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Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) by IGSTC [Grant for 3 yrs up to Rs. 39 lakhs; STEM]: Apply by March 31

Apoorva

Jan 24, 2025
3 min read

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Applications are invited for the Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) by Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC). The application deadline is March 31, 2025!

About WISER

The Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC), established by India’s Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), invites women researchers from India and Germany to collaborate on ongoing R&D&I projects without needing to apply for new project grants in their respective countries.

Despite improvements in recent years, women remain underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This initiative aims to address the gender imbalance by building scientific capacity, retaining, and promoting women researchers through cross-border collaboration, leveraging complementary expertise in science, technology, and innovation.

Objectives

Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) aims to build scientific capacity, retain, encourage, and promote women researchers.

This programme intends to:

Enhance the representation and progression of women researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
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.

Eligibility

The applicant must be working either in India or Germany.
The applicant must define her role in the project, provide details of the objective, execution strategy and expected outcome.
The applicant shall specify the value-addition to the project at the host country.
Choice and acceptance from the host is the sole responsibility of the applicant. The applicant should ensure endorsement/consent letter from the host at the time of the application.
The applicant shall submit No Objection Certificate (NOC)/Endorsement letter from the head of the institution(present organisation).
The awardee shall commence her visit within 12 months from the date of the award letter.
The awardee will abide by the conduct, rules & regulations of the host and the host country. IGSTC will not be responsible for violation of any Rules & Regulations by the awardee.
The awardee and host must intimate IGSTC through email/letter in case of discontinuation by the awardee.
The awardee must recognise and acknowledge IGSTC in all online/print documents, communications, reports, publications, conferences, theses, etc. on work emanating from the grant.

Program Overview

Through this scheme, women researchers/entrepreneurs holding a regular position in academic/research institutions/industrial research organisations in India/Germany may apply to be a part of an ongoing R&D project of interest with acceptance from the host team.
The programme is open to all the areas of STEM.
The grant includes funding for basic project requirements.
The tenure will be for a period of 3 years or till completion of the project whichever is earlier and will cover one visit per year for short stay up to 1 month.

Financial Assistance

The grant will provide essential project support, including research staff*, consumables, and contingency funds, for the awardee in their home country, as well as a one-month research stay in the host country (covering round-trip airfare, visa fees, medical insurance, and per diem for the duration of the stay). The maximum grant for three years is up to ₹ 39 lakhs/€ 48,000.

*Research staff is only for Indian awardee.

Evalution

Applications will be evaluated by a Joint Committee based on merit and compliance to the eligibility conditions. Evaluation will be based on credentials of the applicant, relevance to STEM, scope, feasibility, content, quality of proposed plan, expected outcome and future potential. The decision of the Committee will be considered as final and binding.

Who can apply?

Women holding regular/long-term research position in academia or research institute/industry.
No age limit (Preference to Early/Mid-career researchers).