and living expenses, i.e., transportation for pick-up service to and from the airport, food or per diem, etc.

######## 4.1 SUPPORT AVAILABLE ONTHEINDIAN SIDE:

Financial support will be provided only for temporary staff salaries, equipment, consumables, internationaltravel, and other miscellaneous items. The support will be provided towards basic infrastructure or buildings. The NOT investigators/ R&D Group should have adequate experience and expertise in the relevant area of the proposal. It is envisaged that the end product of development shall be transferred to industries for commercial production. Hence, it is desirable that industry/industries may be associated with the project right from the beginning with defined participation in technical terms. As far as possible the proposed prototype/device/process should have sufficient users in the country and there should be adequate demandfor the product.