Government of tunisia
Ministry of Higher Education
and Scientific Research
General Directorate of Scientific Research
Government of India
Ministry of Science & Technology
Department of biotechnology
*******
BILATERAL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN
THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA
LAST DATE OF SUBMISSION 30TH JUNE’2013
JOINT CALL FOR PROPOSAL (2013-2016)
The Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR)
and the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology (Department of Biotechnology;
DBT) invite Tunisian and Indian Universities, Research Centres and Institutes to submit
joint proposals in the area of Biotechnology.
This joint call for proposal refers to the:
- Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the
Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of
Tunisia” concluded on October 17 th, 1995
- The constitutive agreement in the field of biotechnology between the
contracting Parties signed on September 14th, 2006 and extended for
additional five years starting from the date of signature ( December 23td, 2011)
I - OBJECTIVE
The objective is to sustain joint strategic research programme to strengthen the research
effort within priority areas and integrate the specific competencies of the Tunisian-Indo
academic and Industrial research community in the broad area of Biotechnology.
II - PRIORITY RESEARCH AREAS
In the area of Biotechnology, the following mutually agreed research areas will
be given priority in the present joint call for proposal:
A. Medical Biotechnology – Vaccines, Infectious diseases especially Tuberculosis &
Leishmaniasis and drug resistance, Stem cell research
B. Agricultural Biotechnology – Plant Pathogen interactions, Biological control,
abiotic stress in crops
C. Bioactive molecules of Plant, animal origin
D. Animal Biotechnology – Assisted Reproductive Technology, Nutritional
intervention in farm animals, Heat & Salt stress in small ruminants, Apiculture
E. Environment and Forest – Waste water treatment and Bioremediation,
micropropagation of Forest trees, Biocomposites and renewables biofertilizers
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III – PROJECT DURATION
The duration of a project will be of Three years.
IV – CRITERIA FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
The minimum requirement for proposal submission in response to the present joint call
for proposal is as follows:
A. Only a Joint Proposal having at least one Tunisian and Indian investigator
will be accepted
B. The investigator must have at least 3 peer reviewed articles in Journal of
International repute having impact factor not less than 1.
C. Investigator must hold either permanent or tenured position in an Indian
institution. In case of tenured position, the investigator should have at least
four years remaining after the date of proposal submission
D. The proposal should not be more than 10 pages.
E. A list of Existing facilities and brief scientific output sketch of the investigator
F. An original letter of consent from the Tunisian investigator as a collaborator
is necessary for consideration of the proposal.
The Proposals screening and evaluation will be based on scientific and technological qualification
of applicants.
V - APPLICATION PROFORMA
The proposal application, duly signed by Tunisian and Indian investigator and well
written in ENGLISH only, must have the following:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
General information about both the investigators
Proposal summary (not more than 200 words)
Objectives
Work plan (details of both sides)
Timeline (details of both sides)
Proposed budget showing year wise break up (Indian side only)
Possible outcome of the proposal (not more than 100 words)
Scientific/Technical/Industrial importance of the proposal (not more than 100
words)
I. Brief academic bio data of the principal investigators
For detailed information and application form, please visit at www.mes.tn / http://dbtindia.nic.in
VI - MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
On the Tunisian side:
A signed letter from the Indian collaborator must accompany the initial proposal.
However, once the proposal is recommended for support, a research agreement
between the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the project
coordinator and the Tunisian institution involved must be submitted;
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On the Indian side:
A signed letter from the Tunisian collaborator must accompany with the initial
proposal. However, once the proposal is recommended for support the following
documents must be submitted –
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Memorandum of agreement or a Bond will be signed between DBT and the
respective University/Institution;
Institutional Biosafety and Ethical clearance certificate must be provided ;
Certificate from the Head of the institution ;
Project must be submitted through online project management utility i.e.
eProMIS
Indian investigators have to follow the ‘National Biodiversity Act (2002)’.
Investigators has to follow the DBT’s notification regarding the publication of
results
VII - FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The terms and conditions of the financial support are as follows:
A. The Tunisian investigator will receive funds from MHESR, while Indian investigator
will get support from DBT.
