“Fund for Industrial Research Engagement (FIRE)”, intends to address the challenges in the research and innovation space in India, by creating an ecosystem that would accelerate the growth in the research work and drive the R&D landscape efficiently and effectively with close co-ordination with Industry.

Objectives :

1. Government-Industry collaboration for transforming research mind-set and culture in India to foster novel, transformative and impactful research ecosystem led by the Government of India and supported by the Industry.
2. Creating ‘Research Fund’ with the objective to collaborate on research problems that can have an impact at a large scale and fund top high-quality research with maximum industry impact potential, at a national scale. 50% monetary fund match by DST-SERB.

Eligibility :

1. Academic Partner
   • Indian citizens residing in India.
   • The academic partner must hold a regular academic/research position in an academic institution or national laboratories or recognised R&D institutions. More than one academic partner may be allowed.
2. Industry Partner
   • All industries (including MSME & industrial R&D Centres) are eligible.
   • More than one Industry and or more than one Investigator from one Industry can be associated in a project.

Nature of Support and Duration :
Scheme will be designed in partnership with Industry. A national call will be made for proposals by defining the scope of the scheme and its deliverables.

Application & Selection Procedure :

1. Prospective researchers from academia/lab contact Nodal Officer of respective Industries for identifying research partner/s from industry. The industry and the academia partners work together in identified areas of research.
2. SERB will constitute a Programme Management Review Committee (PMRC) to review the proposals.