Office of International Relations

Name of the programme

1. The International Travel Support (ITS) Scheme provides financial assistance to Indian researchers for presenting a research paper at an international scientific event (conference, seminar, workshop, etc.) held abroad. In addition, support is also provided to young scientists (age limit below 35 years as of the date of start of the event) for attending training programmes, short-term schools and workshops. Economy class airfare by the shortest route, airport tax and visa fees are provided under the scheme. Registration fee as per actual or Rs. 50,000/- whichever is less will be provided to young scientists (Age < 35 on the date of start of event) in addition to the above support. Applications can be submitted within the window of 60-90 days from the date of the start of the event. The system will not accept early or late submission of applications. However, applicants who have already submitted a proposal will not be eligible to apply again within the next 90 days from the date of submission of the first application.
2. SERB has developed a scheme SERB-SUPRA (Scientific and Useful Profound Research Advancement) that seeks to explore new scientific breakthroughs, with long-term impact on our fundamental scientific understanding, and offer disruptive technologies at the cutting edge. SERB-SUPRA is a scheme beyond normal core research grants and purposefully designed for high-quality proposals consisting of new hypotheses or challenging existing ones and providing 'out-of-box' solutions. Transformative and disruptive research concepts based on innovative and unproven hypotheses, possessing a high degree of uncertainty, yet having the conviction to produce a lasting impact across discipline boundaries qualify for support under SERB-SUPRA.

The most important measures of this scheme are:

• Quantum of advances (incremental and short-term gains are strongly discouraged).
• Extent of disruption in fundamental understanding or impact on outstanding research presents grand challenges: new areas, new concepts, new products, and new disruptive technologies.
• Ability of research outcomes to enhance scientific knowledge of the cutting-edge at the international level and/or emergence of critical technologies.
• Global impact, outstanding publications, advancement of science.

Submissions under SERB-SUPRA can only be made against calls for proposals, with public announcements through the SERB online portal and social media. It is envisaged that innovative SUPRA proposals will bring out breakthrough solutions in identified areas. The success of such proposals will ideally open up new opportunities in S&T and impact global science not only in terms of knowledge but also in the form of delivered outcomes.

Applicants [Principal Investigator (PI) and/or Co-Principal Investigator(s) (Co-PI(s))] should be Indian citizens. Foreign nationals (including OCI and NRI) are also eligible to apply, provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria notified by SERB (SERB Funding Guidelines for Foreign Nationals, dated October 27, 2016).

Programme details :

Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Chair Program:- The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) invites accredited U.S. post-secondary educational institutions to submit an expression of interest to host an Indian faculty member as a Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Chair. This is an equal cost-share partnership between USIEF and the U.S. university. The Visiting Chair will teach and conduct research in their area(s) of expertise at the host institution and promote mutual understanding through engagement with the host community.

The U.S. university and USIEF will work together to meet the following commitments of the award: Help prepare the annual call for proposals and promote the grant;

• Participate in the selection of the candidate;
• Share the cost for the Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Chair; and Assist the scholar in settling into the campus and the larger community.
• Selection of U.S. Institutions for the Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Chair A bi-national committee comprised of representatives from the governments of the United States and India and other non-government experts will evaluate the proposals submitted by the U.S. institutions to USIEF.