Ministry: Ministry of Science and Technology
VAJRA stands for Visiting Advanced Joint Research
Scheme enables NRIs and overseas scientific community to participate and contribute to research and development in India.
Scheme:
- The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology will implement the Scheme.
- Foreign researchers of Indian origin or otherwise can collaborate with faculties in public funded Indian institutions.
- The researchers would receive endowments at par with those in their own countries. They would be given USD 15,000 in the first month of residency and USD 10,000, for the remaining months.
- The scheme would promote broad areas of research like energy, health, advance material among others.
- Public funded academic institutions and national laboratories will be eligible for hosting the VAJRA Faculty.
- The VAJRA faculty can reside in India for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 3 months a year.
- The applications received from the interested foreign researchers would be evaluated by a Selection Committee of eminent scientists.
- The Committee will meet twice a year in January and July and make recommendations.