Indo-German Cooperation in Health Research - Call for Proposals 2008

The purpose of the funding is to stimulate new collaborations, e.g. the preparation of joint projects under national funding programmes. The programme facilitates bilateral cooperation between the scientific communities of India and Germany by way of joint research projects, bilateral workshops/seminar, exchange visits of scientist, scientific delegations and composite (scientific and industrial) delegation. Both sides will explore the possibility of funding from European Union research programmes.

Nodal Implementing Agencies

The Indian Council of Medical Research (MoH&FW), Government of India, New Delhi and the International Bureau of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (IB-BMBF at DLR), Bonn are the nodal implementing agencies from the Indian and German sides respectively.

Areas of cooperation

Proposals submitted in the following national priority areas in Health Research and Biomedicine Sciences would be preferred.

• Epidemiology / Infectious Diseases,
• Oncology,
• Environmental Toxicology.

Evaluation and selection criteria

• Relevance to German and Indian national programmes and multinational programmes (e.g. EU-programmes)
• Preparation of new projects in applied fields of mutual benefit and justification for collaboration
• Quality and originality of research approach
• Qualification of applicant and availability of infrastructure
• Proposals should include young scientists
• Expected results and outcomes

Who can apply?

Scientists/faculty members working in regular capacity in Universities, national R&D Laboratories/ Institutes  and private R&D institutes can apply under this programme.
Private Sector: Partners from all kind of private sectors are welcome, but financing is limited:

• For Indian scientists from the private sector, only local hospitality in Germany as part of the exchange visit is available from the German side;
• For German scientists from private sector, only travel costs are available for small and medium size enterprises (for definition of SME ref. to 2003/361/EC) as well as local hospitality in India will be borne by themselves.

Project duration

2 years, extendable by one year.

Processing

Joint research projects are required to be submitted to both the nodal agencies by 30th May 2008. Unilaterally submitted projects shall not be considered. On Indian side, 30 copies are to be submitted through proper channel to International Health Division (IHD), ICMR, New Delhi. Indian investigators need to submit applications in prescribed format with other necessary documents (listed out on ICMR website  www.icmr.nic.in/ - Guidance for International Collaboration for Research in Biomedical Sciences). One advance copy may please be e-mailed at ihd@icmr.org.in or ihdicmr@yahoo.co.in on MSWord format.
On German side, the International Bureau of BMBF requests electronic applications (+ 1 paper version with signatures) in the English or German language, see IB-Website for details ( www.ewa.internationales-buero.de/?project_cat=3). All received proposals are peer reviewed and processed independently by both sides. It is expected that all jointly selected projects are likely to receive support from 1st January 2009.

Kind of support available

Financial support is available from the respective nodal agency from the two sides for the exchange visit under the approved projects component only as per the financial terms given below:

Travel: Sending side (ICMR or IB-BMBF) bears the total cost of travel of the visiting personnel (except private sector in case of ICMR) between places of work in India and Germany, VISA fees, airport taxes and overseas medical insurance. Funding by IB to German experts travelling to India covers the costs for international flights (economy), travelling to the German airport, and VISA only. Other travelling costs, e.g. insurances and departure taxes (if applicable) are borne by the sending institute or company.

Allowances: The receiving side shall provide living expenses (except private sector in case of ICMR), connected with the agreed programme of the visit. In general, visits should not extend 3 months. 
          
Short-term (up to 30 days):
Indian scientists to Germany: 82 Euro per day (1 to 22 days); max. 1840 Euro for 23 to 30 days; (in case of free accommodation per diem would be 26 Euro).
German scientists to India: Rs. 1000/- per day plus accommodation; max. Rs. 20000/- for 20 to 30 days.

Long-term (max. 3 months):
Indian scientists to Germany: 1840 Euro per month; 61 Euro for single days exceeding full months.
German scientists to India: Rs. 20000/- per month plus accommodation. We should also pay accordingly for 20 days; Rs. 700/- for single days exceeding full months.

It is expected that participating institutes themselves support in general for equipment, manpower, consumables, etc.. Reasonable and limited support may be available by ICMR for Indian PI´s from public institutions.

Expected project outcomes

It is expected that the funded cooperation enables the partners to develop applicable scientific results which could be commercialised and may lead to formation of joint ventures. All publications, patents coming out of these projects, need to be jointly authored by both Indian and German scientists. All necessary approvals like ethical clearance, HMSC approval from Indian point of view as well as EU if, applicable, from German point of view, e.g. before conducting animal experimentation if any needs to be obtained by PI´s before undertaking the project.

Time table

Deadline for submission of completed applications - May 30, 2008
Short-listing of selected projects - October 31, 2008
Commencement of Projects - Jan 1, 2009.

Contact persons for submission of proposals:

India
Dr. Mukesh Kumar
Deputy Director General / Scientist 'E'
International Health Division (IHD)
Indian Council of Medical Research
Ansari Nagar, New Delhi -110 029, India
Telefax 0091-11-26589492
E-mail: mukeshk@icmr.org.in
ICMR Website:  http://www.icmr.nic.in/
(Other Officials - Dr. Harpreet Sandhu, SRO / Scientist 'C', IHD )

Germany
PD Dr. Lothar Mennicken
Deputy Director
International Bureau of the BMBF c/o DLR
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn, Germany
Telephone +49 228 3821-1407; Telefax +49 228 3821-1444
E-mail: lothar.mennicken@dlr.de 
IB website: http:// http://www.internationales-buero.de/