IGSTC Industrial Fellowship- PhD Industrial Exposure Fellowship

Description
The Indo-German Science & Technology Centre IGSTC Industrial Fellowship Programme was launched by the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India on the occasion of IGSTC’s 11th Foundation Day on 14th June 2021 to support young Indian researchers for industrial exposure at German industries and industrial R&D institutions. Indo-German Science & Technology Centre IGSTC , established by the Department of Science and Technology DST , Government of India, and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF , Government of Germany invites applications for availing Industrial Fellowships to encourage young researchers towards applied research. This programme is aimed at encouraging PhD students/researchers in S&T with an appreciable track record and having aptitude for applied research and technology development. The proposed programme aims to: - Motivate young Indian researchers towards applied research and build capacity to foster innovation and technology development through exposure at advanced German industrial ecosystems. - Encourage and enable Indo-German collaboration between industry-academia and industry-industry linkages through outstanding researchers. - Expose researchers to industry and industrial R&D enhancing interest towards applied research. - Create avenues for capacity building through doctoral and early career researchers in applied research through networking with industry. Duration of Fellowship: - The duration of the Fellowship is 3-6 months. - Extension in duration of Fellowship shall not be entertained.

Benefits
• The financial support will be limited to:
• The Fellowship amount is €1500 per month.
• Single round trip economy class airfare including visa fees and travel insurance: up to €1000.
• Health Insurance: As per actuals with a maximum limit of €100 per month.

Eligibility Criteria
1. The applicant should be an Indian citizen.
2. The maximum age limit of the applicant should be 30 years.
3. PhD students (science/engineering) enrolled in any research institutions/universities in India and completed at least one year of their PhD curriculum can apply for the fellowship.
4. Young researchers who have completed one year of their PhD course in Science/Engineering from India are eligible.
5. Young researchers with high-quality research projects that combine innovative approaches towards new concepts and technological development in chosen industrial research set up in Germany may be considered.
6. **Note 01:** The applicant must define a detailed activity plan containing the objective, execution strategy, and expected outcome for the fellowship duration.
7. **Note 02:** The Awardee will be hosted by the industry/industrial research organization for the duration of the Fellowship. Choice and acceptance from the industry/industrial research organization is the sole responsibility of the applicant. The applicant should ensure an endorsement/consent letter from the host industry/organization at the time of the application.
8. **Note 03:** The applicant having institutional affiliation shall submit NOC from the Head of the institution at the time of application.
9. **Note 04:** Applicants shall submit a recommendation letter from the mentor at the parent organization.
10. **Note 05:** The awardee will abide by the conduct, rules & regulations of the German host organization and the country. IGSTC will not be responsible for the violation of any Rules and regulations by the awardee.
11. **Note 06:** IGSTC will disburse the grant to the Indian bank account of the awardee/parent institution in INR.
12. **Note 07:** The awardee shall commence his/her visit within 3 months from the date of the result.
13. **Note 08:** The awardee/host mentor must inform IGSTC through email/letter if the awardee discontinues the Fellowship before the completion of the tenure.
14. **Note 09:** Within 4 weeks of completion of the Fellowship, the awardee must submit a detailed Fellowship completion report endorsed by the host mentor in the prescribed format along with representative photos to IGSTC.
15. **Note 10:** The awardee must recognize and acknowledge IGSTC Industrial Fellowship in all online/print documents, communication, reports, publications, PhD thesis, etc. on work resulting from the Fellowship.

Required Documents
• Passport-size Photograph
• Consent Letter from the Host Institution
• The applicant having institutional affiliation needs to submit NOC from the Head of the institution at the time of application.
• Applicants need to submit a recommendation letter from the mentor at the parent organization
• Proof of Date of Birth (Scan copy of Passport/Aadhaar Card
• Proof of Education Qualifications arranged in reverse chronological order
• Proof of Employment
• Any other document, as required

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is IGSTC Industrial Fellowship?
A: IGSTC Industrial Fellowship is for young researchers at PhD level to gain industrial experience in Germany.

Q: Who is eligible?
A: PhD student enrolled in any research institutions/universities in India and completed at least one year of their PhD curriculum (Science/Engineering).

Q: What are the topics/research areas eligible for these Fellowships?
A: Any fields/areas under STEM with industrial relevance are eligible.

Q: What is the age limit for applying?
A: The upper age limit is 30 years.

Q: Is an applicant pursuing/holding a PhD degree from a foreign university/institute eligible for applying under PIEF?
A: No.

Q: What is the nature of support under this scheme?
A: PhD Industrial Exposure Fellowship: EUR 1500 per month;
Single round trip economy class airfare including visa fees and travel insurance: up to EUR 1000.
Health Insurance: As per actuals with a maximum limit of EUR 100/month.

Q: How to find out host industry / industrial research organization in Germany?
A: Applicants need to find out the German host industry / industrial research organization by their own. Selection and receiving endorsement from the industry/industrial research organization is the responsibility of the applicant. Although the applicant can also visit ongoing and completed 2+2 project pages to get an idea about the industries associated with IGSTC on similar research interest.

Q: What do you mean by parent organisation and mentor at parent organisation?
A: The parent organisation is the one where the applicant is pursuing PhD degree. Mentor would be the PhD supervisor(s).

Q: Can the Fellowship be extended?
A: No, the tenure of the individual Fellowship cannot be extended beyond its awarded duration.

Q: How to apply?
A: Applicants need to submit the application online through the designated portal on IGSTC website www.igstc.org

Q: How many times one can apply for the Fellowship?
A: An applicant can apply as many times as he/she wants. However, one applicant can avail the Fellowship only once.

Q: What is the eligibility date?
A: Eligibility criteria will be considered as on the deadline of the Fellowship call.

Q: Can anyone apply for this Fellowship while holding another?
A: Applicants receiving any national/international level recognized doctoral Fellowships are eligible to apply provided the other Fellowship doesn't have any restrictions.

Q: Can an applicant apply without an endorsement letter from host or permission letter from parent organization?
A: No, the eligible application must contain the endorsement letter from the host organisation in Germany and the permission/NOC from the parent organisation in India as attachments.

Q: What is the selection procedure?
A: Applications will be evaluated by a Scientific Committee.

Q: How much time does the evaluation take?
A: IGSTC will complete the evaluation process within 8-12 weeks tentatively after the submission deadline.

Q: When can awardee start the Fellowship?
A: The fellow should initiate his/her visit normally within 3 months of the result intimation.

Q: What if the fellow leaves the position before completing the tenure?
A: IGSTC will terminate the fellowship upon intimation and the fellow must submit a completion report to close the Fellowship.

Q: What is the follow-up activity of the fellowship?
A: On completion of the tenure, the fellow should submit a report to IGSTC in the specific format. The fellow must acknowledge IGSTC for any future online/print documents, communication, reports, publication, PhD thesis or anywhere while using the results/outcomes obtained during the fellowship tenure.