1. Can Centers submit a joint project in form of consortia?
Ans: Yes, Centers can submit proposals individually or in form of consortia with other centers.
2. Can a center partner with national and international HEIs/ Research organizations, government departments, and Industry under this project?
Yes, joint/collaborative research projects can be submitted.
3. Being National Centers established through PSDP do we need to have main Centre (HQ) on board, or can submit independently from a PARTNER Institute with two or one lab in case Centre HQ is not in line?
Ans: Yes, Application must be routed through secretariat not necessarily PI will be secretariat Central Project Director, but Lab PI can take lead and secretariat can ask some funds for its coordination, M&E.
Or
Central Project Director based at secretariat will be the Lead with two or three collaborating labs in charge as Co-PI and execute project together.
Note: This is only for National Centers established through PSDP not the others in Appendix-I.
4. Can a center submit more than one proposal for CoE grant at a time of submission?
Ans: Yes
5. Some problems are associated with concept development in any research area, and some are associated with policy designing and implementation. can we go for both or only one specific side is focused on this mega project?
Ans: Yes, it allows primarily to have broader impact for a challenge pertains to a particular discipline that may needs intervention at policy level on one hand and practical approach on the other. It is up to the nature of challenge and kind and level of intervention required to address.
6. How the funds will be distributed is there any pattern?
Ans: CoE Grant Budget Template is available online in Downloads which is almost like GCF and LCF.
7. In case the main research idea is of a faculty member from the same center or from a collaborated lab (linked to centers established through PSDP) from other HEI, but as submission is directed through Director/Director General/Chairman/Central Project Director (CPD) as team lead/PI, than how the ownership of project awarded will be decided?
Ans: As CoE Director/Director General/Chairman/Central Project Director (CPD), is a team lead for facilitation and execution of the research hence he will be responsible for managing funding and will ensure timely completion of the project, while the researcher will be a research team lead for doing and leading research. Research idea will remain with the participating researchers.
