Lok Sabha Question No. 1949 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Launch of SERB-POWER Initiative
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Talari Rangaiah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1949 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12/02/2021

## Launch of SERB-POWER Initiative

1949.    SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA: SHRI TALARI RANGAIAH: SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE: DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE: DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी be pleased to state:

- (a)        whether the Government has launched the SERBPOWER initiative, if so, the details thereof and the aims and objective behind its inception;
- (b) the  number  of  women  researchers likely  to  receive  Fellowship  under  this  initiative  along  with  the amount to be disbursed and the criteria fixed for availing the fellowship;
- (c) whether India has less than two women researchers out of every ten scientific researchers in the country, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  this  Ministry  has  taken  initiatives  to  encourage  women  entrepreneurship  under  Start-up India-Stand up India Schemes, if so, the details thereof and the achievements made so far; and
- (e) the  details  of  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  the  number  of researchers especially women to promote research in Science and Technology?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND

MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES

(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

वाय और परवार कयाण मंी , वान और ौयोगक मंी और पृ वी वान मंी

( डॉ . हष वधन )

- (a):       Yes, Sir. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body of the Department of  Science  and  Technology  (DST),  Government  of  India  has  launched  the  Scheme  titled  'SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)'.   The Scheme is aimed to mitigate gender disparity  in  science  and  engineering  research  funding  in  various  S&T  programs  in  Indian  academic institutions and research and development (R&D) laboratories,  address comparatively lower participation of women scientists in research activities, identify and support competitive women researchers in the country. SERB - POWER provides structured support in research to ensure equal access and weighted opportunities for Indian women scientists engaged in R&D activities. The R&D support to women scientists is provided through two components, namely: SERB POWER Fellowships & SERB POWER Research Grants.  Annually up-to 100 POWER Research Grants and 25 POWER Fellowships will be provided.
- (b):       The SERB-POWER Initiative offers up-to 25 Fellowships per year to competent women researchers who  are  in  regular  service  in  academic  and  research  institutions  in  the  country.  The  Scheme  provides personal fellowship of Rs. 15,000/- per month in addition to their regular income, research grant of Rs. 10 lakh per annum; and Overhead of Rs. 90,000/- per annum to the Institution of the POWER Fellow. This is a one-time fellowship to top performing women researchers in the age group of 35-55 years for a period of three  years.  A  Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted for the purpose help in selecting the POWER Fellows.  Applications  are  invited  through  nominations  (by  Heads  of  the  Institutions  or  Fellows  of  the National Academies) and through Search-cum-Selection Committee.
- (c):          As  per  latest  "Research  and  Development  Statistics,  2019-20"  of  DST, India  has  16.6%  women researchers directly engaged in R&D activities. There are several reasons for lower participation of women in R&D. This includes familial issues like marriage, family responsibility, relocation due to transferable job of spouse etc. These reasons attribute to dropout from higher studies, career break, overage for scientific jobs and prolonged absence from place of work or even resignation from the job.

(d):          Multifaceted  initiatives  have  been  launched  by  Ministry  to  encourage  women  entrepreneurship under Start-up India-Stand up India. The details of initiatives and the achievements made so far are as given below:

Women Entrepreneur's Quest (WEQ) Programme was initiated by DST in partnership with Anita Borg Institute, USA for scouting and supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Technology. A total of 42 start-ups have been supported so far and 21 start-ups have grown to next level. A few of the WEQ start-ups have setup offices in US as a result of this programme.  Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Foundation (WEE) is India's first of its kind initiative by Indian Institute of Technology Delhi supported and sponsored by DST to  strengthen  women  eco  -  system.  The  WEE  cohort  initiative  helps  women  ranging  from  college  going students  to  middle-aged  housewives to  take  up  entrepreneurship  as  a  viable,  fulfilling  career  option.  170 start-ups  have  been  trained  so  far  under  WEE  program.  emPower  was  positioned  as  the  India's  first accelerator  program  for  women  start-ups  in  Technology.  It  is  implemented  by  Zone  start-ups,  a  DST supported  Incubator  hosted  at  Bombay  Stock  Exchange.  The  programme  includes  mentor-ship  support, workshops, case studies, peer networking, industry connect and equity free seed fund. Support is provided to total 30 women each year under 'technology for businesses' and 'technology for social impact tracks' and concludes through a demo day. Top 3 start-ups are provided exposure to Canadian ecosystem fully funded by the Govt. of Canada. Women Start-up Program (WSP) of DST in partnership with Goldman Sachs aims to support  ambitious  and  innovative  women  entrepreneurs  by  enabling  them  to  transform  their  idea  into  a business  venture.  WSP  reached  out  to  6200  women  across  the  country  through  Massive  Open  Online Course  program.  A  total  of  97  women  entrepreneurs  were  supported  through  boot  camp,  fellowship  and prototype  support,  exchange  visit  to  Israel  for  building  partnership  and  market  access  cementing.  A  few WSP start-ups have led to cementing tie-ups in the cyber security and edu-tech domain.

