SERB Science and Technology Award for Research
₹15,000/month + ₹10L/year award for outstanding SERB project PIs · 3-year tenure
SERB-STAR is a prestigious award for Principal Investigators whose completed SERB projects were rated Excellent, recognizing their outstanding research contributions. Winners receive ₹15,000/month plus ₹10 lakh/year in research funding for 3 years. Nominations are made once a year by the institution head through the SERB online portal at serbonline.in.
About This Scheme
SERB-STAR is a prestigious award for Principal Investigators whose completed SERB projects were rated Excellent, recognizing their outstanding research contributions. Winners receive ₹15,000/month plus ₹10 lakh/year in research funding for 3 years. Nominations are made once a year by the institution head through the SERB online portal at serbonline.in.
Full official description
The "SERB Science and Technology Award for Research (SERB-STAR)” is a prestigious award instituted by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) to recognize and reward the outstanding performance of Principal Investigators (PIs) of SERB Projects. SERB has been supporting basic research in frontier areas of science and engineering through its various programs and schemes. The number of researchers under the ambit of SERB has increased over the years and they contribute significantly towards the progress of science and engineering in the country through their research endeavour. SERB-STAR is an initiative to acknowledge such exemplary contributions in research and also to motivate the PIs of ongoing projects for outstanding performance.
Scientific Social Responsibility:
SERB has adopted the Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) Policy to imbibe a culture of social commitment among SERB Grantees. The policy intends to effectively utilize the scientific infrastructure and expertise of SERB grantees to benefit other S&T stakeholders, especially the less-endowed researchers and society. SERB Grantees need to undertake some SSR activities during their project period. SSR activities need to be chosen during the submission process. Depending on the activities chosen additional budget would be provided under a separate head to carry out the chosen activities.
Benefits
- ₹15,000 per month fellowship (top-up, on top of regular salary) for 3 years
- ₹10 lakh per year research grant
- ₹1 lakh per year overhead charges for the host institution
- Up to 30 awards given per year (not more than 90 active at any time)
💡 Why Startups Should Care
If you ran a SERB project rated Excellent, STAR gives you a 3-year funded continuation with ₹10L/year — effectively paying your research runway while you build IP that could anchor a startup.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Must be the Principal Investigator (not Co-PI) of a completed individual-centric SERB project rated Excellent in the last 3 financial years
- Must hold a regular academic or research position at a recognized institution in India
- Age: between 40 and 50 years as of December 31 of the year the call is made
- Ineligible if already holding JC Bose Fellowship, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, Swarnajayanti Fellowship, or similar prestigious fellowships/honoraria
- Unsuccessful nominees may be re-nominated the following year if eligibility criteria are still met
How to Apply
- Nomination calls are made once a year — nominations must be submitted by your Institution Head (no self-nomination)
- Register on the SERB online portal at serbonline.in
- Fill all mandatory profile fields
- Under 'Form Submission', choose Scheme: STAR and complete the nomination form
- Click 'Send STAR nomination form to Nominator'
- Your nominator receives an email link to review and either submit or return for revision
- Both you and your nominator receive confirmation upon successful submission
- SERB verifies eligibility and 'Excellent' grading first, then a competent committee selects winners
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for STAR Award?
Principal Investigator (PI) with a completed SERB project (in the last three financial years) with "Excellent" grading, is eligible for the award. PI must be in regular service, within 40-50 years of age as on December 31 of the year of call. PI should not have any ongoing fellowship/honorarium such as JC Bose Fellowship, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, Swarnajayanti Fellowship, etc.
How often the awards will be granted?
Call for nominations would be made and awards would be granted once in a year.
Is there any age limit for PI to be eligible for the award?
PI should be within 40 to 50 years as on December 31 of the year in which call is made.
I am already implementing another project under CRG. Am I eligible for STAR?
Yes. STAR is an award of recognition and can be concurrently held with other SERB projects.
How is the "Excellent" grading of project determined?
The Project Completion Report (PCR) of completed project are evaluated by concerned Programme Advisory Committee (PAC), and the performance are graded based on quality of research work done in the project, its impact, publications, patents, research personnel generated, etc.
I have not sent PCR, but my output in my project is excellent. Can I be considered for the award?
No. It is essential to send the PCR of the completed project for evaluation by the concerned PAC.
I have forgotten to acknowledge SERB in many of my publications, but I have large number of publications from the project. Will I be considered for the award?
Only publications in which SERB grant is acknowledged will be taken into account as project output.
Will all the PIs whose projects are rated excellent receive award under STAR Scheme?
No. The PIs of excellent rated projects should also fulfill other eligibility criteria. The selection committee would choose the awardees based on performance of the completed project and other research work. Up to 30 STAR awards would be granted per year.
My project has been rated excellent, and I fulfill all other eligibility criteria. How should I apply for the STAR Award?
The PI cannot apply directly for the award. Entry would be by nomination by the Head of the Institution.
I have completed an EMR project 5 years ago, and it was rated "Excellent". Will I be considered for the award?
No. Only projects which have been completed in previous three financial years will be considered.
I completed EMR project in the year 2016-17 and my project was rated Excellent. I was considered for Distinguished Investigator Award but was unsuccessful. Can I be considered for STAR?
Yes, subject to fulfilling other eligibility criteria, the nomination would be considered.
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- Passport-size photograph
- Project completion report (PCR)
- List of publications from the completed project
- Reprints of publications (if applicable)
- Patent details from the project (if any)
- Technology transfer documents (if any)
- Complete list of all publications and patents
- Endorsement certificate from institution head
- Certificate from the PI
- Plagiarism undertaking