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Organization : The President of India
Scholarship Name : Innovation Scholars In-Residence Programme 2015
Applicable States : All India
Application Last Date : 15th September, 2015

Website : https://presidentofindia.nic.in/

Innovation Scholars In-Residence Programme 2015 :
Introduction:
1. Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India, is a firm believer that creativity and innovation are essential both for human happiness and development. Qualities of contemplation; introspection and reflection are a must for healthy growth of body and mind. In pursuance of this thinking and to encourage the creative and innovative potential of the people, especially the youth of this country, an ‘In-Residence’ Programme at the Rashtrapati Bhavan was initiated.

2. The President of India has always held that the Rashtrapati Bhavan belongs to the nation and the people at large. He has taken several initiatives to open the Rashtrapati Bhavan for greater participation and involvement of the common man in its activities. The ‘In-Residence’ Programme will take the continuing engagement of Rashtrapati Bhavan with the people to the next level.

3. As part of the ‘In-Residence’ Programme envisaged to encourage the creative and innovative potential of people and open up Rashtrapati Bhavan for greater participation and involvement of common man in its activities, two schemes were launched by the President on 11 December, 2013 to welcome creative persons – writers, artists and innovation scholars to stay in Rashtrapati Bhavan. This programme has been further extended to NITs Scholars and Inspired Teachers of Central Universities.

Objectives:
With a view to promote the spirit of innovation and give further impetus to the grassroots innovation activities, the Innovation Scholars In-Residence Programme was launched.

The objectives of the Programme are :
(i) To provide an environment to grassroots innovators in Rashtrapati Bhavan to work on a project in hand and take their innovative ideas forward;

(ii) To provide linkages with technical institutions to the selected innovators to strengthen their capacity to innovate; and

(iii) To provide mentoring and support so that the innovations can be used for the progress and welfare of the society.

A Committee with the following Composition was constituted to implement the project.
(i) Secretary to the President (Chairperson)

(ii) Prof. Anil K. Gupta, Professor, IIM-A and Executive Vice Chair, National Innovation Foundation

(iii) Dr. A.K. Wali, Coordinator, FIIT, IIT-Delhi

(iv) Dr. H.K. Mittal, Secretary, Technology Development Board

(v) Dr. Shashi Bala, Director, DIPAS, DRDO, New Delhi

(vi) Dr. Girish Sahani, Director, CSIR-IMTECH, Chandigarh

(vii) Officer on Special Duty to the President (Member-Secretary)

The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows –
(1) The Committee will scrutinize all applications received for the ‘Innovation Scholars in-Residence’ scheme.

(2) The Committee will design the framework for selection of innovation scholars for this ‘In-Residence’ scheme keeping in mind the overall objectives of the scheme. It will give preference to young innovators. It will also endeavor to give a wide geographic representation.

(3) The Committee will shortlist a panel of eight innovation scholars for a year, out of which four scholars will be invited to stay in Rashtrapati Bhavan as an ‘Innovation Scholar in-Residence’. The duration of stay in Rashtrapati Bhavan under this scheme will be one month. However, the Committee shall have the discretion to extend the stay for one more month. The time of stay will be decided after consultation with the selected scholars.

(4) The Committee will receive feedback from the selected scholars at the end of their stay, and on the basis of such feedback, will modify / improve the programme as required.

Applications For The Third Batch Of Innovation Scholars In-Residence:
The third batch of Innovation Scholars In-Residence Programme will be held in March, 2016. The duration of stay of the Innovation Scholars at Rashtrapati Bhavan will be for a period of two weeks commencing from the date of inauguration of the Festival of Innovations (FOIN-2016) i.e. 12th March, 2016.

Applications are invited from interested applicants through the website of the President of India:
www.presidentofindia.nic.in. All Indian nationals who have a track record of innovation and implementation of innovative ideas may apply. A Committee will screen the applications and shortlist names for selection as an “Innovation Scholar In-Residence”. The decision of the Committee in all matters relating to selection will be final.

Interested persons may apply in the prescribed format available on the website of the President of India:
www.presidentofindia.nic.in. The duly filled-in application along with relevant attachments and a photograph may be submitted online by clicking the link given below :

Last Date:
The last date for receipt of online application is 15th September, 2015.