Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST) Program – 2016

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Ministry of Science & Technology 
Department of Science & Technology

“Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher 
Educational Institutions (FIST) Program – 2016”

Proposals are invited for consideration of support under the Scheme “Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST)” of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. The Scheme is intended to provide basic infrastructure and enabling facilities for promoting R&D activities in new and emerging areas and attracting fresh talents in universities & other educational institutions.

Nature of Support : The Scheme will provide optimal infrastructure facilities for post-graduate teaching and research, such as, renovation of existing laboratory space (no fresh constructions) and cold room, modernization of laboratories involved in PG teaching and research, acquisition of essential equipment, up-gradation of existing facilities, networking & computational facilities including software & databases, scientific & technical books (no journals), maintenance & refurbishing of existing and new facilities etc.. The facilities provided under the Program are intended to support the efforts of the Department as a whole or a number of faculty members in the Department. Proposal towards individual R&D support would not be accepted under this Scheme.

Duration : The duration of support for each project will be for a period not exceeding 5 years.

Eligibility : For U niversity / Academic Institutions , the support will be considered for the 'Department / School / Center' as a unit. All Science (including Medical & Agriculture) and Engineering Departments/ Centres having strong postgraduate teaching and research programs which have existed for at least 3 years or more in universities and other higher educational institutions are eligible. The Department/ Centre/ School already supported under FIST Program may submit fresh proposal after completion of the ongoing project provided such projects completed in all respects and obtained `Completion Certificate' whose copy may be attached in the current proposal. Progress of ongoing project of the Department/ Centre/ School will be monitored as per monitoring schedule of the Program and any additional requirements will be considered as a part of that exercise.  

For College, the support to 'College as a whole' shall be considered for the post-graduate S & T departments which are not self financed.

For Self-financed post-graduate departments and Private Universities/ Academic Institutes including Colleges , support shall be considered only on merit of research activities for research facilities. Such departments of the University or “College as a whole” should have at least 50% students at the PhD level pursuing their PhD as full time Research Scholar and receiving their fellowships either by virtue of NET/GATE qualification or holder of Institute/any other agency fellowship and such department would need to contribute 50 % of total recommended budget .

Type of Support:

(1) Level – 0: Proposals from College of Govt. / Govt. aided shall be considered for a maximum support up to Rs. 150 lakh [Teaching facilities – Rs 50 lakh and Research facilities – Rs 100 lakh] to the non-self financed S & T departments for 5 years.

(2) Level – I : Proposals from relatively small but active post-graduate S & T Department from State & Central Universities & academic Institutions requiring moderate funding for improving quality of teaching & research. The support would be up to Rs 300 lakh for 5 years for augmentation of teaching and research facilities to a Department/ School/ Centre.

(3) Level – II : Proposals from well established S & T Department from State/ Central Universities and academic Institutions with high repute requiring substantial funding (upper limit – Rs.1000 lakh for 5 years) for acquiring state-of-the-art equipment and setting up laboratories for conducting internationally competitive research.  

Selection : The selection will be through a peer review mechanism and visit to the laboratories, if necessary. An Advisory Board of Experts will assist the DST in making final selection.  

Application : Applications are invited from eligible post-graduate Departments at universities and other higher educational institutions in the prescribed format which can be downloaded from www.fist-dst.org. One copy of the appropriate Application Form complete in all respect along with a CD with proper labeling should reach the following address on or before 31 st May, 2016:  

Dr Arindam Bhattacharyya, Scientist ‘D' ,

R and D Infrastructure Division, 
Department of Science & Technology (DST), 
Technology Bhavan, 
New Mehrauli Road, 
New Delhi - 110 016

Proposal submitted through e-mail will be discouraged. University Departments and Colleges shall use separate format of application given in the website (www.fist-dst.org). Submission of Proposal other than the Prescribed Format shall summarily be rejected without any further processing as per Program norms.

A Summary Sheet in a separate page containing Level, Subject Area, Name of Department/ Centre & University/ Institute, Year of Establishment, Status of Institute/ University/ College, complete Postal Address for correspondence including name of Head/ Contact Person, Pin Number, State/ UT, Telephone no., Fax & E-mail and the total budget may also be attached. Please note that incomplete Proposal/ Proposal not in the prescribed Format/ Proposal received after the due date would summarily be rejected and no correspondence in such cases would be made in this respect. The name of the successful departments shall be displayed in the Website after completion of the process.

The envelope should mention on top No “PROPOSAL UNDER FIST in Subject Area -----------/ Level -----------”. [e.g. Life Science, Physical Science, Chemical Science, Engineering Science, Earth & Atmospheric Science & Mathematical Science and College as a Whole ]