GOVERNEMNT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY GENERAL

DIRECTORATE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

******* BILATERAL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA JOINT CALL FOR PROPOSAL (2013-16) LAST DATE OF SUBMISSION 30TH JUNE2013

The Indian Ministry of Science and Technology (Department of Biotechnology; DBT) and Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) invite Indian and Tunisian Universities, Research Centres and Institutes to submit joint proposals in the area of Biotechnology. This joint call for proposal refers to the: - Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia concluded on October 17 th, 1995 - The constitutive agreement in the field of biotechnology between the contracting Parties signed on September 14th, 2006 and extended for additional five years starting from the date of signature ( December 23td, 2011) I - OBJECTIVE The objective is to sustain joint strategic research programme to strengthen the research effort within priority areas and integrate the specific competencies of the Indo-Tunisia academic and Industrial research community in the broad area of Biotechnology. II - PRIORITY RESEARCH AREAS In the area of Biotechnology, the following mutually agreed research areas will be given priority in the present joint call for proposal: A. Medical Biotechnology Vaccines, Infectious diseases especially Tuberculosis & Leishmaniasis and drug resistance, Stem cell research

B. Agricultural Biotechnology Plant Pathogen interactions, Biological control, abiotic stress in crops C. Bioactive molecules of Plant, animal origin D. Animal Biotechnology Assisted Reproductive Technology, Nutritional intervention in farm animals, Heat & Salt stress in small ruminants, Apiculture E. Environment and Forest Waste water treatment and Bioremediation, micropropagation of Forest trees, Biocomposites and renewables biofertilizers III PROJECT DURATION The duration of a project will be of Three years. IV CRITERIA FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION The minimum requirement for proposal submission in response to the present joint call for proposal is as follows: A. Only a Joint Proposal having at least one Indian and Tunisian investigator will be accepted B. The investigator must have at least 3 peer reviewed articles in Journal of International repute having impact factor not less than 1. C. Investigator must hold either permanent or tenured position in an Indian institution. In case of tenured position, the investigator should have at least four years remaining after the date of proposal submission D. The proposal should not be more than 10 pages. E. A list of Existing facilities and brief scientific output sketch of the investigator F. An original letter of consent from the Tunisian investigator as a collaborator is necessary for consideration of the proposal. The Proposals screening and evaluation will be based on scientific and technological qualification of applicants. V - APPLICATION PROFORMA The proposal application (10 pages; A4 size; computer typed), duly signed by Indian and Tunisian investigator and well written in ENGLISH only, must have the following: A. B. C. D. E. F. G. General information about both the investigators Proposal summary (not more than 200 words) Objectives Work plan (details of both sides) Timeline (details of both sides) Proposed budget showing year wise break up (Indian side only) Possible outcome of the proposal (not more than 100 words)

H. Scientific/Technical/Industrial importance of the proposal (not more than 100 words) I. Brief academic bio data of the principal investigators For detailed information and application form, please visit at http://dbtindia.nic.in VI - MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS On the Indian side: A signed letter from the Tunisian collaborator must accompany with the initial proposal. However, once the proposal is recommended for support the following documents must be submitted A. B. C. D. E. F. Memorandum of agreement or a Bond will be signed between DBT and the respective University/Institution; Institutional Biosafety and Ethical clearance certificate must be provided ; Certificate from the Head of the institution ; Project must be submitted through online project management utility i.e. eProMIS Indian investigators have to follow the National Biodiversity Act (2002). Investigators has to follow the DBTs notification regarding the publication of results

On the Tunisian side: A signed letter from the Indian collaborator must accompany the initial proposal. However, once the proposal is recommended for support, a research agreement between the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the project coordinator and the Tunisian institution involved must be submitted; VII - FINANCIAL SUPPORT The terms and conditions of the financial support are as follows: A. The Indian investigator will get support from DBT, while Tunisian investigator will receive funds from MHESR. B. On both sides, the subsequent year funding depends upon the submission of the progress report and financial documents as well as based on the performance appraisal of the project evaluated by the Joint Committee C. On Indian side, the project staff will be supported as per the revised guidelines of DST, 2010. D. Investigators of both sides should provide their written consent with justified explanation for their willingness to come out of the Joint Proposal. The collaboration may be withdrawn only within six months of the approval of the proposal

VIII - SCIENTIFIC STAFF EXCHANGE The project may incorporate the scientific/technical staff exchange visits of short duration maximum of six months. Financial support will be provided for exchange visits of project team members ONLY. Single visit of maximum of two project team members is permitted and supported during the project duration. For the visits, the due approval of the joint committee and the respective Ministry is mandatory. In the exchange of project researchers, the sending party covers the costs of international travel and the receiving party meets the boarding and lodging expenses. The financial coverage of the expenses of the visiting project researchers by the receiving party will consist of the following: On Indian Side: Accommodation, food and internal transport, will be awarded On Tunisian side: Accommodation, food and internal transport will be awarded The investigators are advised to include these expenses as part of the proposal as per the visits planned. IX - EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS Proposals will be evaluated by a Joint Committee constituted independently by Department of Biotechnology and MHESR using their own procedures. Only approved proposals by both sides will be funded. Coordinators will be informed about evaluation results. X - Workshops The workshops will be organized both from Indian (DBT) and Tunisian side (MHESR) on every alternate year for reviewing the ongoing proposals as well as to facilitate the academic and industrial interaction as well as to promote scientific exchange between the two countries. XI- GUIDELINES FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION On Indian side: Both electronic and hard copy of the joint proposal needs to be submitted. Proposal submitted by one side only will not be considered. Electronic copy may be sent at rajneesh.gaur@nic.in, while Hard copies (8 copies) of the proposal may reach to Dr

Rajneesh K. Gaur, Scientist C, Department of Biotechnology, International Division-2, 814, Block-2, CGO complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 On Tunisian side: Proposals should include duly filled relevant application forms available on the website www.mes.rnu.tn Proposals must be approved by the heads of the institutions of the coordinators and sent to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (General Directorate of Scientific Research), Avenue Ouled Haffouz 1030 Tunis, Tunisia. Tel: +216 71 835 351 / Tl fax +216 71 835 351/ Fax +216 71 833 450. Email: awatefsoltane@gmail.com Tunisian Principal Investigators should submit (1 hard copy + 1 digital copy); electronic submission by the same deadline and must be sent to the abovementioned address, Only jointly submitted proposals will be considered. Proposal submitted by one side only will not be considered

XII- Supplementary Information

INSTITUIONS FOR COLLABORATION The following list is ONLY for guidance and the investigators are free to collaborate with any institution of the respective countries. i. IN INDIA (For Tunisian Investigators) a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. m. n. o. p. International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Rajasthan M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Banglore Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Utter Pradesh Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Utter Pradesh University of Delhi, Delhi Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi Anna University, Chennai University of Pune, Pune, Maharashtra Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi Jamia Milia Islamia University, New Delhi

ii. IN TUNISIA (For Indian Investigators) - Web site: www.mes.tn Universities: a. Tunis University b. Tunis El Manar University c. University of Carthage d. Manouba University e. Jendouba University f. Sousse University g. Monastir University h. Kairouan University i. Sfax University j. Gabes University k. Gafsa University

Research Institutions: a. The Water Researches and Technologies Centre of Borj Cedria b. Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria c. Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax d. National Institute of Research and Physical and Chemical Analysis e. National Centre for Nuclear Sciences and Technologies f. Institute of Arid areas g. National Institute of Marine Science and technology h. National Institute of Agronomical Research of Tunis