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Introduction

To keep pace with the developments,  the  Indian  steel   industry  has  also  to  be  backed  by comprehensive R&D   facility   for  improvement  in   process  development,  development  of indigenous technology   and  absorption  of  new imported technologies to retain international competitiveness. The need for R&D becomes more apparent when the performance indices of the Indian Steel Industry are compared with those of advanced countries.

In the world over, technology and economy are no longer   considered as separate entities. The process of globalisation of the Indian economy has helped  the Indian steel industry to shed the Indian economy has helped the Indian steel industry to shed complacency and has forced them to  be   competitive  by  international  standards. This  has   increased the need to make industry technologically  self-reliant  and   to  encourage Research & Technology Development efforts in iron  and   steel  industry. Government  of  India  has decided to set aside certain funds from the interest proceeds of the Steel Development Fund  loans advanced to the main producers which would  be   used  for   financing  R&D  proposals  received  from  the   iron  and  steel  sector  for technology upgradation, pollution control, reduction in energy consumption etc.

Administrative Setup

Government has set up an Empowered Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Steel and consist of representatives of steel majors, academic institutions, national laboratories, Consultants, Scientific Government Departments etc to approve the R&D proposals received from the producers/industry/laboratories/academic institutions, etc.

Technical Wing of the Ministry of Steel works as the Secretariate of the Empowered Committee to scrutinise the Research proposals, obtain views of experts, monitor the progress of the projects for reporting to the Empowered Committee etc.

Guidelines for Research Proposal(s) [as amended upto 31.08.2004]

The research proposals mainly in the areas of applied research at laboratory scale, pilot plant scale development of iron and steel, ferro alloys and refractory industries will be entertained. Other proposals may be entertained on merits. Industrial units, national research organisations, academic institutions, Regional R&D Organisations both in public and private sectors  can submit the proposal(s) either singly or jointly. Proposals,  which will have support from industry or others in the form of funds/services/kind,  will be preferred.

The applications as per guidelines may be initially submitted in 5 copies to :

Guiding format for Research proposal seeking full/partial financial support from Steel Development Fund (SDF)

1. General

Name and address of the industrial firm including telephone, telex, fax nos. (give address of the registered office, head office and local office in Delhi, if any)

Brief history of the industrial firm including products being made, capacities, related collaborations, achievements, capabilities, etc. (latest annual report and company brochure may be given)

Is the Research Laboratory recognised by DSIR?

Details of the manpower available (give separate details of Executive and collaborating agencies, if any)
(i) Number of Scientists/Technologists
(ii)Number of other staff in R&D Unit

2. Enclose Summary Sheet (not more than 2 pages) covering title, objective, sources of budget, duration, linkages with industry etc.

3. Research proposal details : (Details specific to the proposal may be furnished)
(a) Title of the proposal

(b) Details of the proposal including :

i) Objectives of the research.
ii) Salient features of existing technology/manufacturing problems and technological gaps
iii) Details of new or improved technology to be developed
iv) If upgradation of technology towards process development is envisaged, please indicate likely benefits in terms of either

- Reduction in Energy consumption
- Reduction in specific raw material consumption
- Improvement in productivity
- Reduction in emissions and control of pollution
- Increase in waste utilisation

v) Status of work done in national/international area
vi) Details of IPR/Patents held
vii) Status of research/development by the firm or at the collaborating research laboratory, if any, their scope of work and role in the present project.
viii) Application areas.
ix) Action plan for implementation of the proposed project including literature survey, patent search, lab-work, pilot plant/prototype development, design and engineering, field trials and pre-production activities etc.
x) Constancy arrangements etc. if any, with other consulting engineering organisations/national laboratories and institutions and assistance from research laboratories/institutions etc.

c) Techo-economic Assessment :

i) Please give a comparison of technical parameters and detail of the technology (both in product/process) which is proposed to be implemented as a result of the project, vis-a-vis the international technological trends, in this area.
ii) Please indicate if a market survey has been undertaken covering demand profile over next 5 years, likely markets/applications domestically and abroad, competing products, reasonable prices, etc. If so, please give highlights of the survey or enclose a copy of the same. If no such survey has been undertaken, please indicate the above details quoting sources.

4. For R&D Labs/Academic Institutions - Has the project been tied up with a User Industry? If yes, the extent of commitment by industry for making equipments available for trials, manpower and marketing (in case of new products) and financial contribution (if any). This may preferably be backed by a letter from user industry.

5. a) Has this proposal been submitted to any other funding agency in the last 3 years (like DST, TIFAC, DSIR or some financial institution) : If so, what was the outcome and any decision/recommendations or the concerned funding agency: or
b) Is it presently under consideration by any other agency?

6. Financial Outlay and time Schedule;

i) Do you require concessions in import duty as per Custom & Excise Notification No. 50/96-Customs dt. 23.7.1996. Give details.

ii) Financial Outlay

Note :
i) Detailed break-up and justifications for all the above should be given in annexures.
ii) In case collaborating agency(ies) is/are involved, the resource allocation against each of above items should show a break-up of outlay at both executing agency and collaborating agency(ies), as well as respective totals.
iii) Time Schedule

• Activity sequence and time schedule for each activity(bar chart)
• Phasing of expenditure on a three monthly basis
• Stages of activities in the project

7.0 Bio-data of the Project Coordinators and other personal/experts : Give in Annexure

8.0 Please indicate steps proposed :
(a) to ensure timely completion of the project such as setting up of a project execution group, internal monitoring groups etc.
(b) for technology demonstration and commercialization of the project

Signature of Chief Executive/Director(Technical)/Director(R&I)

Note :

(a) The above format is only for guidance and individual project proposals may be prepared flexibly taking the points into account.
(b) The project proposal should be submitted in 5 copies.
(c) Latest Annual Report/Balance Sheet of the company may be enclosed.
(d) In case of joint proposals with other agencies, the proposals should be jointly forwarded by executing agencies and collaborating agencies duly signed by Chief Executives/Directors of the respective organisations.