SITARE-Appreciation Grant
Category: Skills & Employment
Level: Central | State: All
Ministry: Ministry Of Science And Technology

Details:
“Students Innovations for Translation &amp; Advancement of Research Explorations (SITARE)” Scheme is started by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) for supporting innovative student projects in the area of biotechnology. The scheme’s mandate is to promote and encourage young students for embracing translational research to develop innovative products and technologies addressing unmet needs. The scheme has two components: SITARE-Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award Grant (SITARE-GYTI) and SITARE-Appreciation Grant. 
**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 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 exposure and orientation for the entrepreneurial journey through hands-on-technical training, interactive sessions with experts, access to a bio incubation center, etc. This is to promote grassroots innovations and nurture ideas with societal impact, pioneered by undergraduate students, especially from Tier II/III cities. The 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-up training and mentoring.
The BIIS is a national-level programme to provide up to 4 weeks of residential training benefitting up to 40 students in each session.

Benefits:
Under the scheme, the 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 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.
Note:
 The grantees are expected to conduct further research on the topic either at home institution or at the SITARE Partner’s lab. SITARE Partner can extend mentoring and other support required for the same.
Travel/Accommodation:
 The following expenses will be covered for student participants:
•	Class II Rail fare and local travel expenses
•	Hostel accommodation
•	Breakfast, lunch, dinner
•	Shuttle facility from hostel to project site
Other activities:
SITARE Partner is encouraged to provide mentoring to BIIS participants by organizing invited talks by experts from institutions such as but not limited to TiE, BREC, Management schools, etc., and may undertake tour(s) to nearby reputed colleges/institutions/incubation centres.

Eligibility Criteria:
1. Students pursuing Bachelors programme in any discipline are eligible to apply under the scheme.
   1. The student should have a valid ID issued by the Institution/University.
   1. A student can avail of 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.

**Note:** The preference will be given to the students who are from Tier II/Tier III cities and aspirational districts within India.