PROMOTING INNOVATIONS IN INDIVIDUALS, START- UPs and MSMEs (PRISM) PRISM _ R&D Proposals (MSME CLUSTERS) Guidelines

Government of India

Department of Scientific and Industrial Research

PROMOTING INNOVATIONS IN INDIVIDUALS, START- UPs and MSMEs

(PRISM) PRISM _ R&D Proposals (MSME CLUSTERS)

Guidelines  Eligibility

 R&D project (Technology Solution) proposals from autonomous

institutions/public funded R&D laboratories or Academic Institutes etc in

consultation/collaboration with MSME cluster for developing technology

solutions aimed at helping MSME clusters. MSME units in Industry Clusters

may approach autonomous institutions/public funded R&D laboratories or

Academic Institutes in their region to find technology solution to their problem.

 The proposals shall preferably be in the following focus sectors: Green

Technology, Clean Energy, Industrially utilizable smart materials, Waste to

wealth, Affordable healthcare, water & sewage management, any other

technology or knowledge intensive area.

Scope & Support

 Project cost up to Rs 100.00 lakh

 R&D project proposals aimed at providing appropriate technological solution

to the problems faced by MSME clusters in common. The proposals must be

initiated by the autonomous institutions/public funded R&D laboratories or

Academic Institutes etc in consultation/collaboration with MSME clusters and

will be routed through the local TOCIC or directly to DSIR.

 Maximum support under this category is Rs 50.00 lakh subject to a maximum

50% of approved project cost whichever is lower. An amount equivalent to

government grant has to be raised by the applicant.

 IPR generated in the project, if any, shall belong to the beneficiary i.e. to the

institutions developing technological solutions for MSME units & clusters and

DSIR shall not have any rights on the IPR.

Mechanism

 The proposals can be submitted to the nearest TePP Outreach cum Cluster

Innovation Centre (TOCIC). The applicant may meet coordinators of TOCICs

and take their advice before submitting the application.

 The proposals directly received at DSIR will also be forwarded to relevant

TOCIC for counselling/ local screening.

 The project proposal will be evaluated by TOCICs in consultation with DSIR

with the help of domain experts and financial experts both.

 The evaluated proposals may be put forth to PRISM Advisory and Screening

Committee (PASC) for consideration. Applicant will be given an opportunity to

make presentation to DSIR (PASC). If PASC recommends the proposal for

PRISM support, it will be processed on file for approval and release of grant.

 To facilitate `financial closure’, autonomous institutions/public funded R&D

laboratories or Academic Institutes etc will be given letter of intent, based onwhich they can firm up agreements with banks/ institutions/VCs/any other

venture firms/Host Institution to raise their part of resources.

 After Financial closure, the applicant has to sign "Terms & Conditions" prior to

the actual release of grants-in-aid.

 The first release is based on assessment of need by DSIR/PRISM Secretariat

and subsequent releases are based on assessment by Project Monitoring

Committee/authorized TOCICs.

 The approved projects will be monitored by TOCIC/ other network partner by

including technical expert(s). TOCIC will be periodically reporting project

status to DSIR at an interval of 3 months. The PRCs consisting of external

experts will meet at least once in nine months to review the progress of the

project.

 The project completion report will be accepted by the Competent Authority in

the DSIR based on PRC recommendation after successful closure of the

project.

Limiting Conditions

 Eligibility is limited to those mentioned above.

 There is a need to submit viable Business plan.

 The PRISM support will not exceed 50% of approved project cost subject to

ceiling of Rs 50.00 lakhs and applicant need to raise resources for balance of

the project cost. This arrangement has to be made before release of first

sanction by PRISM.

 The solution provider may enter into a MoU with the concerned MSME in the

cluster for implementing the R&D project aimed at helping MSME clusters.

The clause “The bulk of the DSIR grants-in-aid support provided may be

utilized by the technology solution provider for product/process development,

creation of scale up facilities at MSME cluster’s site” may appear in the MoU

worked out between the solution provider and MSME units.

 Funds will be released to the solution provider institute linked to

milestones/deliverables.

 Manpower costs supported will not exceed 20% of the approved project cost.

Principal Investigators (PI’s) salary is not eligible for support.

 Travel costs supported will not exceed 5% of the approved project cost.

 The support will be utilized for the activities related to technology /processdevelopment for MSME Clusters only. The grants-in aid support may be

utilized for product/process development, creation of scale up facilities at

MSME cluster’s site. This approach would facilitate active financial / technical

participation from MSME clusters which in fact is a favourable point for the

technology solution provider.

 The retention schedule of documents for PRISM for RTI Act, 2005 may be as

follows:

- Rejected or not supported Application: One Year from the date of rejection.

- Approved proposals: Three years (after the closure of the project/issuance of

final sanction order).

 The decision of Competent Authority in DSIR in respect of PRISM scheme will

be final and binding upon the stake holders.

 In case of any dispute, the liability of PRISM is limited to the jurisdiction of

Delhi High Court only.

N.B.: The guidelines are subject to change periodically if desired so by the Competent

Authority/Department.

Government of India

Department of Scientific and Industrial Research

PROMOTING INNOVATIONS IN INDIVIDUALS, START-UPs and MSMEs (PRISM)

PRISM _ R&D Proposals (MSME CLUSTERS)

Application Form