Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship (AKTINF)

What was the Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship?

Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship (AKTINF) was a research fellowship launched in 2017 to recognise and support translational research by engineers and technologists in public-funded institutions in India. It was administered by the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) with the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) under the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology. It was named after Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.

According to INAE and DST, the fellowship paid Rs 25,000 per month in addition to the fellow's salary, together with a research grant of Rs 15 lakh per annum and an overhead of Rs 1 lakh per annum to the host institution. A maximum of 10 fellowships were awarded each year. The aim was to let established engineers translate research into working technology and innovation that industry and society could use.

Key features (as originally offered)

• Rs 25,000 per month over and above the fellow's regular salary.
• Rs 15 lakh per annum research grant, plus Rs 1 lakh overhead to the host.
• Initial term of three years, extendable to a maximum of five years.
• Up to 10 fellowships a year, across engineering disciplines.
• Awarded by nomination and evaluation, not by open application.

Current status: no longer accepting nominations

The fellowship is no longer open for fresh nominations. After SERB was reconstituted as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), AKTINF was not continued in its earlier form. The objective; supporting high-impact, translational engineering research; now sits within ANRF's own programmes. Prospective applicants should look at ANRF's translational research and innovation schemes rather than AKTINF. Anyone tracking the earlier scheme should verify the current position directly with INAE or ANRF before planning around it.

Who was eligible for the fellowship?

A nominee could be considered if:

• They were an engineer or technologist working in a public-funded institution in India.
• Their work involved translational research — turning research into usable technology.
• They had a minimum of five years of service left in their parent organisation.

Who could not apply:

• The fellowship was by nomination only; individuals could not apply directly on their own behalf.
• Researchers outside public-funded institutions, or those with less than five years of service remaining, were not eligible.
• With the scheme closed to fresh nominations, no new candidate can be considered under AKTINF now, regardless of merit.

What documents were required?

How to apply for the fellowship

The fellowship was nomination-based, and it is no longer accepting fresh nominations. For historical reference, the process was:

1. A candidate was nominated for the fellowship: self-application was not the route; the case had to be put forward and supported.
2. The nomination form, biodata, publication record and research proposal were submitted through INAE (by email as a PDF to inaehq@inae.in).
3. The host institution endorsed the nominee's employment and confirmed at least five years of remaining service.
4. INAE, with SERB/DST, evaluated and selected up to 10 fellows a year.

Since the scheme is closed to new nominations, this route is not currently available. Engineers seeking similar support should approach ANRF for its active translational research and innovation programmes.

How much did the fellowship provide?

The fellowship provided Rs 25,000 per month over and above the fellow's salary, a research grant of Rs 15 lakh per annum, and an overhead of Rs 1 lakh per annum to the host institution. The award ran for three years, extendable by up to two more years based on performance, for a maximum of five years.

Help and current position

• INAE: inaehq@inae.in
• Official page: inae.in (Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship)
• For current opportunities: the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

Because AKTINF is closed to fresh nominations, treat the figures above as a record of what the scheme offered. Confirm the present-day equivalent and its terms with INAE or ANRF before making plans.