Support for Up-gradation Preventive Repair & Maintenance of Equipment (SUPREME)

Department of Science & Technology launched the new Program called Support for Up-gradation Preventive Repair & Maintenance of Equipment [SUPREME] to provide financial support for repair/ upgradation/ maintenance/ retrofitting or acquiring additional attachment to increase functional capabilities of existing instrumentation facilities supported by DST in various Institutions/laboratories/academic institutions.

Nature of Support: Online proposals are invited for support in reviving major facilities established under DST-completed projects where the initial purchase cost of each equipment item exceeded ₹25.00 lakhs. Funding will be provided at the institutional or organizational level, with a maximum ceiling of ₹4.0 Crores. Proposals from individual researchers, departments, or research groups will not be considered. Each organization may submit only one application per advertisement.

Applications must consolidate requirements for up to three facilities/equipment and include a detailed feasibility report. Prior to submission, an internal committee—including technical experts from vendors, the institution’s Head or HOD, senior faculty, and scientists—must evaluate feasibility, including financial implications.

The grant may be requested for repair, upgradation, maintenance, retrofitting, or additional attachments under non-recurring capital support, as justified in the feasibility report. Additionally, the AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract) component may be included under the recurring budget category.

The organization may apply for both non-recurring and recurring (AMC only) components or opt for either the non-recurring or recurring component independently based one facility requirements.

Eligibility: Only facilities established under previously completed DST-supported projects, including   Instrumentation Facilities, will be eligible for funding support under this scheme.

The proposed equipment/facility must be not older than eight years and must be registered on the i-STEM online portal to ensure access for external users.

UGC recognized Central Universities/ State Funded Universities/Deemed Universities /Private Universities/IITs/AIIMS/NITs/IISERS/ Colleges are eligible to apply under this Scheme. 

Agency-based Institutes/ Universities are excluded from the scope of support. Educational organizations under the aegis of other Ministries/ Depts./ Agencies are excluded from the scope of this scheme. Equipment/infrastructure running under self-sustaining mode of any funding agency such as SAIF, SATHI etc., are excluded from the scope of this scheme.

Duration: The duration of support will be for a period not exceeding 3 years.

Criterion for Selection: Apart from academic and research merits of the organizations, details of how the revival of the research facility will benefit the scientific community/MSMEs/ Start-ups will be considered for evaluating the proposals. Proven record of sample(s) analysed, publications, patents, different beneficiaries/stakeholders associated with the facility and other parameters like Scientific Social Responsibility/ industrial R&D components will be considered for screening of the proposals. The selection process will be through a peer review mechanism and visit to the organizations, if necessary. Expert Committee will evaluate the proposals and assist DST in making the final selection.

During this year, more than 75 fresh proposals have been received in SUPREME which are in the process of evaluation.

Interested institutions are kindly requested to refer to our advertisement, which will be published on our website (https://onlinedst.gov.in/) under new announcement page from time to time as and when the programme call announced.

Supreme Launch Video

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