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I-STEM SPARK: Call for Regional Partner Institutions
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Strengthening innovation ecosystems beyond traditional research hubs.

Innovation potential exists across every region of India. But access to infrastructure, expertise, and opportunity does not always follow.

I-STEM SPARK invites institutions in Tier 3, Tier 4, and underserved regions to become part of a structured national initiative, connecting local research and innovation communities with advanced scientific infrastructure, expert networks, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities across India.


Institutions interested in becoming SPARK partner institutions can fill out the application form below:

Become a SPARK Partner Institution

Submission of this application does not guarantee selection. The I-STEM team will review all submissions and reach out only if the application is shortlisted for further consideration.

About SPARK

SPARK, Rural Innovation Engagement Program, is a regional outreach and ecosystem engagement initiative designed to widen participation in India's research and innovation landscape.

The programme creates pathways for institutions, researchers, startups, MSMEs, and innovators in emerging regions to access opportunities available through the national scientific infrastructure ecosystem.

By connecting local ambition with national capability, SPARK enables more inclusive and equitable participation in research, innovation, and technology development.

Why Participate?

SPARK provides institutions with an opportunity to:

  • Strengthen your local research and innovation ecosystem
  • Connect researchers and innovators with national infrastructure, expertise, and mentorship
  • Explore collaboration pathways with leading research institutions beyond your region
  • Support entrepreneurship and innovation-driven economic growth
  • Build lasting institutional and ecosystem partnerships

Who Will Be Engaged?

SPARK is designed to engage:

  • Tier 3, Tier 4, Rural, and Emerging Higher Education Institutions
  • Faculty Members and Researchers
  • Students and Research Scholars
  • Startups and Entrepreneurs
  • MSMEs, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cells
  • Women Researchers and Grassroots Innovators

What a Programme Typically Includes

A SPARK programme may include:

  • Awareness and ecosystem engagement sessions
  • Exposure to national scientific infrastructure opportunities
  • Interactions with researchers, subject experts, and mentors
  • Collaboration and partnership discussions
  • Innovation and entrepreneurship engagement activities
  • Institution-to-institution networking
  • I-STEM platform demonstrations and onboarding support
  • Guidance on future engagement pathways

How to Participate

  • Submit an Expression of Interest
  • Connect with the I-STEM team to identify regional participation opportunities
  • Host or participate in a SPARK engagement programme
  • Explore future collaboration pathways and ongoing engagement

Participation Note

  • Participation is entirely voluntary
  • Institutions retain full autonomy over how they engage
  • All future collaborations remain institution-driven

The Indian Science, Technology, and Engineering facilities Map (I-STEM) is an interactive web portal designed to accelerate scientific progress in India. This initiative, conceived and supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, creates a centralized platform for sharing publicly funded R&D equipment and facilities across various institutions throughout the country.

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