B. On both sides, the subsequent year funding depends upon the submission of the
progress report and financial documents as well as based on the performance
appraisal of the project evaluated by the Joint Committee
C. On Indian side, the project staff will be supported as per the revised guidelines of
DST, 2010.
D. Investigators of both sides should provide their written consent with justified
explanation for their willingness to come out of the Joint Proposal. The collaboration
may be withdrawn only within six months of the approval of the proposal
VIII - SCIENTIFIC STAFF EXCHANGE
The project may incorporate the scientific/technical staff exchange visits of short
duration maximum of six months. Financial support will be provided for exchange
visits of project team members ONLY. Single visit of maximum of two project team
members is permitted and supported during the project duration. For the visits, the due
approval of the joint committee and the respective Ministry is mandatory. In the
exchange of project researchers, the sending party covers the costs of international
travel and the receiving party meets the boarding and lodging expenses. The financial
coverage of the expenses of the visiting project researchers by the receiving party will
consist of the following:
On Tunisian side:
Accommodation, food and internal transport will be awarded.
The investigators are advised to include these expenses as part of the proposal as per
the visits planned.
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On Indian Side:
Accommodation, food and internal transport, will be awarded
IX - EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS
Proposals will be evaluated by a Joint Committee constituted independently by
MHESR and Department of Biotechnology using their own procedures. Only approved
proposals by both sides will be funded. Coordinators will be informed about evaluation
results.
X - WORKSHOPS
The workshops will be organized both from Indian (DBT) and Tunisian side (MHESR)
on every alternate year for reviewing the ongoing proposals as well as to facilitate the
academic and industrial interaction as well as to promote scientific exchange between
the two countries.
XI- GUIDELINES FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
On Tunisian side:
- Proposals must be approved by the heads of the institutions of the coordinators
and sent to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
(General Directorate of Scientific Research), Avenue Ouled Haffouz – 1030 Tunis,
Tunisia.
Tel: +216 71 835 351 /
Tél fax +216 71 835 351/
Fax +216 71 833 450.
Email: awatefsoltane@gmail.com
-
Tunisian Principal Investigators should submit (1 hard copy + 3 digital copy (3
CDROM) and electronic submission by the same deadline must be sent to the
abovementioned address,
-
Only jointly submitted proposals will be considered. Proposal submitted by one
side only will not be considered
On Indian side:
- Both electronic and hard copy of the joint proposal needs to be submitted.
Proposal submitted by one side only will not be considered. Electronic copy may
be sent at rajneesh.gaur@nic.in, while Hard copies (8 copies) of the proposal may
reach to Dr Rajneesh K. Gaur, Scientist ‘C’, Department of Biotechnology,
International Division-2, 814, Block-2, CGO complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi110003
XII- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
INSTITUIONS FOR COLLABORATION
The following list is ONLY for guidance and the investigators are free to collaborate
with any institution of the respective countries.
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i. IN TUNISIA (For Indian Investigators)
- Web site: www.mes.tn
-
Universities:
a.
Tunis University
b.
Tunis El Manar University
c.
University of Carthage
d.
Manouba University
e.
Jendouba University
f.
Sousse University
g.
Monastir University
h.
Kairouan University
i.
Sfax University
j.
Gabes University
k.
Gafsa University
-
Research Institutions:
a.
The Water Researches and Technologies Centre of Borj Cedria
b.
Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria
c.
Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax
d.
National Institute of Research and Physical and Chemical Analysis
e.
National Centre for Nuclear Sciences and Technologies
f.
Institute of Arid areas
g.
National Institute of Marine Science and technology
h.
National Institute of Agronomical Research of Tunis
ii. IN INDIA (For Tunisian Investigators)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
p.
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi
National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi
National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi
National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra
National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana
Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Rajasthan
M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai
Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Banglore
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Utter Pradesh
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Utter Pradesh
University of Delhi, Delhi
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Anna University, Chennai
University of Pune, Pune, Maharashtra
Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi
Jamia Milia Islamia University, New Delhi
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