In order to give encouragement to research and development in industry, DSIR instituted National in-house R&D awards for outstanding R&D achievements of Indian Industry in the year 1988. These awards are in the form of shields made of sterling silver and are presented along with citations at the inaugural session of the Annual National Conference on in-house R&D in industry. During the past 19 years, 162 such R&D awards have been presented by DSIR.

Till the year 2000, the eligibility for these awards was restricted to those industries whose in-house centres were recognized by DSIR. Since the year 2001, these awards were thrown open to all units of Indian industries, registered as corporate companies, which may be public limited companies, private limited companies, partnership or proprietary concerns registered in India. Branches of foreign companies which arenot registered as company in India, are not eligible to apply for these awards.

DSIR invites applications from all industries, irrespective of DSIR recognition, for National Awards in the following sectors/ areas :

1. Chemical and Allied Industries
For outstanding R&D achievements innatural products, inorganic chemicals, speciality chemicals, dyestuffs, pesticides, petroleum and petrochemicals, polymers and plastics, fertilisers, catalysts, protection from corrosion, paints and pigments, gases and other chemicals and chemical products.

2. Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Industries

For outstanding R&D achievements in the area of drugs and pharmaceuticals, drug intermediates, drug delivery systems and other related areas.

3. Bio-tech Industries

For outstanding R&D achievements in biotechnology and development of bio-tech based products.

4. Electrical Industries

For outstanding R&D achievements in power generation, transmission and distribution; equipment, tools, components and materials; cables; electrical instruments, welding equipments, test equipment and others.

5. Electronic / Opto electronic Industries

For outstanding R&D achievements in all areas of electronics / optics / opto - electronics including components and systems with / without embedded software, appliances, industrial / power electronics, communications including telecommunications, audio-visual equipment, electronic measuring instruments, microwave engineering, semiconductors, laser based systems and others.

6. Computer Software

For outstanding R&D achievements in the area of computer software including networkingsoftware, internet applications, e-commerce and GIS software.

7. Mechanical Engineering Industries

For outstanding R&D achievements in all areas of engineering industry including industrial machinery, boilers, turbines, engines, tractors and farm machinery, automobiles and other transportation systems, CNC machines, compressors, valves, tyres, machine tools, robotics, tribology, industrial engineering; and for development of capital goods for majorindustrial sectorssuch as chemicals, man-made / syntheticfibres, polymers, processing industries, metallurgical industries, textiles, electronics and engineering industries, bulk transportation, earth moving machineries, material handling equipment, mining machineries, power generationand distribution, etc.

8. Infrastructure Development

For outstanding R&D achievements in the areas of design, engineering and construction of civil engineering projects, highways, bridges, public transportation systems, ports, airports, public health engineering, water management, flood control and hydroelectric projects.

9. Processing Industries

For outstanding R&D achievements in ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, alloys, semis, wires, welding electrodes, glass and ceramics, refractories, cement, mining and mineral processing, utilisation of natural resources, jute, textiles, leather and rubber processing, paper and others.

10. Agro and Food Processing Industries

For outstanding R&D achievements in cultivation technology, plant tissue culture, improved variety of seeds, biomass production and conservation; animal husbandry, milk processing and dairy products, poultry research, aqua-culture, post harvest technologies, food processing and preservation industries.

11. New Materials

For outstanding R&D achievements leading to development of new materials including composites and special materials for wide range of applications.

12. Renewable Energy Systems

For outstanding R&D achievements in new and renewable energy systems, and harnessing of renewable energy sources, photovoltaic systems and others.

13. Energy Conservation

For outstanding R&D achievements leading to energy conservation in energy intensive sectors such as metallurgy, ceramics, refractories, cement, textiles, paper, fertilisers, petrochemicals and electrochemical industries, power generation, transmission, distribution and utilisation.

14. Pollution Control and Environmental Protection

For outstanding R&D achievements leading to pollution abatement, environmental protection, regeneration of natural resources degraded due to pollution, etc.

