INDIA – ISRAEL INITIATIVE FOR INDUSTRIAL R&D (i4RD)
A Bilateral Framework providing financial support for collaborative industrial
R&D ventures between Indian and Israeli companies
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Joint Call for Proposals – April 2012
Indian Funding
Ministry/Department
Indian Implementation Agency
Department of Science & Technology
Government of India
A Section 25 Company
Promoted by Confederation of Indian Industry and
Technology Development Board, Government of India
Israeli Funding
Ministry/Department
Israeli Implementation
Agency
CONTENTS
1. ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
2. AREAS IN WHICH APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED
3. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
4. KEY CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
5. FUNDING SUPPORT
6. THE APPLICATION PROCESS
7. CONTACTS
I4RD Programme: Information for Applicants
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INDIA – ISRAEL INITIATIVE FOR INDUSTRIAL R&D (i4RD)
A Bilateral Framework providing financial support for collaborative industrial
R&D ventures between Indian and Israeli companies
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Joint Call for Proposals – April 2012
1. ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
India and Israel signed a bilateral agreement in May 2005 to form the India – Israel Initiative for
Industrial R&D (i4RD) with the primary goal of supporting joint industrial R&D projects aimed at the
development of products or processes leading to commercialization in the global market. This
cooperation agreement was signed between the Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of
Science and Technology, Government of India and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor of the
State of Israel.
Within the context of the i4RD bilateral framework, funding mechanisms have been created, through
which industry may seek support for joint bilateral research and development (R&D) projects,
involving at least one Indian and one Israeli company.
The bilateral framework is jointly implemented by the Global Innovation and Technology Alliance
(GITA), a not-for-profit Section 25 Company, promoted jointly by the Technology Development Board
of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India and the Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII), in India and MATIMOP, the Israeli Industry Centre for R&D, on behalf of the
Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) in Israel.
These guidelines and information are specific to the India-Israel Initiative for Industrial R&D (i4RD)
program, for projects submitted under the current Call for Proposals. GITA and MATIMOP invite
Indian and Israeli participants to submit proposals for bilateral industrial research and development
projects.
*Please note that Indian applicants should contact the GITA offices directly to receive further
guidelines specific to step 2 of the application process.
2. AREAS IN WHICH APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED
This call is open to all projects based on merit that include science and technology (S&T)
development leading to commercial success, social good and benefit to both countries. There is
however a specific emphasis on the following technology areas:
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Nanoscience / Nanotechnology
Water Management
Non-Conventional Energy Resources (particularly solar)
Biotechnology
Space Science and technology
I4RD Programme: Information for Applicants
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INDIA – ISRAEL INITIATIVE FOR INDUSTRIAL R&D (i4RD)
A Bilateral Framework providing financial support for collaborative industrial
R&D ventures between Indian and Israeli companies
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Joint Call for Proposals – April 2012
3. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
Each proposal must include an eligible lead industrial partner each from India and Israel. Although it
is not mandatory, projects that engage a technology developer and a technology end-user/first
customer are strongly encouraged.
Indian Applicants
Eligible Indian applicants include: researchers and managers representing Indian companies
(minimum 51% of Indian ownership), which operate and are headquartered and operate in India.
Please note:
 Indian companies must be registered corporations in India under Indian Companies Act 1956,
maintain a minimum of 51% Indian ownership;
 Sole proprietors and partnership firms are not eligible for support under this CFP;
 Representatives from subsidiaries of firms headquartered and owned outside India are not
eligible to receive funding or subsidies from GITA.
 Would be required to commit 50% of the funding.
Israeli Applicants
Eligible applicants will be R&D performing Israeli registered companies operating in Israel.
