Expertie

Scholarship

IGSTC Industrial Fellowship- Post Doctoral Industrial Fellowship(IGSTCIF-PDIF)

Composite
Eligibility
The applicant should be an Indian citizen.
Region
All India
Award
Composite
By Expertie Editorial Team · Expertie editorial desk

Overview

About IGSTCIF-PDIF

The Post Doctoral Industrial Fellowship (PDIF) is one of two tracks under the Industrial Fellowships run by the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC), a bilateral centre set up by the governments of India and Germany with the Department of Science & Technology as its Indian partner. The companion track, the PhD Industrial Exposure Fellowship, is aimed at doctoral students; PDIF is the postdoctoral option.

The fellowship places an early-career Indian researcher inside an industry or industrial research organisation in Germany to work on applied research and technology development for up to twelve months. It is a composite award: IGSTC supports a monthly fellowship together with round-trip airfare, visa fees and medical or travel insurance for the stay. The aim is hands-on exposure to an industrial R&D setting rather than funding for a project of the applicant's own.

PDIF is meant for postdoctoral researchers and fresh PhDs who hold a degree in science or engineering from an Indian institution and are early in their careers. Applicants identify the German host organisation themselves and apply with consent letters from that host and from a mentor in India. Selection and the exact eligibility conditions are fixed by IGSTC's published call for each cycle.

Sources: myScheme - IGSTC Industrial Fellowship, Post Doctoral Industrial Fellowship · IGSTC Post Doctoral Industrial Fellowship (India | Germany), scientifyRESEARCH · IGSTC Industrial Fellowships 2025, ResearchMatics

Who runs it

Provider

Ministry Of Science And Technology

Central Government

Department Of Science & Technology · Indo-German Science & Technology Centre, Govt. Of India

At a glance

Key details

LevelCentral
Scheme typeCentral Sector Scheme
CategoryEducation & Learning, Science, IT & Communications
BeneficiariesIndividual
Benefit typeComposite
Application modeOnline

Calendar

Important dates

Across all open application cycles.

Important dates by cycle
CycleStageDate

Who can apply

Eligibility criteria

The applicant should be an Indian citizen.
The maximum age limit of the applicant should be 35 years.
Postdoctoral researchers/fresh PhDs who have been awarded their PhD degree in science/engineering within 3 years of the application deadline by any Indian institution/university are eligible to apply.
Outstanding researchers not holding a permanent position or having a career break are eligible to apply.
Those who have submitted their PhD thesis are also eligible to apply.
The Fellowship is granted to work in any industrial research set up in Germany.
Note 01: The applicant must define a detailed activity plan containing the objective, execution strategy, and expected outcome for the fellowship duration.
Note 02: The Awardee will be hosted by the industry/industrial research organization for the duration of the Fellowship. Choice and acceptance from the industry/industrial research organization is the sole responsibility of the applicant. The applicant should ensure an endorsement/consent letter from the host industry/organization at the time of the application.
Note 03: The applicant having institutional affiliation shall submit NOC from the Head of the institution at the time of application.
Note 04: Applicants shall submit a recommendation letter from the mentor at the parent organization.
Note 05: The applicant not having affiliation with an institution may submit 2 letters of reference.
Note 06: The awardee will abide by the conduct, rules & regulations of the German host organization and the country. IGSTC will not be responsible for the violation of any Rules and regulations by the awardee.
Note 07: IGSTC will disburse the grant to the Indian bank account of the awardee/parent institution in INR.
Note 08: The awardee shall commence his/her visit within 3 months from the date of the result.
Note 09: The awardee/host mentor must inform IGSTC through email/letter if the awardee discontinues the Fellowship before the completion of the tenure.
Note 10: Within 4 weeks of completion of the Fellowship, the awardee must submit a detailed Fellowship completion report endorsed by the host mentor in the prescribed format along with representative photos to IGSTC.
Note 11: The awardee must recognize and acknowledge IGSTC Industrial Fellowship in all online/print documents, communication, reports, publications, PhD thesis, etc. on work resulting from the Fellowship.

What you get

Award & benefits

  • The financial support will be limited to: The fellowship amount is €2500 per month.
  • Single round trip economy class airfare including visa fees and travel insurance: up to €1000.
  • Health Insurance: As per actuals with a maximum limit of €100/month.

What to prepare

Documents required

Consent Letter from the Host Institution.
The applicant having institutional affiliation needs to submit an NOC from the Head of the institution at the time of application. NOC Format
Applicants needs to submit recommendation letter from the mentor at parent organisation.
PDIF applicant not having affiliation with an institution needs to submit 2 letters of reference.
Proof of Date of Birth (Scan copy of Passport/ Aadhar Card).
Proof of Education Qualifications arranged in reverse chronological order.
Proof of Employment.

Step by step

How to apply

  1. 1
    Apply online

    See the official links below for the application portal.

Questions

IGSTCIF-PDIF – FAQ

Disclaimer

Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.

Written by

Expertie Editorial Team

Expertie editorial desk

Published 8 Jul 2026 Last updated 8 Jul 2026verified data

Sources & References

  1. 1.myScheme (MeitY, Government of India) official-site· accessed 2026-07-08