CSIR Innovation Award for School Children (CIASC)

Motivation

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) is the premier Industrial R&D Organization in India. Innovation award for school children to create awareness, interest and motivation for intellectual property has been created to support scientific temperament and to generate innovative spirit among school children.

Award

The CSIR Innovation Award for School Children (CIASC) is an annual national competition to harness the creative and innovative spirit of school children. The competition has been started in the year 2002 on the occasion of the World Intellectual Property Day which is celebrated throughout the world on 26^th April. CSIR invites students to send their original creative technological and design ideas in the form of proposal for the competition.

Support

The proposals invited for the awards are for exploration of ideas and for providing the feasibility or possibility of the concept on intellectual property rights. Winning entries are selected on the basis of the novelty and utility for any new concept or idea or design or a solution to an existing problem or a completely new method / device / utility.

Proposal

The proposals submitted should be one that is novel and utilitarian. It could be a new concept or idea or design or a solution to an existing problem or completely a new method / process / device / utility. The concept of the innovation should have been proved through a model, a prototype or experimental data. It is encouraged that the focus of students on innovation is through 'design ideas'. However, innovations related to other topics would equally be eligible. Essays / mere compilation of information from published literature / downloaded from internet will not be considered. Details of any assistance / guidance provided by teachers / parents / friends or others must be appropriately acknowledged. Applicant must submit the details of the innovation proposals by hard copy in English / Hindi (not more than 5000 words), along with an authentication certificate (having seal and date) issued by the Principal / Head of the School where the student is enrolled. Proposals must have title of the innovation, name and date of birth of the candidate, school and residential address, class, telephone no. (residence / school) and e-mail address.

Selection

The proposal for CIASC award 2021 should relate to innovations developed / published / exhibited during the period 1^st January 2020 to 31^st December 2020 for consideration of the award. The applications for the award not exceeding 5000 words in English / Hindi with requisite drawings / photographs will be considered. The write-up must describe the subject matter in a problem-solution mode, highlighting the novel features of the innovation and its advantages. The awardees will be selected by a high level Awards Selection Committee. The decision of the Award Selection Committee / CSIR will be final and binding on the applicants and no enquiries / correspondence in this regard will be entertained. Award would be announced on or before 26^th September.

Criteria for Applicant and Application

Any Indian school going student up to Class XII and below 18 years of age as on 1^st January of a give year would be eligible to apply in English or Hindi through the Principal / Head of the School (for authentication purposes). Proposals can be submitted by a student or a group of students. However, a single award will be given to group of students. The proposals would be categorized in groups such as Biotechnology / Biology, Chemical, Electronics and Engineering / Device and Design. However, design based applications are encouraged. The eligible innovations for consideration should be novel, and utilitarian for any new concept or idea or design or a solution to an existing problem or completely a new method / device / utility. The concept of the innovation should have been proved through a model, a prototype or an experimental data.

Proposal already awarded by any central / state government ministry / department / organization / need not to be sent for this scheme.

Prizes

There are in all 15 prizes. Besides a certificate, the cash awards are:

• First Prize (1 Nos.) Rs. 100000
• Second Prize (2 Nos.) Rs. 50000 each
• Third Prize (3 Nos.) Rs. 30000 each
• Fourth Prize (4 Nos.) Rs. 20000 each
• Fifth Prize (5 Nos.) Rs. 10000 each

It is not mandatory that all the above 15 prizes for the award would be given.

Whom to Send

Applications should be submitted by hard copy through Registered Post / Courier to the following address with the envelope marked on top left hand corner CIASC ------:

It may please be noted that a hard copy of all applications should be submitted through post with authentication letter (with seal and date) from the School Principal on the innovation claims being made.

CSIR Innovation Award for School Children participants can submit their entries through email ID: ciasc.ipu@niscair.res.in also. Scanned copy of authentication certificate (having seal and date) issued by the Principal / Head of the School where the student is enrolled is necessary with proposal. In absence of the same, your school principal may please forward the entries to email ID: ciasc.ipu@niscair.res.in.

Deadline

Proposal must reach IPU, CSIR before the scheduled deadline, generally 30^th April of a year. 

Announcement of Award

The award will be announced on or before 26^th September at New Delhi and would be communicated to the awardees only. The awards will be given to winners on CSIR Foundation Day i.e. 26^th September. The cost of travel and stay at New Delhi will be borne by CSIR.

Source: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)