Scholarship
Scheme for Setting Up of Centre of Excellence(SSUCE)
Eligibility
The applicant must be an existing Central or State Government University, or a Government organization with a proven track record of academic excellence or research.
Region
All India
Award
Cash
By Expertie Editorial Team · Expertie editorial desk
Overview
About SSUCE
The Scheme for Setting Up of Centre of Excellence is run by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India. It funds Centres of Excellence (CoEs) at government-backed research and educational institutions to build up research and development in the chemicals and petrochemicals sector. Much of that work centres on polymers and plastics.
A CoE is meant to develop new products and applications, improve technology and processes, and take up areas such as polymer recycling, biodegradable and sustainable polymers, and engineering polymer compounds. What they find is expected to reach industry so the chemical and petrochemical sector can modernise. The department has approved CoEs at institutions that include the IITs, CSIR laboratories and CIPET centres.
The benefit is a cash grant-in-aid. It supports existing government universities, institutions and organisations, and covers part of a project's cost for research equipment, staff and technology commercialisation, with the balance met by the applicant institute and its partners. The scheme is aimed at government research and academic bodies, not at individual students.
Sources: Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals – Centre of Excellence · myScheme – Scheme for Setting Up of Centre of Excellence · India Law Offices – Government Schemes for India's Chemical Industry
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry Of Chemicals And Fertilizers
Central Government
Department Of Chemicals And Petrochemicals
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Category | Transport & Infrastructure, Science, IT & Communications |
| Beneficiaries | University / Institution, Government Organisation |
| Benefit type | Cash |
| Application mode | Online |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| The applicant must be an existing Central or State Government University, or a Government organization with a proven track record of academic excellence or research. | |
| The applicant must be currently engaged in research and development activities in the chemical or petrochemical sector. | |
| The applicant must demonstrate current research engagement through publications, research projects, consultancy assignments, and registered Doctor of Philosophy candidates. | |
| The applicant must have adequate infrastructure in terms of land and building to house the Centre of Excellence, research scholars, equipment, and machinery. | |
| The applicant must have sufficient and competent manpower or research staff who could be engaged in the proposed field. | |
| The applicant must appoint a Team Leader who is an established research scientist with requisite administrative experience. | |
| The applicant must ensure that the Team Leader has continuity in research, demonstrated by publications in the last five years in peer-reviewed international journals. | |
| The applicant must ensure that the Co-investigator and other team members are under the permanent payroll of the proposed institute. | |
| The applicant must ensure that the Co-investigator and other team members have publications in international journals. | |
| The applicant should have an industrial partner from the beginning for promoting applied research, technology transfer, and commercialization. | |
| Post-Selection Conditions | |
| The applicant must execute a Bond on a non-judicial stamp paper before any grants-in-aid are released. | |
| The applicant must take appropriate safety and insurance measures to safeguard against any loss to human life and property related to the Centre of Excellence. | |
| The applicant must indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals from any losses, expenses, or liabilities. | |
| The applicant must obtain prior permission from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals before disposing of unserviceable capital equipment worth more than ₹1,00,000/-. |
What you get
Award & benefits
- The scheme provides financial support for a maximum of 50% of the total investment or costs of the project, subject to an upper limit of ₹5,00,00,000/-.
- The funding includes support for laboratory equipment, plant and machinery, research literature, and consumables.
- The funding covers support for research staff, including Junior Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow, and Research Associate till the project period.
- The grant covers expenses for organizing workshops, conferences, or seminars in the relevant area, and for the filing of patents.
- The duration of the financial support from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals is for a period of 5 years.
- The funds will be released to the beneficiary in three installments.
- Any funds generated from the disposal of capital equipment shall be flowed back to the Centre of Excellence.
- A minimum of 50% of the sanctioned grant must be used exclusively for the procurement of equipment for the project.
- Not more than 10% of the total grant sanctioned can be spent for organizing workshops, seminars, and conferences by the Centre of Excellence.
- The second and third installments will be released only after receiving a satisfactory achievement-cum-performance report.
- The subsequent installments are subject to the acceptance of the Utilization Certificate and the approval of the Project Sanctioning Committee.
- The grantee institution must register at the Controller General of Accounts website.
- The grantee must continuously post progress reports and Utilization Certificates under the Expenditure Advance Transfer module.
- Any unspent balance from the sanctioned amount, including accrued interest, must be refunded to the Government of India via an Account’s Payee Demand Draft.
- The grantee must furnish an audited statement of accounts pertaining to the grant at the end of each financial year.
- Half-yearly progress reports detailing equipment purchased, patents filed, and scholar activities must be submitted to the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.
- All acquired assets must be installed permanently in the premises of the Centre of Excellence and not in any other department.
- The Centre of Excellence must report their achievements yearly to enable documenting success stories and shortcomings.
What to prepare
Documents required
Project Report in the Prescribed Proforma.
Proof of Publications, Research Projects, Consultancy Assignments, and Registered Doctor of Philosophy Candidates.
Proof of Publications in Various Peer-Reviewed International Journals in the Last Five Years by the Team Leader.
Proof of Permanent Payroll Status for the Co-Investigator and Other Team Members.
Proof of Publications in International Journals by the Co-Investigator and Other Team Members.
Bond on a Non-Judicial Stamp Paper (Required at the Time of Benefit Disbursal).
Half-Yearly Progress Reports (Required During Continuation of Benefits).
Utilization Certificate (Required at the Time of Benefit Renewal or Continuance).
Audited Statement of Accounts (Required at the Time of Benefit Renewal or Continuance).
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply online
See the official links below for the application portal.
Source
Official links
Questions
SSUCE – FAQ
The project head must demonstrate continuity in research by having published work within the last five years.
Your institution must be currently engaged in research and development activities specifically within the chemical or petrochemical sector.
You must demonstrate your current involvement through publications, ongoing research projects, consultancy assignments, and having registered Doctor of Philosophy candidates.
No, the co-investigators and all other team members must be on the permanent payroll of your proposed institute.
Your institution must have adequate infrastructure, specifically in terms of land and building, dedicated to housing the proposed centre.
Yes, their research must have been published in various peer-reviewed international journals to meet the eligibility requirements.
No, applications are exclusively invited from existing Central or State Government Universities, or Government organizations.
Your institute must already have sufficient and competent manpower or research staff who can be actively engaged in the proposed field of study.
The designated leader must be an established research scientist with a strong background in the relevant scientific domain.
Yes, all co-investigators and other team members are required to have a track record of publications in international journals.
The partnership should be structured specifically for promoting applied research, facilitating technology transfer, and ensuring successful commercialization of the findings.
Yes, your infrastructure must be capable of housing all research scholars, equipment, and plant or machinery purchased using the grant.
The leader must also possess the requisite administrative experience to effectively direct the program and guide the co-investigators and team members.
Applicant institutions are required to have a well-documented and proven track record of academic excellence or successful research endeavors.
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.
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