Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research
Category: Women and Child, Education & Learning
Level: Central | State: All
Ministry: Ministry Of Science And Technology

Details:
The scheme “Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research (WISER)” aims to build scientific capacity, retain and promote women researchers in India &amp; Germany by utilising complementary expertise in science, technology, innovation and research partnerships. This scheme is designed for women researchers holding a regular/long-term research position in academia/research institute/industry in India or Germany.
            Indo-German Science &amp; Technology Centre (IGSTC), established by the Department of Science &amp; Technology (DST), Government of India and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Government of Germany invites applications from women researchers in India/Germany to participate and collaborate in an ongoing R&amp;D&amp;I project without applying for fresh project grant in partnering countries.
> **Objective:**

This programme intends to:

  - Enhance the representation and progression of women researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
  - Bring gender equity and inclusion in STEM research.
  - Create avenues for networking, interaction and long-term research collaboration.
  - Improve existing projects by adding an additional research component to get new and better results.
  - Promote women to lead consortium-based bilateral projects for IGSTC programmes and other funding schemes.

> **Tenure:**

The tenure of the grant is for 3 years or till completion of the project whichever is earlier and will cover one visit per year for a short stay up to 1 month.

Benefits:
The grant will cover basic project assistance (including research staff for the Indian awardee, consumables, and contingency) for the awardee in the parent country and a one-month research stay in the host country (single round-trip airfare, visa fee, medical insurance, per diem for the stay).
Indian awardee:
Travel (including visa fee and insurance) approximately ₹1 lakh.
Project cost up to ₹12 lakhs/year (including research staff, consumables, contingency, and per diem @ €2300/month in Germany).
German awardee:
Travel (including visa fee and insurance) approximately €1500.
Project cost up to €14500/year (including consumables, contingency, and per diem @ € 2300/month in India).

Eligibility Criteria:
1. The applicant must be working either in India or Germany.
   1. Through this scheme, women researchers/entrepreneurs holding regular positions in academic/research institutions/industrial research organizations in India/Germany may apply to be a part of an ongoing R&amp;D project of interest with acceptance from the host team.
   1. The programme is open to all areas of STEM.
   1. The programme has no age-limit (Preference to Early/Mid-career researchers).

**Note 01:** The applicant must define her role in the project, and provide details of the objective, execution strategy, and expected outcome.
**Note 02:** The applicant shall specify the value addition to the project in the host country.
**Note 03:** Choice and acceptance from the host is the sole responsibility of the applicant. The applicant should ensure an endorsement/consent letter from the host at the time of the application.
**Note 04:** The applicant shall submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC)/Endorsement letter from the head of the institution (present organization).
**Note 05:** The awardee shall commence her visit within 12 months from the date of the award letter.
**Note 06:** The awardee will abide by the conduct, rules &amp; regulations of the host and the host country. IGSTC will not be responsible for the violation of any Rules and regulations by the awardee.
**Note 07:** The awardee and host must intimate IGSTC through email/letter in case of discontinuation by the awardee.
**Note 08:** The awardee must recognize and acknowledge IGSTC in all online/print documents, communications, reports, publications, conferences, theses, etc. on work emanating from the grant.