Call for Position Papers for
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR ICT RESEARCH
WITH INDIA
Deadline: 20 January 2014
The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, Physical Sciences (NWO-EW) has
reserved funds for setting up public-private research programmes between India and the Netherlands.
The aim is to start one or more research programmes with partners in India in 2014 and 2015. The total
budget available from NWO EW for the Indo-Dutch collaboration in the next two years amounts to
approximately EURO 5M. To facilitate the development of the joint research programmes, the NWO EW
wants to make a 'bottom-up' inventory of the themes in Dutch ICT research that could lend themselves
to public-private collaborations with India.
Background
When it comes to international collaborations in the field of ICT, India is an important partner country
for computer science. An initial Call for Proposals ('Indo-Dutch Science–Industry Collaboration') was
issued in 2013. NWO Physical Sciences also signed Memoranda of Understanding with public partners in
India with the aim of setting up public-private research programmes on both national and state levels.
With the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), a division of India's
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, an Agreement for “Collaborative R&D Projects
in Pervasive Communications & Computing” is signed and an initial joint Call for Proposals will be
published in 2014. To help prepare for this NWO–DeitY Call for Proposals, a bilateral workshop will be
organised in March 2014 to bring together ICT researchers from the Netherlands and India and give
them the opportunity to develop joint project proposals. This first NWO-DeitY Call for Proposals will be
focused on the areas Big data, Serious gaming and Internet of Things.
Call for Positions Papers on research themes
NWO EW is strongly committed to ensuring that opportunities will be offered to as broad a group of ICT
researchers as possible. For that reason, a broad inventory will be made to determine which of the
current research themes in the Netherlands could be viable for collaborations with India in a publicprivate setting. In that connection, researchers in the Netherlands are requested to submit their ideas
regarding research themes for potential public-private research programmes to be carried out in
collaboration with India at the latest 20 January 2014. This collection of ideas will serve as input for the
development of such programmes with India in 2014 and 2015.
Which conditions will the research themes need to satisfy?

The proposed research theme will need to present a real scientific challenge.

For the Dutch part the proposed research should relate to the Dutch ICT Roadmap and the
innovation agenda of CLICK/NL GAMES.

The added benefits of bringing together research groups from the Netherlands and India within
this theme should lead to added scientific value.

The theme should be relevant to industrial partners and, if possible, a letter of intent be
supplemented. There should be investment potential in India and/or the Netherlands.
The proposed Position Paper does not concern concrete research projects or research programmes,
therefore the level of abstraction of the proposed research theme must be in accordance with the
conditions.
Who can propose a research theme?
Ideas for a research theme can be proposed by researchers in the Netherlands who:
(1) Are active within the field of identified research topics and active in the field of ICT research
areas,
(2) Have the position of professor, associate professor (UHD), assistant professor (UD) or senior
scientist,
(3) Have an affiliation with an NWO-accredited research institution (see also: NWO Regulations on
Granting,http://www.nwo.nl/en/subscription-documents/nwo/legal/nwo-regulation-on-grantingmay-2011)
How will the evaluation and selection of research themes take place?
The criteria to be used in the selection of position papers will include the scientific quality of the themes
proposed, their relevance for the broader field of research, and the potential added value from
collaborating with research groups in India. The involvement of existing collaborative frameworks will be
considered to be an advantage. The position papers will be evaluated by NWO in consultation with DeitY.
In addition, the ideas as submitted will be used to invite researchers to participate in the abovementioned NWO–DeitY workshop in Dehli, India from 19-20 March 2014. Interesting themes that are not
selected for the workshop may nevertheless be brought into play at a later stage.
Submitting proposals for themes
The proposals for research themes should address at least those points mentioned below and be
submitted in a document of no more than two A4 pages:
Title + description of theme
Goal and added value
o
technical problems to be addressed, motivation, intellectual merit and relevance
o
added value of collaboration with India
o
importance for industry and/or society
(Possible) academic partners in the Netherlands and India
(Possible) industry partners and/or stakeholders among public organisations
Relevant scientific publications of Dutch ICT researchers within the scope of the theme (maximum 10
publications)
Interest in participating in the DeitY-NWO Workshop (March 2014)
Name of researcher(s), affiliation(s) and relevant contact information
N.B. The Letters of Intent already submitted in connection with the 2013 'Indo-Dutch Science–Industry
Collaboration' Call for Proposals will be included in the inventory. The applicants concerned need not
resubmit those ideas, however will be contacted to add the necessary information.
The proposals for research themes can be sent by email to indodutch@nwo.nl (please include
“Position Paper Indo-Dutch Research” in the subject line).
Time line
20 January 2014
Deadline for submitting research themes
February 2014
Decision- of NWO-DeitY Workshop Themes.
19 - 20 March 2014
DeitY-NWO Workshop in Delhi (India)
Save the dates
Please note that you need to block the period of 17-21 March in your agenda for being able to join the
workshop in Dehli.
For more information please contact Rosemarie van der Veen-Oei by mail (indodutch@nwo.nl ) or by
telephone (+31 (0)70-344-0851).