15. Technology Exports

For outstanding R&D achievements leading to development andexportof competitive technologies; such efforts may also include improved designs, and setting up of demonstration plants.

16. Technology Absorption (of imported technologies)

For outstanding R&D achievements leading to absorption and upgradation of imported technology; unpackaging of imported technology, know-how / know-why; technology demonstration; product / process upgradation leading to quality improvement and cost reduction, etc.

17. Successful Commercialisation of Technologies acquired from Others.

For acquiring and commercialising technologies / R&D results generated in national laboratories and other Government agencies; Government funded organisations, IITs, NITs, universities and other S&T organisations; co -operative research associations, voluntary scientific and industrial research organizations, in-house R&D of any company other than the commercializing company and individual inventors.

All units of Indian industry, which are registered in India as corporate companies, private limited companies, partnership / proprietaryship concerns, who are engaged in R&D activities (irrespective of their recognition status with DSIR), are eligible to apply for awards.

The application proforma along with guidelines are available at the DSIR website:http://www.dsir.gov.in Industries desirous of applying for the award(s) may submit 15 sets of the application as per prescribed proforma along with one page summary of all aspects covered in the application for consideration. The duly filled in applications may be submitted to the Scientist - G and Head (RDI), Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi - 110 016.

Last date for receipt of applications in DSIR is 31st May 2007.

• All units of Indian industry, which are registered in India as corporate companies, privat elimited companies, partnership / proprietaryship concerns, who are engaged in R&D activities, irrespective of their recognition with DSIR, are eligible for consideration.
• Applicant firms are advised to go through the enclosed brochure and select the appropriate application proforma under which they desire to apply. For Sl. Nos. 1 to 15 use Proforma - I, for Sl. No.16 use Proforma - II and for Sl.No.17 use Proforma - III. Use of wrong proforma may make the application invalid.
• A company may compete for award in more than one sector/area. However, separate application in 15 sets typed on A-4 size paper must be submitted for each award. Each application should be accompanied with a one page summary of each of the achievements claimed in the application (not more than 5 achievements).
• Applications may include additional information neatly typed on A-4 size paper to highlight the special merits in respect of the achievements under consideration not covered otherwise in the proforma for consideration.
• Information provided in the application will be a major factor in deciding on the merits of the claims; applicants are therefore required to give full details in quantitative terms. Application furnishing inadequate / incomplete information may not be considered by DSIR for award and may be summarily rejected. In case it is found that the application contains any wrong information or any important information, having a bearing on the process of selection of award is suppressed, the Department may reconsider its decision on the award and the award may be withdrawn.
• The decision of DSIR in respect of selection of awardees will be final.
• Please fill in the current proforma as given below. Please don't use old proforma of DSIR.
• Please read carefully the information and guidelines appended to this proforma before filling up the application proforma.
• Each column of the application proforma must be filled up. Applications not in conformity with the proforma will not be considered. If the information is not available or it is not applicable to your technology developed, it must be specifically stated so. "Dashes", terms like`Not Applicable" etc. will not be considered as full answers.
• The language of the certificate in Part-C of the proforma is not to be altered. Certificate deviating from the text unless otherwise stated in the relevant section of the proforma, may result in rejection of the application.
• Application to be submitted in 15 sets on A-4 size paper, including relevant colour photographs, wherever feasible, along with one page summary by31st May 2007.
• Separate applications shall be submitted for awards in more than one sector. A mixed-up, inappropriately filled orunsigned application will not be considered.

Proforma - I

Application Proforma for the award for outstanding R&D achievements in specified industrial sector/area

(Sl.No.1 to 15 in the brochure)

Proforma - II

ApplicationProforma for the award for outstandingR&D achievements forabsorption / upgradationofimported technology(ies)

(Sl.No. 16 in the brochure).

Proforma - III

ApplicationProforma for the award for outstanding R&D achievements for Successful Commercialisation of Technologies acquired from others

(Sl.No. 17 in the brochure).