SERB launched SERB - POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research) program in 2020 with an aim to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering research funding in various S&T programs in Indian academic institutions and R&D laboratories. SERB - POWER is specially designed to provide structured effort toward enhanced diversity in research to ensure equal access and weighted opportunities for Indian women scientists engaged in research and development activities. Since its inception two calls have been made under SERB-POWER grant where large number of research proposals were received. Out of them SERB has offered 342 projects to the women PIs from both tier -I and tier -II institutions. SERB -POWER program has gained enormous popularity and being praised by the stakeholders. In addition to grants and fellowships, SERB -POWER Translational verticals is envisaged to encourage women researchers to translate their innovative ideas, discoveries and inventions. This will catalyse the spirit of entrepreneurship among women researchers from tier I and tier II institutions. This program will challenge women scientists executing SERB grants, such as CRG, to establish an effective, functional and synergistic working collaboration with an industry partner to elevate their breakthrough results and technologies to TRL level 5 and beyond. It is implicit that PIs would have obtained necessary patents and IPR. It is expected that synergy with industrial partners will bring complementarity in knowledge and competence. In addition to operational and sustainability plans, it is desired that developed technologies will be vigorously pursued through a fast-track mechanism in institutional incubators to bring up prototypes and products, thereby enhancing the core objectives of SERB funding. SERB- POWER TRANSLATION GRANT would be awarded to select women PIs who have clearly demonstrated translational potential of their research (patents, etc.) and have established contact with industrial partners for fast-track graduation to a prototype stage and beyond. PIs would have also identified technology incubators in their own institution or in the vicinity who could support their endeavors. It is envisaged that a well-defined strategy to augment research innovation, via technology incubators, will add value to the funding mechanisms supported by SERB.
The objective of SERB- POWER TRANSLATION GRANT is to build STI- enabled entrepreneurship competence in Indian women scientists.
Proposals submitted must be original in ideation and content. Plagiarism in any form will not be acceptable. All submitted proposals might be subjected to a third-party similarity check and proposals are liable to be rejected if found plagiarised. Any text taken verbatim from other source needs to be identified using quotation marks and proper reference. Applicants are requested to pre-check their proposals for plagiarism before uploading.
SERB has adopted Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) Policy to imbibe a culture of social commitment among SERB Grantees. The policy intends to effectively utilize scientific infrastructure and expertise of SERB grantees to benefit other S&T stakeholders especially the less-endowed researchers and the society. SSR activities need to be chosen after approval and depending on the activities chosen additional budget would be provided under separate head to carry out the chosen activities. SERB Grantees need to undertake the proposed SSR activities during their project period.
For successful online submission of the application the following points may be noted:
Q1: Who is eligible for SERB POWER Translation Grant?
A1: -> Women Principal Investigators/Inventors (PIs) of ongoing SERB Projects and all extramural projects completed in the last three years, where PI holds or has applied a patent, with an acknowledgement to SERB support.
Q2: How often the grant will be sanctioned?
A2: Call for application would be made and grants would be sanctioned once in a year.
Q3: I am already implementing another SERB project. Am I eligible for SERB POWER Translation Grant?
A3: Yes. It can be concurrently held with other SERB projects.
Q4: I have applied for a number of patents. Can I submit multiple application?
A4: No. You can submit only one application at a time mentioning about the patent details having the best translational potential.
Q5: I have forgotten to acknowledge SERB in many of my publications and patent, but I have large number of publications from the project. Will I be considered for the grant?
A5: Only publications in which SERB grant is acknowledged will be considered as project output.
Q6: Will all the PIs who holds or applied for a patent receive grant under SERB POWER Translation Grant Scheme?
A6:No. The selection committee would choose the awardees based on potential of translation for applied or granted patent.
Q7: I have completed an CRG project 5 years ago and hold a patent with acknowledgement of SERB support. Will I be considered for the award?
A7: No. Only Women PIs of ongoing projects and all extramural projects completed in previous three financial years will be considered.
Q8: Whether a male Co-PI is allowed in SERB POWER Translation Grant project?
A8: Yes, male Co-PI is allowed in SERB POWER research grant project without any financial obligation.
Q9:Are Co-Investigators allowed in SERB POWER Translation Grant? If they are from different institutions, can the budget be provided separately to both the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator(s)?
A9: The fund will go to PI only. Fund can be transferred to women Co-PI institutions by the PI and financial documents i.e. SE/UC of all the involved institution will be provided by the PI only.