DST Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Fellowships

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is mandated to develop and deliver public policy support for the promotion of research and development in the country. To build and strengthen an institutional mechanism for a robust evidence-driven STI policy system in India, on the recommendation of the Committee of Experts, the Policy Research Cell of DST (DST-PRC) established DST-Centers for Policy Research (DSTCPRs) in various academic institutions (IISc Bangalore, IIT Delhi, PU Chandigarh, EDII Gandhinagar and BBAU Lucknow). These centers are engaged in targeted research in number of key areas(Annex I) relevant to the country, train scholars in STI policy domain, and contribute towards better STI policy making. In addition to that, to create a critical mass of policy professional (research scholars as well as practitioners), in 2016, DST-PRC launched DST-STI-PFP, a flagship policy fellowship program.

DST-STI Fellowship Call 2019:-
Recognizing the growing demand and the need to bridge the gap between ‘research’ and ‘practice’ in STI policy, this year’s DST-STI-PFP is proposed in three different category with a larger scope and thematic coverage.Also, through this program, it is expected to create active linkages to relevant government agencies (scientific ministry and/or line ministries with an S&T component), facilitated by DST and/or the DSTCPRs. The Fellowship program would also provide an opportunity for policy-makers in various government departments /agencies to draw upon STI policy research expertise from this pool. Some of fellows may also be engaged in the process of formulation of a draft STI Policy (Technology Led Innovation Policy) jointly with O/o PSA, Govt. of India.

Thematic scope of the DST-STI-PFP 2019 may include following six components:-
1. Policy
2. STI related Data
3. Programmes/Schemes
4. Projects Management
5. Monitoring and Evaluation
6. Impact Assessment of Policy/Programmes

The broad details (not limited to) are as under:-
• R&D ecosystem mapping, monitoring and evaluation, sectoral research performance and funding pattern analysis, policies and incentives to promote R&D, R&D related Data analysis
• STI mapping and measurement- institutions and clusters, R&D and innovation indicators, composite indicators, STI scoreboards and indices, data for policy
• Industrial R&D, industry-academia interaction, public-private partnership models, technology transfer, intellectual property rights (IPR), research parks
• Innovation studies – mapping, evaluation and impact assessment, drivers of innovation, innovation ecosystem approach, sectoral innovation, grassroot and frugal innovation
• Technology studies - forecasting, assessment, disruptive technologies, policy interventions for technology development
• Science, technology and society studies – ethics of innovation, technological change, ethics, regulations, sustainability issues, responsible research and innovation (RRI) gender balance in STEM and open access.
• Science entrepreneurship, high-tech entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, incentives and regional policies for startup ecosystem, financial support system for startup and entrepreneurship.
• Technology trade (imports and exports), S&T diaspora studies, international IP regime, FDI in R&D, science and innovation diplomacy, internationalization strategies for Indian technical higher education institutions (THE), public research organizations (PRO) and technology firms.

The DST-STI fellowship call for 2019 is proposed with following 3 tracks:-
1. STI-Senior Policy Fellow
2. STI-Postdoctoral Policy Fellow
3. STI-Young Policy Professional

1. STI-Senior Policy Fellow would be someone who has already got at least 3 years of direct STI policy experience at the postdoctoral level. This track will be a 2-year fellowship (with a possible extension of one more year, depending upon performance). The selected candidates will be awarded a fellowship of Rs. 98,000/-(consolidated) per month and based on the Committee’s decision, an amount up to Rs. 200,000/-will be granted annually to cover research-related costs, travel and contingency.
Eligibility: Candidates with a) doctoral degree in science/medicine/engineering/social science (with a background of STI policy) with a good academic record and b) minimum of 3 years of direct STI policy experience at the postdoctoral level and are eligible to apply. Applicants must be capable of doing independent research work and have published at least 3 research papers in peer reviewed journals. At the time of application, applicant’s age should be below 42 years.

2. STI-Postdoctoral Policy Fellow. This will be a postdoctoral level fellowship; for candidates who have completed a doctoral degree. This track will be a 2-year fellowship (with a possible extension of one more year, depending upon performance). The selected candidates will be awarded a fellowship of Rs. 80,000/-(consolidated) per month and based on the Committee’s decision, an amount up to Rs. 1,50,000/- will be granted annually to cover research-related costs, travel and contingency.
Eligibility: Candidates with a doctoral degree in science/medicine/engineering/social science (with a background of STI policy) with a good academic record are eligible to apply. Applicants must be capable of doing independent research work and have published at least 3 research papers in peer reviewed journals. At the time of application, applicant’s age should be below 40 years.

3. STI-Young Policy Professional. This fellowship would be given to candidates who have completed a master’s level education. This track will be a 2-year fellowship (with a possible extension of one more year, depending upon performance). The selected candidates will be awarded a fellowship of Rs. 44,000/-(consolidated) per month and based on the Committee’s decision, an amount up to Rs. 100,000/-will be granted annually to cover research-related costs and contingency.
Eligibility : Candidates with a master’s degree in science/medicine/engineering/social science (with a background of STI policy) with a good academic record are eligible to apply. Candidates with master’s in public policy/public administration/data sciences/statistics (with S&T specialization) are encouraged to apply. At the time of application, applicant’s age should be below 30 years.

In all above, age relaxation of 3 (three) years will be given to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Physically Challenged & Women candidates.

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Application Procedure:-
Applicants are required to submit following documents written in English: -
(a) For STI-Senior Policy Fellow and Postdoctoral Fellow, a Project/Research Proposal is required on an identified STI policy issue, preferably, the issue pertaining to thematic areas of the candidates’ desired DST-CPR and/or a policy research group in an academic/research institution and/or the prospective host S&T agency (proposal must be formulated in consultation with DST-CPR or an identified active policy research group or the prospective host S&T agency).The proposal must include:
a) a STI related research title,
b) a research objective,
c) STI related Policy research background/ questions,
d) research methodologies, and
e) a research plan, including the evidence based outcome.
(b) For STI-Young Policy Professionals, a two-page write-up on an identified STI policy issue (in consultation with DST-CPR or an identified active policy research group or the prospective host S&T agency).
- Curriculum Vitae
- Two recommendation letters.
- A consent Letter from the prospective advisor/host organization.

Selection Procedure:
The duly constituted selection Committee will shortlist candidates based on their track record and the relevance, quality, and significance of their proposals/write-ups etc. Once the Committee finalizes the shortlisting, they will be notified via e-mail. The duly constituted Selection/Review Committee comprising others scientific departments/ ministries representatives as well eminent policy makers, academicians will select the fellows based upon a personal interview, and monitor the progress and make further review of the fellowship programme.

Maximum Number of fellowships for DST-STI Fellowship Call 2019:-
STI-Senior Policy Fellow - 3
STI-Postdoctoral Policy Fellow/ Research Associates - 5
STI-Young Policy Professional - 7

The numbers are tentative and can be increased/decreased at the discretion of DST. The remuneration and terms and conditions will be guided as per applicable rules of DST/host institute.

Application/Proposal Applicants are required to submit their application in prescribed format only through ONLINE MODE (onlinedst.gov.in). The details of the Call may also be available at DST’s website dst.gov.in. 6 No Need to send the hard copy of the application to DST. Any other information related to the DST-STI-PFP may be enquired, if needed from: Dr. Akhilesh Mishra, Scientist D, Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhawan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110 016 email: dststipfp@gmail.com

(Applicants may note that R&D related proposals will not be considered. Proposal must be on STI policy related issues only)

Last Date of Submission: 15thJanuary, 2020.