Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST) – Department Of Science & Technology

The Scheme “Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST)” is intended to provide basic infrastructure and enabling facilities for promoting R&D activities in new and emerging areas and attracting fresh talents in universities & other educational institutions. It is considered as complimentary support for enabling Departments/ Centres/ Schools/ Colleges to pursue research activities more effectively and efficiently.
DST is restructuring the immensely successful FIST programme to orient it towards the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat by creating R&D infrastructure not only for R&D activities in academic organizations but also for use by the start-ups/ manufacturing industries/ MSMEs. Appropriate mechanisms including use of the FIST facilities through multiple shifts have been communicated to the beneficiaries through a public notice to promote optimal utilization of these resources.
The beneficiary organizations need to display a Public Notice exhibiting the FIST Logo to represent the face of the restructured FIST Program. They also need to connect with the I-STEM (Indian – Science Technology and Engineering Facilities Map) portal to display the utility and availability of slots of different facilities in their premises, for sample analysis by researchers outside the host organization.
Nature of Support: The Scheme will provide optimal infrastructure facilities for post-graduate and higher research, such as, renovation of existing laboratory space (no fresh constructions) and cold room, modernization of laboratories involved in PG and higher research, acquisition of essential equipment, up-gradation of existing facilities, networking & computational facilities including software & databases, scientific & technical books (no journals), maintenance & refurbishing of existing and new facilities etc. The facilities provided under the Program are intended to support the efforts of the Department as a whole or a number of faculty members in the Department. Proposal towards individual R&D support would not be accepted under this Scheme. The synergy and focus of research may preferably be aligned to National Missions/ priorities.
Duration:
The duration of support for each FIST Project will be for a period of 5 years.
Eligibility:
ForUniversity / Degree awarding Academic Institutions, the support will be considered for the ‘Department / School / Centre’ as a unit. All Science [under Life Sciences only traditional/ basic biological areas and excluding proposals that are pertaining to areas under modern biology (including Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Disease Biology etc.)] and Engineering Departments/ Centres having strong PG research programs which have existed for at least 5 years or more in universities and other higher educational institutions recognized or regulated by UGC/ AICTE and/or MHRD/ State Education Department. Educational organizations under the aegis of other Ministries/ Depts./ Agencies are excluded from the scope of FIST 2023 support.
It may be noted that all such Department/ Centre/ School that have already received support under FIST Program must ensure submission of all relevant documents towards final settlement and closure of the concerned project after completion of the ongoing project tenure and obtain the ‘Project Completion Certificate’.
For College, the support to ‘College as a whole’ shall be considered for the post-graduate S&T departments only and not for other Departments i.e., Humanities, Management, Commerce etc. In addition, NITs/ IITs/ Schools/ Centres/ University Constituent Colleges are not eligible to apply under Level ‘A’.
Further eligibility parameters and criteria for considering a proposal for support under FIST Program are based on the type of support and are provided, subsequently.
Type of Support: Currently, there are four types of support corresponding to four different levels. These are as follows:
Outcomes / Outputs:
Over a span of twenty-one rounds, from FIST 2000 to FIST 2021, the FIST Advisory Board (FISTAB) has played a crucial role in fostering academic and research growth by recommending financial support to a vast network of 3072 departments and PG colleges. The allocated budget of approximately Rs 3130.82 crores was distributed strategically to numerous institutionsmainly for Equipment, Networking & Computational Facilities, Infrastructure and Maintenance of the facilities., with each round witnessing an increase in the number of departments and colleges benefitting from the program. This consistent support has significantly contributed to the advancement of scientific and technological endeavours across various universities and colleges, fuelling innovation and progress in India’s educational landscape.
Many FIST supported facilities connected with the I-STEM (Indian – Science Technology and Engineering Facilities Map) portal to display the utility and availability of slots of different facilities in their premises, for sample analysis by researchers outside the host organization. Activities pertaining to Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) have also been introduced under the restructured FIST to make the program connect with more inclusive approach towards the different sections of the society. During this year, more than 703 fresh proposals have been received in seven subject areas which are in the process of evaluation.
List of Proposals recommended for support (FIST 2023)491.2 KB
List of Proposals NOT recommended for support (FIST 2023)1004.49 KB
Dr. Pratishtha Pandey
Scientist G & Head, R&D Infrastructure Division
Department of Science & Technology
Technology Bhawan
New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi-110016
Tele: 011-29512324, 12061
Email: pratishtha[dot]tp[at]nic[dot]in
For more information Contact (Subject Area Wise)
Sl. No.
Name of Officer
Subject Area
Phone No.
Office
Email
1.
Dr. Harish Kumar
Scientist F
Life Sciences
011-26590334
011-29512324
Extn: 17018
R&D Infrastructure Division
Department of Science & Technology
Technology Bhawan
New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi-110 016
harishkumar[at]nic[dot]in
2.
Dr Rajkumar Joshi
Scientist F
Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences
011-26590348
011-29512324
Extn: 11091
rkjoshi[at]nic[dot]in
3.
Dr . Pravakar Mohanty
Scientist E
Engineering Sciences (Ongoing projects)
011-29512324
Extn: 12016
01126590383
R&D Infrastructure Division
Department of Science & Technology
Technology Bhawan
New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi-110 016
pravakar[dot]mohanty
[at]gov[dot]in
4.
MS. Suchita Lokhande
Scientist D
PG- Colleges
011-26590243
011-29512324
Extn: 12035
R&D Infrastructure Division
Department of Science & Technology
Technology Bhawan
New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi-110 016
suchita[dot]lokhande[at]nic[dot]in
5.
Dr. Mayank Srivastava
Scientist C
Engineering Sciences (for fresh releases only), and Mathematical Sciences (Ongoing & Fresh releases)
011-29512324
Extn: 12068
R&D Infrastructure Division
Department of Science & Technology
Technology Bhawan
New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi-110 016
mayank[dot]sri[at]gov[dot]in
6.
Dr. Shivaprasad
Scientist B
Earth& Atmospheric Sciences
011-26590243
011-29512324
Extn: 12051
R&D Infrastructure Division
Department of Science & Technology
Technology Bhawan
New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi-110 016

shiva[dot]prasad[at]nic[dot]in