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 on which 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 /process development 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 

1.	Project Title :

2.	a. Name and Designation of Head of the Applicant Institute: 

b. Name and Postal address of Applicant Institute:
		
    c.	Name & Address of Principal Investigator (PI): 

  	     d.	Education Qualification of PI:

	     e.	Current Professional Experience / Employment Status of the PI
            
              N.B:  E-mail and contact no are mandatory at b and c above

3.	MSME Cluster Information:

     a	  Type of Cluster    
 
     b	  Location of MSME Cluster            

     c	  Name and Address of the MSME Cluster Association:

     d	  Name and Address of President of MSME Cluster :

              N.B:  E-mail and contact no are mandatory at c and d above

4 .Status of the work already carried out by the PI such as:

          				  Technology already developed and tested
		                         Technology demonstrated at pilot scale 
                   		  Patents filed
					  Technology certification received
•	Market survey and business plan completed
     				  Consumers/ users feedback received, if any
•	Any other

(Enclose documentary proof of work done by way of photographs, video clips . 
forward orders etc.)

		

		5. (a)  Need and justification for the proposed project:
          (Please elaborate in separate sheets)
		
	        (b)  Innovation merit and business advantage
		          (Please attach copy of Business Plan)     

				 (c)	Category of technology/innovation (specify process/product/new 
                      Application /other)

				 (d) 	If the idea involves use of existing intellectual property, give details of the owner and arrangements of sourcing the innovation and terms of its commercialization

				 (e)	Project summary giving broad details of the activities to be undertaken, 
						action plan, major milestones/timelines, patenting, photographs of 
						Innovation and expected duration of completion etc:

6.	   Proposed expenditure and time frame:
Activity	Estimated cost	Duration
(months)	
	Institution share	PRISM Support sought		
Technology development activities 
-	R&D/Design Engineering/Consultancy
-	Plant & Machinery
-	Raw Material and Accessories
-	Scale-up/replication of prototypes/processes
				
Market development activities
-      Testing and trials on large scale
-      Product/process launch in the market
-      Conducting limited market research 
				
Any others (please specify)
-      Travel, patenting cost, publicity, networking cost etc.				

		N.B:	i) The bulk of the DSIR grants-in-aid support should preferably be incurred by the applicant (technology solution provider) at MSME cluster site 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.
	   
		          ii) Duration: The duration would generally not exceed 24 months. 

7	Activity details/work plan  

Sr. No.	Activities	Monitor-able milestones  	Duration
(months)	Budget required 
(Rs in lakh) 	

	With respect to solving the technology problem of MSME clusters
(basis: Refer Scope & Support)

8	Details of Sources of Finance for balance funds:

•	Institution Own Source:

•	Banks/Financial Institutions:

•	Any other (Venture Capitalists and so on):

9	Name and address of co-investors:

10	Have you approached to any other Organization/Agency/CSIR-800 for financial support for the current activity? Please give details etc.

11	 Please comment on the environment and safety aspects of the project and related product.

12	 End Product/Outcomes/Deliverables:  

13	 Any award or recognition received related to the innovation:

14	 Details of Mentors/Guide, if any:

15	 Any other information that you wish to share with us to help us in judging your application.

16.    Declaration:

I/we declare that all the statements made in this application are true, complete and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief. In the event of any information, found false or incorrect, my/our candidature will stand cancelled and all my/our claims will be forfeited. I/we have not received any financial assistance for the present proposal from any other agency. I/we also undertake that we/us are bound by transferring the technology solution to the MSME cluster referred under item No 3 once it emerges out of the R&D project submitted to DSIR. 

       Place:
       Date:                                                                     	    (Signature of the applicant)

       17.	RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FORWARDING TePP Outreach Cum 
Cluster Innovation Centre (TOCIC)

        Place:                                                             Signature of the Head, TOCIC
        Date:

Evaluation by Domain expert(s)/Financial Experts(Venture Capitalists)

1.Name of the Expert 		:
(e-mail ID, mobile no., contact address)

2.Name of the Applicant	:
	
3.Title of the Proposal 	:

Part A ( to be filled first by applicant and later by expert)

4.  Expert comments on the proposal 

	Applicant
(to be completed by the applicant)	Expert
(to be completed by the expert)	
Work done on this innovation and documented till now

			
Achievements in prior phase of work

			
Need for development activities, now proposed 

Support from co-investors like Angel investors/VCs/ Banks/Financial Institutions/SIDBI/NABARD/Host Institution  in implementing the project 			

Part B (To be filled by expert only)
  Expert comments on proposed innovation 

	Expert comments	
Capability of applicant and team to take the innovation to the market at the end 

		
Quality of implementation plan as proposed

		
Recommendations to PRISM PASC

 Covering letter to the PRISM application

									Date………………..

To:

TePP Outreach cum Cluster Innovation Centre (TOCICs)
-------------------
-----------------

Sub :  Proposal for development of ………………..

Dear ……………………

I am herewith submitting my application for support under PRISM –MSME Cluster. The following documents are enclosed.
 
Signed copy of application

 Detailed Project Report 

Documentary proof of interest shown by co-investor
 
Description of work proposed

 	Business plan, giving profile of user, size of market, competition etc

      	Bar chart with mile stones for project schedule 

.

Applicant