/ University Grants Commission of Bangladesh
Office of the Project Director
Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project
Dhaka Trade Centre (8th Floor)
99, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka-1215
web: www.heqep-ugc.gov.bd
Fax: 02-8189021

No.UGC/HEQEP/AIF/IFOM/2014/256 Date: 12 August 2015

Invitation for Proposals (2nd call) on (i) University-Industry Research Collaboration under Windows 4-Innovation Fund, and (ii) Technology Transfer Office (TTO) under Window 3

The higher education institutions (Group A universities) of the country which have fulfilled the eligibility criteria for receiving the Innovation Fund grants are hereby invited to submit Subproject Proposals under the following two windows to the respective University AIF Secretariat (UAIFS) by 05 October 2015.

  1. University-Industry Research Collaboration, Window 4
  1. Background

Education disseminates known knowledge. Research converts money into knowledge. Innovation converts knowledge into money. As far as this education-research-innovation chain is concerned, Academic Innovation Fund (AIF), established under HEQEP, has been successful in generating a culture of research and innovation and improving the quality of higher education in Bangladesh. It has also improved the research infrastructure and facilities in the selected departments and faculties of the universities in Bangladesh. The AIF has provided a platform now to move forward the project activities to the next level. The logical steps will be to increase the market relevance of research, and to improve the innovation capacity within Bangladesh by fostering productive and progressive university-industry interaction. The ultimate aim will be to create and sustain a robust national innovation ecosystem in Bangladesh, which will lead to accelerated growth and development of the country. Considering the special dynamics of the innovation process, the AIF component of HEQEP has created a new window, Window 4 known as innovation fund (IF), to accomplish the aforementioned task. This is the 2nd call for scaling up the IF activities. The first call was announced on November 8, 2014.

2. Objectives and Expected Results of the “Innovation Fund”:

  1. Make university research both excellent and relevant at the same time;
  2. Create enabling conditions for university-industry research collaboration aiming at building innovation ecosystem; Build home-grown industrial products and processes based on cutting edge research to endow Bangladesh’s industries competitive edge;
  3. Generation of intellectual property;
  4. Provide the university students and the faculty access to the sophisticated instrumentation and experimental facilities in industry; and
  5. Increase employability of PhD students based on the significant exposure for industrial problem solving.

The Innovation Fund will be provided for two sets of activities integrated within a single subproject: (i) university-industry collaborative research; and (ii) industrial research fellowship. The two activities will be mutually dependent upon each other and implemented under the same subproject. While the university-industry collaborative research grants could be utilized for: (a) formation of joint innovative research designs aimed at increasing productivity and innovation in industries; (b) revamping of university laboratories and workshops with state-of-the-art scientific instruments for conducting cutting edge research aimed at innovation; and (c) strengthening of linkages with the industries.

(ii) Industrial research fellowships will be awarded to full-time PhD students, part time workplace PhD students and post-doctoral researchers to engage them in the joint research/bench work undertaken by the subproject.

3.The Areas and Disciplines for Submitting Proposal:

The Window 4 IF resources will be granted to fund collaborative researches on the following science and technology disciplines and industrial areas including a new area, Business Studies: (1) Biological, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences; (2) Engineering and Technology (machine tools, electronics, robotics, mechatronics and electric appliances); (3) Agriculture (including, but not limited to, Agro-processing, Farm Mechanization, Crops, Seeds, Livestock, Veterinary, Fisheries, Poultry, Apiculture, Floriculture and Horticulture); (4) Information and Communication Technology (ICT); (5) Textile and Leather technologies, and (6) Business Studies.

4.Proposal Submission

The subproject proposals will have to be submitted in prescribed formats known as Complete Proposals (CP) at the University AIF Secretariat (UAIFS)/AIF Management Unit (AIFMU) of the Universities by the proposal submitting entities, e.g., universities, departments, faculties, institutes and centers or combinations of two or more of the entities. Individual faculty members are not eligible for submitting proposals. All proposal submitting entities are requested to consult the IF Operations Manual (IFOM ) Window 4, 2nd edition prior to submission of the complete proposals (CPs). Proposal submitting entities will have to submit Complete Proposals (CPs) to the UAIFS/AIFMU in Six weeks time from the date of this proposal call. The CPs will have to be submitted in eight copies in 80 grams A4 size paper along with two soft copies in CD (Ms Word & Excel, not in PDF). The CP formats are available in the IFOM (2nd ed.) and hosted on HEQEP website: www.heqep-ugc.gov.bd. A formal MoU between University and the partner Industry in a prescribed template, given in IFOM, has to be submitted attached to the proposal.

  1. Proposal Evaluation

The submitted CPs shall be evaluated by peer reviewers according to a transparent evaluation/selection criteria who would form an Innovation Review Panel (IRP) set up by the University Grants Commission. After evaluation by peer review, only short listed subprojects will be invited for oral presentation. The total proposal selection process would take 14 weeks from the date of proposal call. CPs will be finally selected for IF award by UGC Board of AIF (UGCBAIF). Winning entities will have to sign a Performance Contract with UGC for triggering fund disbursement.

