DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(DST), GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
&
AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND
RESEARCH (A*STAR), SINGAPORE
INDIA - SINGAPORE
JOINT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COOPERATION
CALL FOR JOINT PROJECT PROPOSALS 2014
Letter of Intent Stage
Advances in Chemistry, Biology and Technology for Medicine
DEADLINE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF LETTER OF INTENT: JULY 31, 2014
Within the framework of the Programme of Cooperation in Science & Technology,
between the governments of the Republic of India and the Government of the
Republic of Singapore signed on 3rd August 2012, the Department of Science &
Technology (DST), Govt. of India, and the Agency for Science, Technology and
Research (A*STAR), Singapore, invite Indian and Singapore scientists/researchers
to submit proposals for joint research that address critical technologies in the area of
“Advances in Chemistry, Biology and Technology for Medicine” in the following
sub-areas:
 Stemcells and Regenerative Medicine
 Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery
 Medical and Bioinformatics
 Medical Devices and Nanotechnology
The Joint Science and Technology Research Cooperation aims to strengthen
collaboration between Indian and Singapore researchers in the area of “Advances in
Chemistry, Biology and Technology for Medicine” to enable them to forge long-term
collaborations, leading to world-class scientific results and innovative technologies.
Who may apply?
Indian applicants should be scientists/faculty members working in regular capacity in
universities/deemed universities, academic institutes and national research and
development laboratories/institutes.
Singapore applicants must reside in Singapore and be full-time employed
researchers at a public sector research organization in Singapore, including A*STAR
research institutions.
The Letter of Intent (LOIs) must include the names of two Principal Investigators
(PIs), one from India and one from Singapore. Co-Investigators may also be included
in the application. The PIs are responsible for submitting annual scientific and
financial reports in order to ensure continued funding; each project will be funded for
a period of three years barring failure to adequately report on or complete any of the
approved project activities. The Principal Investigators (PIs) shall bear full
responsibility for the project, including its technical and administrative coordination
as well as scientific and financial reporting.
The PIs should not leave or retire from the parent institute during the proposed
duration of the project.
Participation of Industry partner(s) from India and Singapore is encouraged.
However Industry partners are expected to meet their own expenditure for
participation in the project.
Research Funding
The successful projects will be funded by DST for expenditure incurred in India and
by A*STAR for expenditure incurred in Singapore. Joint projects must meet the
criteria of the funding agencies. The research projects will be funded for a maximum
of three years and is anticipated to commence in May 2015.
Types of funding support available for Joint Project:
Each selected project will be funded for a period of three years. However, projects
on both sides must pass the annual project review in each country for continuation of
funding. To facilitate the achievements of the project objective, the manpower cost,
consumables and minor accessories, research expenses, project-related visits of
Indian and Singapore researchers to their counterpart country may be supported.
This funding will cover the following expenses in connection with a project:
 Support for research expenses: Expenditure by project team in their country
would be borne by the respective country, i.e., DST would support
expenditure on Indian side of the project whereas A*STAR would meet the
expenditure of Singapore side. Participating Indian institutions are
responsible for expenses regarding equipment.
 On the Indian side, a maximum of 40 - 50% of the budget may be allowed for
consumables and accessories.
 Participation of Research students would be encouraged. On the Indian side
Fellowship to one student (JRF/SRF/RA) can be supported.
 Support for Exchange visit component: 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 sending side will also provide
accommodation and living expenses, i.e., transportation for pick-up service to
and from the airport, food, etc. Two persons per year with a maximum of
onemonth stay at a time will be allowed.
 Institutional Overhead: Institutional Overhead will be determined in
accordance with specific R&D program regulation of Indian and Singapore
governments.
 While the exact nature of expenditure is not fixed, the following may not be
funded from this allocation: consultant’s fees, educational expenses,
insurance and medical care, equipment, project management fees, temporary
staff fees, etc.
How much should I apply for?


