CSR Project Guidelines of CSIR

A project is considered to be a CSR project if:

  • It is financially supported by funds received from industry/ corporate available under its CSR funds
  • This is explicitly mentioned in the letter of approval from the concerned industry / corporate; and
  • The project is for undertaking research/ development/ deployment linked to schedule VII of the Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 and SDGs.

These projects will be identified in consultation with the Donor Industry/Corporate and should be in line with their CSR policy. All the projects will have to follow all the norms and compliance requirements of the Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 and will have all the essential ingredients of the Project such as need assessment, timelines, monitoring and evaluation mechanism, and impact assessment. All such projects will be however governed by CSIR rules for implementation; and will have no applicability of Technology Transfer Guidelines of CSIR with the funding/ donor industry/ corporate in terms of engagement.

CSIR laboratories may receive CSR contributions/ grants under CSR in the following categories:

Category Eligibility Purposes

Type 1: Support for the creation of infrastructure

  • For an incubator promoting scientific/technology businesses
  • For conducting research in science, technology, engineering and medicine aimed at promoting SDGs

Type 2: Support for the creation of a specialized facility of wider utility

  • For an incubator promoting scientific/technology businesses
  • For conducting research in science, technology, engineering and medicine aimed at promoting SDGs

Type 3: Support for technology driven projects

  • For conducting research in science, technology, engineering and medicine aimed at promoting SDGs

Type 4: Support for projects in futuristic technology areas

  • For conducting research in science, technology, engineering and medicine aimed at promoting SDGs

Type 5: Support for a Centre of Excellence

  • For conducting research in science, technology, engineering and medicine aimed at promoting SDGs

Type 6: Support for entrepreneurs or startups who are building technology businesses (incubation)

  • For an incubator promoting scientific/technology businesses

Type 7: Research Fellowships linked to specified project objectives

  • For supporting/ skilling students for future prospects in science, technology, engineering and medicine

Type 8: Awards linked to specified project outcomes

  • For encouragement and promotion of education, science, technology, engineering and medicine

Type 9: Chair Professorships endowed to AcSIR and physically hosted at CSIR Laboratories

  • For creation of center of excellence in teaching and research

Projects taken under CSR shall have the following features:

i. The CSR contribution/ grant support from a Corporate shall not be accompanied by any requirements of direct commercial benefits accruing to the Corporate. The Corporate grantor shall not expect any rewards to itself relating to IP or technology. The Corporate grantor shall not expect any deferred monetary rewards such as royalties. However, a company or corporate would be given enough exposure and brand equity in terms of highlighting the project outcomes with important stakeholders. Any surplus generated out of these projects would be ploughed back to the project and may be used for operations and maintenance as is deemed necessary.

ii. The Copyright and all other Intellectual Property Right (IPR) of all the outcomes of such projects with relation to research and findings would remain with CSIR and the funder/corporate will have no right to this howsoever. However, if any tangible assets are created for the implementation of the project for the benefit of community, it will be handed over to the community with an after maintenance mechanism. The corporate/funder will have no right to any tangible or intangible assets of the CSR project.

iii. The CSR contribution/ grant will be towards the objectives approved by the Government under eligible objectives under CSR. In the case of CSIR laboratories, these are:

  • For conducting research in science, technology, engineering and medicine aimed at promoting SDGs
    • For an incubator promoting scientific/technology businesses and for technology incubation related to SDGs.
  • For supporting/ skilling students for future prospects in science, technology, engineering and medicine
    • For encouragement and promotion of education, science, technology, engineering and medicine

Corporate Funding Acknowledgement

All publications, products, processes, activities and technologies developed through corporate support under CSR to have Name/ Logo of the Company along with CSIR to acknowledge the contribution of the Corporate. Regular reporting on the progress of the project is to be communicated to the funder/corporate on a periodical basis.