4. KEY CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
a) An eligible company from India and Israel who will be responsible for the development and
submission of the joint application within their province or country. From India, at least one
company to be included, registered in India under Indian Companies Act 1956, maintaining a
minimum of 51% Indian ownership
b) At least two science and technology companies from the respective countries should express
a desire to cooperate in the research and development of a new product or a new process.
c) The project may involve more than one company from each side; academic/research entities
are eligible to join as sub-contractors.
d) The product should be highly innovative with significant commercial potential. The joint
industrial R&D project should aim at development of products/processes leading to
commercialisation in the global market
e) The project partners should agree in advance on the IP rights and on the commercialisation
strategy of the product or process.
*Note: For the submission phase, only a preliminary agreement or MoU is required, however
the final agreement has to be presented to the funding authorities.
f) The project should demonstrate the contribution of the participants from both countries.
g) The project must be balanced between participants and significant to both partners.
I4RD Programme: Information for Applicants
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INDIA – ISRAEL INITIATIVE FOR INDUSTRIAL R&D (i4RD)
A Bilateral Framework providing financial support for collaborative industrial
R&D ventures between Indian and Israeli companies
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Joint Call for Proposals – April 2012
h) The project period to be between 12 to 24 months and it should indicate a clear
commercialisation of a product/ process.
Any partner whose cooperative R&D project is consistent with the aforesaid criteria can apply to the
present Call for Proposal in accordance with the national Laws, Rules, Regulations and Procedures in
effect.
5. FUNDING SUPPORT TO SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS
Funding support will be given to each partner by its own Implementing Organisation (GITA in India
and MATIMOP in Israel) in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations and procedures in
effect.
In India
1. Funding will be limited to 50% of the eligible national cost with a limit of US$ 250,000/INR
125 Lakhs (approx) per project on the Indian Side. (This means, if the Indian Project Cost is
100 units, the Indian applicants would be eligible for an overall support of 50 units only.
Moreover, the overall project support of 50 units is a maximum from Government of India,
irrespective of its receipt from DST/GITA and/ or any other Government Funding Agency
support. Once a project is funded with 50 units by DST/GITA, the project applicants are not
entitled to request further funding support from any other Government Funding Agency for
the same project, with similar product/process and commercialisation).
2. Industry may receive up to 50% of the eligible national cost of way of soft loan repayable
upon successful completion of the project
In Israel
3. Funding support will be given to each partner by its own Implementing Organisation
(DST/GITA in India and MATIMOP/OCS in Israel) in accordance with the National Laws, Rules,
Regulations and procedures in effect.
4. I4RD financial support may be provided in the form of returnable soft loan/royalty to the
selected projects under the call and limited up to an amount equivalent to US$ 500,000 per
project, split between the Indian and Israeli partners.
5. The total funding from the Government of Israel via the OCS, under the i4RD financial
support, will not exceed 50% of the eligible and approved costs of the R&D, in accordance
with the national laws and regulations.
I4RD Programme: Information for Applicants
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INDIA – ISRAEL INITIATIVE FOR INDUSTRIAL R&D (i4RD)
A Bilateral Framework providing financial support for collaborative industrial
R&D ventures between Indian and Israeli companies
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Joint Call for Proposals – April 2012
6. THE APPLICATION PROCESS
6.1
APPLICATIONS
To ensure the effective delivery of the CFP and reinforce the principles of bilateral partnership,
MATIMOP and GITA will employ a joint, two-step application process for this Call.
Step 1: Bilateral Application Format (BAF)
Submission of a BAF is mandatory. Applicants interested in submitting a full proposal (i4RD
National Format) must submit a BAF on or before July 30, 2012, midnight IST to be eligible. A
BAF provides a summary of the proposed project with enough detail for the reviewers to make
an initial assessment of the merits of the project.
Bilateral Application Format (BAF) must be submitted to both the Implementing Organisations
simultaneously within the deadline of the particular call period. For approved applications, full
project proposal in the i4RD National Format should be submitted to the respective
Implementing Organisations.
The complete joint project application (Bilateral Application Format) must be sent in softcopy via
email simultaneously to GITA in India and MATIMOP in Israel in an appropriate official language
(preferably in English) before the deadline of each call. Additional hard copy (2 copies only) is
required only by GITA.
