AICTE Introduces New Doctoral Fellowship Programme to Support 150 PhD Scholars

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has officially launched the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship Programme (AIEDFP), a new initiative designed to bolster research that addresses real-world industrial and societal challenges. With a total financial outlay of INR 245 crore allocated over a five-year period, the programme is set to provide support for 150 PhD fellowships.

The initiative was formally introduced by AICTE Chairman Prof. Yogesh Singh, alongside Member Secretary Prof. Shyama Rath and other senior officials. The primary objective of the fellowship is to foster high-quality, application-oriented research that leads to tangible outcomes in technology transfer, commercialisation, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship.

Fellowship Structure and Financial Support

Selected scholars under the AIEDFP will receive financial assistance for a duration of up to five years, contingent upon meeting eligibility criteria and maintaining satisfactory academic and research progress. The monthly stipend is structured to provide INR 60,000 plus applicable House Rent Allowance (HRA) for the first three years, increasing to INR 70,000 plus HRA for the remaining two years.

Beyond the monthly stipend, each scholar is eligible for an Innovation Grant of up to INR 10 lakh. This funding is intended to cover essential research activities, including prototype development, field trials, data collection, testing, validation, and the procurement of consumables. By providing these resources, the AICTE aims to help researchers transition their findings into deployable solutions that address both national and global priorities.

Focus on Innovation and Industrial Collaboration

The programme encourages a multidisciplinary approach, supporting both technological and non-technological innovations. A key feature of the AIEDFP is its emphasis on collaboration between doctoral candidates and the broader innovation ecosystem, which includes startups, industries, incubators, and research organisations. Scholars may also opt for an industrial exposure period lasting between six to 12 months, during which they can conduct research and development activities at partner organisations.

The AICTE expects measurable outcomes from the research conducted under this fellowship. For technical disciplines, these may include the development of patents, prototypes, and intellectual property. For scholars in social science disciplines, the evaluation framework will recognise outcomes such as policy impact, community-level interventions, and social innovation. Through this initiative, the AICTE seeks to strengthen the link between academic doctoral research and practical, real-world applications, ultimately helping research projects reach higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).