INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research)

INSPIRE — Fellowships & Scholarships

Runs students and early career scholars with mentoring support for INSPIRE Fellowships & Scholarships in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and materials science.

INSPIRE — Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research — is a flagship scholarship and fellowship programme administered by India's Department of Science and Technology (DST), a nodal ministry body established in May 1971 under the Ministry of Science and Technology with an annual budget of approximately ₹6,067 crore (FY 2021-22). The programme spans the full pipeline from secondary school through doctoral research, operating through three principal sub-schemes: INSPIRE Awards (school-level recognition and seed funding for young innovators), INSPIRE Scholarship (undergraduate and postgraduate support at the BSc and MSc level), and INSPIRE Fellowship (PhD-level research fellowships in natural sciences and engineering).

Eligibility is individual rather than institutional: applicants are students and early-career researchers at recognised Indian institutions, and applications are submitted through state governments, recognised schools, or accredited universities rather than directly to DST. The programme covers natural sciences, engineering, and broader science and technology domains aligned with DST's mandate, and is not restricted to specific industry sectors. Specific award amounts, stipend values, and sub-scheme application cycles are set at the sub-scheme level and were not captured in the available source material; verification should be carried out via the official portal at inspire-dst.res.in.

INSPIRE's primary audience is Indian science students and early-career researchers seeking structured state support for academic and research careers. The programme has limited direct relevance to early-stage companies or grant-seeking organisations, as it targets individuals rather than entities. Its significance for Joltoo's catalog is as a reference point for the broader DST funding ecosystem — particularly for founders or grant writers advising researchers who may be eligible for fellowship support prior to or alongside company formation.