  1. Amount of AIF Grants

The total amount of IF grants available is estimated BDT 98.00 crores. The IF amount will be maximum BDT 7.80 crores for each finally selected subproject to be awarded on a competitive basis.

  1. .Financial Management

All AIF grant recipient institutions shall generally follow the relevant rules and regulations of GoB in financial management of the sub-projects. However, institutions will be required to comply with IDA’s procurement guidelines in addition to GoB’s Public Procurement Rules, 2008, where applicable. The HEQEP Unit (HEQEPU) would provide all kinds of technical support to the universities for carrying out the subproject implementation activities.

  1. Performance Contract

All Window 4 IF grant recipient institutions shall execute a contract with UGC after awards have been announced by UGC. Disbursement of grants to awarded institutions shall commence after the contract has been signed by the concerned parties.

  1. IF Operations Manual

The Operations Manual for IF(2nd edition) describes in detail the procedure to be followed by the universities, industries and their faculty members for participating in the IF competition and implementation of TTO subprojects under Window 3. The IFOM (2nd) has already been hosted on UGC’s website www.ugc.gov.bd and the Project’s website, www.heqep-ugc.gov.bd. The printed copies of the Operations Manual will be made available to all the universities who have fulfilled the eligibility criteria for receiving the IF grants by the project.

  1. Technology Transfer Office (TTO), Window 3
  1. Background

In order to create a robust and sustainable university-industry interaction system, a linkage agent or an interface between the two is required. Worldwide, it is a common practice to have an effective Technology Transfer Office (TTO) at the university which fulfills this purpose. The TTO will assist in maintaining, valuing, and transacting the transfer of all marketable intellectual assets (such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, designs, etc.) of the university to industry as well as spurring the creation of new science and technology led businesses. The TTOs also play the role of facilitator to develop networks between academics and business firms and industries and enhance exchange of information and ideas. The TTOs should fulfill the following functions:

a) Assist the academics in converting the research products and innovations, into intellectual property (IP) in the form of patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc.;

b) Train academics in Intellectual Property (IP) management and securing IP rights for the institution created by them;

c) Maintain securely such intellectual assets of the university by preventing intentional or unintentional infringement;
d) Perform all such acts that will help monetize these intellectual assets by creating brand, marketing and start-up business;
e) Design, negotiate and execute the technology transfer and licensing agreements with the industry and business firms;
f) Facilitate creating of commercial arm for the university; and,
g) Help create a greater awareness of business opportunities within the university students, faculty and management.
  1. Proposal Submission

Proposal submission and selection process for TTO will be same as in Innovation Fund as provided in the IFOM (2nd ed.). Proposals from the interested universities will be reviewed and evaluated by specialists and finally selected by the UGC.

The subproject proposals will have to be submitted in prescribed formats known as Complete Proposals (CP). Only one proposal will be considered from a university. The university management will draft the proposal. Individual faculty member, department, institute and center of an university are not eligible for submitting proposals. The University AIF Secretariat (UAIFS)/AIF Management Unit (AIFMU) will send the single proposal from a university to the UGCAIFS by October 5, 2015.

Amount of AIF Grants for TTO

AIF grants up to Taka 20.0 million will be awarded for each finally selected subproject on a competitive basis.

  1. TTO Operations Manual

There is no separate Operations Manual for TTO. The IFOM will be applicable for the TTO as well. All proposal submitting entities are requested to consult the IF Operations Manual (IFOM, 2nd ed. ) prior to submission of the complete proposals (CPs). Proposal submitting entities will have to submit Complete Proposals (CPs) to the UAIFS/AIFMU in six weeks time from the date of this proposal call. The total proposal selection process would take 14 weeks from the date of proposal call. The CPs will have to be submitted in eight copies in 80 grams A4 size paper along with two soft copies in CD (Ms Word & Excel, not in PDF).

  1. Help Desk

For further information, interested institutions and faculty members are requested to contact the following project officials by e-mail and phone:

(i) Md. Korban Ali, AIF Coordinator

e-mail: ; Mobile: 01712 599 821

(ii) Gazi Md. Nazrul Islam, Program Officer (Innovation) ( for CP preparation and Submission)

e-mail: , Cell: 01675501463

(iii) Prof. Dr. Muhibur Rahman, AIF Management Specialist (for over all CP preparation)

e-mail: , cell : 01730352830

(iv)Dr. Abutaher M. Ziauddin, AIF Management Specialist (for over all CP preparation)

e-mail: , cell: 01711192664

Dr Gauranga Chandra Mohanta ndc

Project Director (Additional Secretary)

Phone: 02-8189020

e-mail:

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