DST IJCSP 2026: India-Japan Cooperative Science Program invites applications for collaborative research projects
DST IJCSP 2026: The Department of Science and Technology (DST), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, has invited applications for the India-Japan Cooperative Science Program (IJCSP) 2026. The program is being conducted jointly with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to strengthen scientific cooperation between researchers in India and Japan. The deadline for submitting proposals is September 3, 2026.Eligible Indian researchers and scientists may apply for joint research projects or joint workshops and seminars under the programme. Applications are open in six scientific disciplines: physical sciences, chemical sciences, life sciences and agriculture, mathematics and computational sciences, astronomy and earth sciences, and materials and engineering.Applicant eligibility criteriaEach proposal must be submitted jointly by an Indian and a Japanese Principal Investigator (PI), who will be responsible for scientific, technical and administrative coordination. Indian applicants must be regularly employed in universities, deemed universities, academic institutions, national research and development laboratories or private non-profit organizations engaged in research and development activities.The Indian IP should remain associated with the parent institution throughout the proposed project period. Japanese PIs must be full-time researchers at universities or research institutions recognized by JSPS. Researchers associated with two or more ongoing international projects with DST support that are not expected to conclude by March 31, 2027, are not eligible.Duration of the project and financial supportProjects approved under the program can have a maximum duration of two years, with visits to be completed within one year and ten months. DST stated that the sending party will bear international travel costs, while the receiving party will provide local hospitality, accommodation and domestic travel support.For Indian researchers, the support covers international airfare, visa fees, airport taxes, overseas medical insurance and related travel expenses. Japanese researchers visiting India will be provided accommodation, daily allowance and domestic travel support in accordance with DST norms. There will also be a contingency grant of Rs 25,000 per annum. No funding will be given for equipment, labor or consumables.Presentation and evaluation processApplications must be submitted through the DST e-application system in the prescribed format by 5:00 PM on September 3, 2026. Identical proposals must also be submitted simultaneously by the Japanese JSPS counterpart.Proposals will be evaluated based on scientific relevance, methodology, applicant qualifications, value of staff exchanges, contribution to bilateral cooperation, social impact and dissemination of results. Evaluation will be done independently by DST and JSPS. Coordinators are expected to receive the result in April or May 2027, while approved projects are likely to start in June 2027.
Post Comment