The Department of Biotechnology's (DBT's) Non-profit section 8 company, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is playing a significant role in promoting women entrepreneurship. BIRAC  has  been  operating  a  woman  focused  entrepreneurship  award,  called  WInER  Award  (Women  In Entrepreneurial  Research),  in  partnership  with  TiE-Delhi  NCR.  Under  the  award  program,  15  women entrepreneurs working on ideas that impact large sections of the society are awarded Rs. 5 lakhs each along with other benefits including mentoring, hand-holding, an opportunity to go through an intensive accelerator programme. These 15 winners are given a chance to pitch and 3 final winners are awarded Rs. 25 lakhs each along with other benefits offered by TiE Delhi NCR. Three rounds of WInER Award have been successfully completed with 30 awardees. 200 women entrepreneurs and researchers under various schemes (such as Biotechnology  Ignition Grant Scheme  (BIG),  Small  Business  Innovation  Research  Initiative (SBIRI), Biotechnology  Industry  Partnership  Programme  (BIPP),  Promoting  Academic  Research  Conversion  to Enterprise (PACE) etc.) of BIRAC have been supported. BIRAC has also supported two Bioincubators, which provides incubation space and mentoring (business, IP, legal)  specifically  to women students/  scientists/ entrepreneurs.

(e):       Government has taken several other steps to increase the number of researchers especially women to  promote  research  in  Science  and  Technology  (S&T).  The  'Knowledge  Involvement  in  Research Advancement  through  Nurturing  (KIRAN)'  Scheme  of  DST  had  been  instituted  to  encourage  women scientists through various programmes in the field of S&T. 'Women Scientist Scheme (WOS)' under KIRAN provides  career  opportunities  including  fellowships  to  unemployed  women  scientists  and  technologists, especially  those  who  had  a  break  in  career,  for  pursuing  research  in  frontier  areas  of  science  and engineering.  Under  'Consolidation  of  University  Research  through  Innovation  and  Excellence  in  Women Universities (CURIE)' Programme only women Universities are being supported for development of research infrastructure and creation of state-of-the-art research laboratories to enhance women's participation in S&T domain.  Mobility  Scheme  under  KIRAN  addresses  relocation  issues  of  working  women  scientists  and provides  support  in  project  mode  for  2-5  years.  Indo-US  Fellowship  for  Women  in  STEMM  (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) encourages Indian women scientists and technologists to undertake international collaborative research in premier institutions in USA for duration of 3-6 months. Recently launched 'Vigyan Jyoti' Scheme encourages girl students of Class 9 to 12 to pursue education and  career  in  S&T  particularly  in  the  areas  where  women  are  underrepresented.  The  SERB  Women Excellence Award recognizes women Academy Awardees to expand their research horizon to higher levels. In addition, DBT is also implementing 'Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation Programme (BioCARe)' to encourage women scientists in Biotechnology research. Further, Council for Scientific and Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  provides  upper  age  relaxation  of  five  years  to  women  researchers  to  pursue doctoral and postdoctoral research for award of Fellowships/Associateships. To recognize the contribution of women scientists in the field of Earth System Sciences, Ministry of Earth Sciences has initiated a special award called 'National Award for woman scientist' and is being conferred to one-woman scientist each year on the Foundation day.

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