The BAF must be signed by both Indian and Israeli partners.
Incomplete BAF template or BAFs submitted in any other format will not be accepted.
GITA and MATIMOP will acknowledge all proposals within five working days of receipt.
Applicants will receive notification by August 30, 2012, as to whether or not they can move to
Step 2 in the application process.
Step 2: i4RD National Format (Full Proposal Template/Format)
The deadline for National format application submission is October 15, 2012, midnight IST.
Partners meeting all eligibility criteria will be invited to submit the i4RD National Format using
the procedures and according to the national rules that apply in the Department of Science &
Technology, Government of India and the OCS respectively, no later than October 15, 2012.
Applicants are required to use the i4RD National Format (will be provided to the successful BAF
applicants) associated with this CFP when submitting a proposal. Proposals that do not use the
approved format will not be accepted.
I4RD Programme: Information for Applicants
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INDIA – ISRAEL INITIATIVE FOR INDUSTRIAL R&D (i4RD)
A Bilateral Framework providing financial support for collaborative industrial
R&D ventures between Indian and Israeli companies
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Joint Call for Proposals – April 2012
Applications submitted after the deadline of the call period will be considered eligible for the
next call period.
The Israeli partner is required to submit the National Application form in accordance with the
OCS regulations, through an online system. A signed copy of the Bilateral Application Format is
required to be uploaded as well. The application in the prescribed format should be submitted to
MATIMOP as well at the coordinates provided at the end of the document. Please review the
“Guidelines for Israeli Companies” document for more information.
The Indian partner is required to submit 10 hard copies and an electronic version on a CD of the
completed and signed i4RD National Format in the prescribed format to GITA at the coordinates
provided at the end of the document.
Each application must be signed by an official who is legally responsible for the R&D project and
endorsed by the chief executive or leader of the applicant organization. Electronic signatures will
be accepted on applications submitted to GITA and MATIMOP.
6.2
Evaluation and selection of the projects
GITA in India and OCS/MATIMOP in Israel will carry out an independent evaluation of the joint R&D
application and will select the eligible project to be financially supported in accordance with their
National Laws and Regulations. The successful projects will be jointly selected by the two funding
organizations based on the project criteria and requirements specified in the application form.
6.3
Repayments
When a project results in sales of a product, service or process, the financial support must be repaid
to the respective organisations/agencies from where funding has been availed as per their individual
regulations.
An agreement is required to be signed between DST/GITA and the Indian industry partner for the
jointly approved project for financial support under i4RD.
6.4
Notification of the Results
The Israeli and Indian partners whose projects have been selected will be informed of the result and
the amount of funding for the successful projects by their respective implementing organization
possibly by January 2013 (date subject to change).
I4RD Programme: Information for Applicants
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INDIA – ISRAEL INITIATIVE FOR INDUSTRIAL R&D (i4RD)
A Bilateral Framework providing financial support for collaborative industrial
R&D ventures between Indian and Israeli companies
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Joint Call for Proposals – April 2012
7.
CONTACTS
ISRAEL
INDIA
Hadas Kroitoru
Programme Manager – India
Samrat Ghatak
Programme Coordinator – Israel
MATIMOP – Israeli Industry Center for R&D
Tel-Aviv 61500, Israel 29 Hamered St.
(P. O. Box 50364)
www.matimop.org.il
Tel: +972 3 5118117
Fax: +972 3 5177655
Email: Hadas@matimop.org.il
Global Innovation & Technology Alliance
28, Institutional Area, IGSSS Building, Lodi
Road, New Delhi – 110 003
www.gita.org.in
I4RD Programme: Information for Applicants
Phone: 91-11- 45772005
Fax: 91-11-45772014
Email: samrat.ghatak@gita.org.in;
India-Israel@gita.org.in; samrat.ghatak@cii.in
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