Science and tech min launches portal for R&D proposals

The Union Ministry of Science and Technology today launched a Web portal which would enable online submission of research and development (R&D) proposals while also contributing to greater transparency and efficiency in the decision-making process.
The portal, which was inaugurated by Science and Technology Minister S Jaipal Reddy, will also help in online technical evaluation and real-time tracking of the status of proposals and aid the processes for financial approval and service delivery.
"This will increase transparency, efficiency and speed in decision making. Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has interacted closely with C-DAC and developed a custom-made software package and portal," Reddy said.

Adoption of such technology tools was essential for the governance of R&D funding, he said, adding that the online system would bring transparency and ensure adherence to global benchmarks and best practices.
"The system is provisioned for real-time tracking through SMS and emails. It is also built to provide alerts for delay in the processing of proposals, release of grants... It would ensure service delivery in a time-bound manner," he added.
The system also allows data mining, statistical analysis, report generation and easy archiving and retrieval of documents, he said.
The portal was developed by C-DAC, Noida, using efficient open source technologies. It can be accessed through desktops, tablets and smartphones and is compatible with all operating systems.