ISF-UGC Joint Scientific Research Program: Guidelines To Apply

The program is activated due to an agreement of cooperation between the University Grant Council (UGC) and the Israel Science Foundation(ISF) and is funded by the Indian and Israeli governments, through the two Foundations, each funding its own scientists according to their agency's regulations.

The first round of submission will be in the fields of Humanities(Archaeology, Arts, History, Languages & Linguistics, Literature, Musicology, Philosophy, Theatre/Cinema/TV, Cultural Studies) and Exact Science (Mathematics, Theoretical Chemistry, Theoretical Physics, Theoretical Computer Sciences, Computational Biology).

Eligibility: Researchers from Israel with a PhD or MD may apply through the Authority for Research and Development n their institutions as required by the ISF rules and regulations. Researchers from India with a PhD or MD, who are members of the academic staff of a University in India which is eligible according to the UGC.

Criteria for evaluation:

• The only criterion for evaluating the research proposal is scientific excellence. Applications will be scored according to the: Academic/Scientific quality of the proposal; Originality and innovation of the research; Importance of research and its implications; Past achievements of the researchers; Exchange of mutual knowledge and expertise; Clear added value of cooperation.

• Strengths of the proposed cooperation and the level of synergism between the groups. Professional committees and reviewers will assess and evaluate the applications.

• An application might be rejected on scientific or administrative grounds or on the basis of mismatch to the joint program.

• The ability of the researcher to lead the proposed research in dependently is an integral part in the professional committees assessment. The committee has the authority to reject an application submitted by a researcher who is believed not to meet this criterion.

• The ability to lead a research is also reflected in a critical mass of scientific publications on the subject, as a single or principal author.

Fundamental rules :

• On submitting a grant application, the researcher accepts the Foundation's guidelines and jurisdictions methods.

• Each funding agency funds activities of their respective countries.

The grant will be given for :

• A research project performed in Israel and in India in coordination with the respective relevant institution's authority.

• The grants are for up to three years. The maximum grant amount for an experimental project is up to USD 300,000, or for a theoretical project it is up to USD 180,000.

• In addition, equipment grants (of up to USD 50,000) can be requested and funded according to the rules and regulations of each funding agency.

• The researchers must attain all the necessary authority approvals needed for carrying out the research, and to provide them on request at any time.

• One can submit an application to the ISF only if it is essentially different from any other application that was submitted/funded by the ISF or any another entity in Israel, or that would be submitted in this academic year for funding to another Foundation in Israel. The differences between the proposals must be made clear.

• An application that is found very similar to another as just described, will be rejected outright.

Guidelines for submitting an application:

Language: The application shall be submitted in English. Date and manner of submission: Electronic submission of the joint application by November 6th, 2013.

Please Note: Amendments WILL NOT be accepted after this date.

For more options like Online Application and guidelines to submit applications online click on: Guidelines for ISF- UGC Joint Scientific Research Programme.