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National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) gives Tax Free Cash Awards to Indian Nationals every year for meritorious inventions in three Categories, i.e., National Innovation Award, National Societal Innovation Award and National Budding Innovators Award under Programme for Inspiring Inventors and Innovators (PIII) a DSIR Grants-in-Aid Programme to recognize and encourage inventive talent in the Country and to stimulate the spirit of inventiveness among the scientists, technical persons, industrial workers, technicians, artisans, craftsman and students which could be harnessed for the benefit of the Nation. These awards are selected by NRDC Prize Awards Committee in their meetings.

1. National Innovation Award of the Year

• IP Driven Innovation

• Premium Innovation

• Innovation in High Tech Area

• Number of Awards: 2 (Max.)

• Amount of Award: Rs. 5 lakh (Each)

Eligibility Criteria:

• The innovation should be a novel process/product or new application of an existing process/ technology that creates value and improves performance. It should represent a new and creative approach in dealing with problems or issues. These awards are focused on recognizing an innovative approach to deliver economic, environmental, technological viability with social feasibility and industrial applicability.

• Mere theoretical hypotheses, concepts still in the idea or development stage, or perceptions like that of perpetual motion machines are not eligible for consideration.

• The patent application of the Innovation should have been published or patent has been granted at the time of submitting the application. Mere filing of patent application does not qualify for consideration.

• In terms of the intellectual property (IP) or embodied skills, the innovation should be substantially developed and owned by the applicant.

• Publication of Patent Application should not be older than ten years from 1st June 2020.

Who can Apply:

• The awards will be given only to the individual/ team who contribute to the innovation, and not to the organization.

• Only Indian nationals working in India can apply.

• NRDC employees, Prize Award Committee members and their families are not eligible.

2. National Societal Innovation Award of the Year

• Agriculture

• Environment

• Rural

• Energy

• Medical

• Any Other Discipline/Field/Area Having Social impact/importance

• Number of Awards: 3 (Max.)

• Amount of Award: Rs. 3 lakh (Each)

Eligibility Criteria:

• The innovation should either be a new product, process or an innovative improvement of an existing product/ process so as to increase its utility by enhancing advantages and improvement in performance for the benefit of the society.

• The innovation should have been successfully translated in to practice with recognizable impact on society.

• Mere theoretical hypothesis, concepts still in the idea or development stage and perceptions like that of perpetual motion machines are not eligible for consideration.

• The innovation should have contributed towards improving the quality of life or alleviation of drudgery of people, or helped in employment generation and achieving social and economical transformation.

Who can Apply:

• The awards will be given only to the individual/ team who contribute to the innovation, and not to the organization.

• Only Indian nationals working in India can apply.

• NRDC employees, Prize Award Committee members and their families are not eligible.

3. National Budding Innovators Award of the Year [FOR STUDENTS ONLY]

• Student(s) registered for Bachelors or Masters in Academic or Research Institutions, Universities or affiliated Colleges at the time of applying.

• Maximum age limit is 28 Years

• The application should be forwarded through Head of the Institution

• Number of Awards: 5 (Max.)

• Amount of Award: Rs. 1 lakh (Each)

Eligibility Criteria:

• The innovation should either be an original or an improvement on existing product/process so as to increase its utility by enhancing advantages and improvement in performance.

• Mere theoretical hypotheses or concepts still in an idea or development stage, and perceptions like that of perpetual motion machines are not eligible for consideration.

Who Can Apply:

• Student(s) registered for Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral Degree in academic or research Institutions, Universities or affiliated colleges at the time of applying for the award are eligible. Proof in support of the same shall have to be submitted.

• Student(s) not exceeding the age limit of 28 years as on 31st of December in the calendar year previous to the year of the award (i.e. Not more than 28 years of age from 31st December 2019 i.e., Students Born later than 1st January 1992) are eligible for this award. Proof of age shall have to be submitted.

• The awards will be given only to the individual/ team who contribute to the innovation, and not to the organization.

• Only Indian nationals can apply.

• NRDC employees, Prize Award Committee members and their families are not eligible.

Selection Procedure:

The awards are given annually on the recommendations of the Prize Award Committee comprising eminent scientists, technologists and specialists in diverse areas of science and technology. The applications received by the Corporation are evaluated by the Expert Screening Committee (ESC) comprising eminent scientists, technologists and specialists working in Government organizations, research organizations, educational institutions and corporate’s recommendations. The Prize Award Committee reviews the comments received from the Expert Screening Committee in the respective fields and decides the Awards based on their own assessment.

How to Apply: 

• Log-on to NRDC Website (http://awards.nrdc.in/) and Register yourself to gain access to the Online Application forms.

• After filling all the details in the given fields and attaching the relevant documents press the submit button to complete the online submission.

• A link to download the filled application will be provided to download the pdf file for printing.

• Take printout of the filled application form. Get the signature(s) of the Applicant(s) and Head of the Organisation. Put the rubber stamp/seal of the Head of the Institution/Organisation. Send this hardcopy of the filled and signed application form to NRDC Office Address (Manager, NRDC National Awards Programme, Prize Award Division, National Research Development Corporation, 20-22, Zamroodpur Community Centre, Kailash Colony Extension, New Delhi – 110048) through Any Courier/ Ordinary Post/ Speed Post/ Registered Post/ By Hand.

• It is mandatory to send one hardcopy of the filled application form to NRDC Office by Post/ by hand, after submission of the online application form, failing which the application for the NRDC National Awards will not be considered and liable to be rejected.

Important Dates:

• Last date for Receipt of Complete Online Application is 31st August 2020 5:30 pm

• The printed application form signed by the Applicant(s) and Head of the Institution/Organisation along with the necessary details and the photographs in the prescribed format should reach the NRDC office on or before 10thSeptember, 2020, 5:30 pm.

Please click on the “Submit your Innovation” button to submit your invention and Click on the “Awarded Inventions” button to know the previous inventions.