STBI, DST, Govt of Gujarat is inviting applications for AtmaNirbhar Gujarat Fellowship 2024. The last date of application is September 1.
About the Fellowship
The scheme AtmaNirbhar Gujarat Fellowship aims to encourage young graduates, post-graduates, and professionals to stop seeking jobs and become AtmaNirbhar by developing a product or process or technology.
The solution thus developed, may address an unmet need or may have a techno-commercially viable Business proposition. Thus, all AGFs are expected to work towards the Creation of a Start-Up and/ or Development of an IP Right that can be licensed. The development of technology/ product/ process should be evident through advancement in the TRLs (Technology Readiness Levels).
At least, the Scheme aims at seeding a culture of pursuing innovation and exploring innovation commercialization with an objective of innovators contributing towards nation-building by contributing in the Knowledge Economy.
Areas Covered
Proposals from any domain of STEM including Healthcare, Diagnostics, Medical Devices, Drugs, Vaccines, Drug Formulations and delivery systems, Industrial Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Agriculture Biotechnology, Probiotics & Food Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology including Waste Management, Sanitation, Clean Energy, etc.
Eligibility
- Any candidate who has completed BSc/ BE in any discipline is eligible to apply for STBI-AGF-A fellowship.
- Any candidate who has completed MSc/ ME/ M.Tech. in any discipline is eligible to apply for STBIAGF-B fellowship.
- Any candidate who has completed OR at least, submitted PhD thesis OR Professionals [(any Masters’ degree with at least 5 years of professional experience) OR (any Bachelors’ degree with at least 8 years of professional experience)] in any discipline is eligible to apply for STBI-AGF-C fellowship.
- Teams may also apply, however, the proposal should clearly spell out the Lead Applicant who shall have the responsibility of delivering the milestones. Requests for change in Team Composition, after award will generally be not considered/ or considered by designated committee only in exceptional cases. In such cases, however, the financial liability towards the team, shall be limited to that for one Fellowship.
- Female candidates, Physically Handicapped and Candidates from SC/ ST are encouraged to apply and may be given waiver of 2 years in experience in STBI-AGF-C Fellowship experience condition.
Nature of Proposal Supported
- Projects aiming at developing Product/ Process or Prototype or Translational research
- Proposals are expected to develop innovative products and technologies with a potential to address unmet needs.
- AtmaNirbhar Gujarat Fellows are expected to initiate start-ups. Hence, only proposals with potential to commercialize process, products and/ or technologies will be considered for support.
Number & Duration of Fellowship
- Three Fellowships for STBI-AGF-A and Six Fellowships for each STBI-AGF-B and STBI-AGF-C shall be considered every year.
- Fellowship shall be provided for a period of 18 months with a provision of 6-months extension (without any fellowship) only for deserving cases.
How to Apply?
Interested candidates can apply online via this page.
Application Process
- Applications for all categories of fellowships shall be invited through advertisements in leading dailies/ website/ suitable magazines/ publications.
- The application shall be submitted online on STBI portal, before indicated deadline.
- The applicants should be asked to submit an FTO Analysis report from a qualified expert/ agency
- STBI Secretariat shall undertake eligibility check and primary scrutiny.
- Shortlisted applicants/teams (not necessarily, all eligible; but shortlisted with the approval of the Committee) will be called for a presentation before the designated Committee.
- Finally, approved Candidates/ Teams shall have to give an undertaking on a Stamp Paper of value of ₹300/- (or as decided from time to time) assuring return of entire Innovation Grant and the Fellowship amount in case of inability to complete the tenure for whatever reason, unless exempted by an authorized committee/ person.
Support
- AtmaNirbhar Gujarat Fellows will receive a monthly fellowship, an Innovation grant (May be given in two equal tranches, against an Undertaking on Stamp Paper) and Continuous Hand-holding as tabulated herewith:
- Continuous Hand-holding: STBI shall provide incubation and continuous mentoring support to fellows, including but not limited to Technical Mentoring, IP Support, Legal Support, Networking and Outreach, Trainings, Regulatory Advice, Business Mentoring and Fund raising.
Click here for the official notification of AtmaNirbhar Gujarat Fellowship 2024.