A maximum of Rs. 60,00,000 per joint project (Rs. 20,00,000) per year to
the Indian applicant and SGD 300,000 per joint project to the Singapore
applicant for over three years.
Expenditure by project team in their country would be borne by the
respective country, i.e., DST would support expenditure on Indian side of the
project whereas A*STAR would meet the expenditure of Singapore side
Please note that both scientific and financial reporting on the project is an obligatory
condition for continued funding.
LOI Requirements
LOIs must attempt to fully disclose the research ideas and approaches. It is
important that LOIs are well crafted and provide substantive description of the
research plan for a fair review of the scientific/technical plans and approaches.
Proprietary or confidential information must be clearly indicated in the LOI. LOIs
must not be duplicative or substantially similar to any previous project or proposal
submission.
How do I apply?
Only LOIs will be accepted for the first stage of application. Shortlisted grant
applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal in the second stage of application.
Indian and Singapore applicants shall write a common application to be
submitted to both DST and A*STAR using application formprescribed by DST
and A*STAR.
Indian applicants for funding should submit completed application form and all
relevant information as single attachment (single MSword/PDF file) to the email
address: rajivarc@nic.in to reach by 17:00 hrs on 31thJuly 2014 (Indian Standard
Time). An email acknowledging receipt of the application will be provided to the
applicant in 3-5 working days. They are also requested to send 3 hard copies to
DST by 5th August 2014. It should be ensured that application with identical titles
has been submitted by his/her Singapore counterpart scientist to BMRC by the due
date.
Singapore applicants are required to submit their joint LOI by email to BMRC_INDST@a-star.edu.sg to the A*STAR program officers by 31 July 2014 19:30
(Singapore Standard Time). An email acknowledging receipt of the application will
be provided to the applicant in 3-5 working days. They are also requested to send 2
hard copies to A*STAR by 5th August 2014.
Applications received after the due date will not be considered for funding. LOIs
which have only been received in either Singapore or India, but not both, will
not be evaluated or considered.
Only applications endorsed by the research office or its equivalent at higher
education or research institutions will be accepted. If the Principal Investigator is
the Director of the Institution, undertaking by the Director’s Reporting officer is
required. Both DST and A*STAR will not accept proposals from individuals without
the appropriate endorsement from his/her employing organizations. This is to ensure
that organizational support is clearly associated with the proposed research plan.
Criteria for Evaluation of LOIs?
A formal contract involving the relevant Singapore-based public institutions and
Indian institutions shall be drawn for each project. The following general evaluation
criteria will apply to each application:

Conformity with the Program’s aims and designated research fields

Capability of research leaders: the research leaders should have the
insight, appropriate expertise, the ability to manage the collaboration and
achieve the project goals during the period of support.

Appropriateness of project plan: the project plan should be realistic in
terms of the activities proposed.

Effect of the activities: The benefits and future joint research likely to
accrue from the collaboration, and the wider benefits of the project to the
scientific community are important. Accordingly, the proposed activities
should achieve one or more of the following:
o Opening up of new fields or new advances in science and technology
through the creation of new scientific knowledge in an existing research
field;
o Nurturing of young researchers to be able to play a central role in
future research exchanges between Singapore and India; and
o Sustained development of research exchanges between Singapore
and India initiated by this activity.

Ongoing research activity: the proposed collaboration should build on,
reinforce and add significant value to on-going research activities in each
research group.
LOI selection and advancement to the second stage and award process
Both the DST and ASTAR Singapore will seek to identify LOIs that are innovative,
demonstrative of a high level of scientific pursuit, clearly identify recipients of
research outcomes and applications, challenge paradigms and set international
benchmarks. Other factors will include the level of synergy of the proposed research
to the collective set of activities, the abilities of the researchers, their past
performance in prior awards, comments of the referees (if required), effectiveness of
project management, and appropriateness of the requested budget.
Both DST and ASTAR Singapore may seek referee reports, written submissions or
presentations from some PIs to justify, elaborate or clarify aspects of the research
approach described in the LOI during the review process.
Successfully shortlisted applicants after the LOI review stage will be invited to submit
a full proposal, which will be independently evaluated on both sides.
Information ownership
It is strongly recommended that a consortia agreement be entered into for any joint
research cooperation. In the interest of encouraging meaningful collaborations, the
concerned parties are strongly encouraged to engage in appropriate discussions and
negotiations to determine issues such as ownership of any arising intellectual
properties and each party’s rights and obligations under the collaboration before the
commencement of the research project.
Programme Review and Monitoring
Programmes will be reviewed annually, and research teams are expected to submit
annual summary reports. Presentation and public seminars may also form part of the
project progress review.
Indicative activity schedule
Activity
Schedule
Deadline for submission of LOI
31thJuly 2014, 17:00
Announcement of in-principle approval of By end April 2015
selected project proposals
Contact Information
DST(India)
Mr. Rajiv Kumar
Scientist
International Cooperation
Department of Science & Technology
Technology Bhawan,
New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi – 110 016
E-mail: rajivarc@nic.in
A*STAR (Singapore)
Dr. Karthik Kumar
E-mail: karthik_kumar@a-star.edu.sg
Ms Debbie Soh
Email: debbie_soh@a-star.edu.sg
Biomedical Research Council (BMRC)
Agency for Science, Technology &
Research (A*STAR)
20 Biopolis Way, Centros, #08-01
Singapore 138668