Following is an excerpt from http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=&RCN=28553.
The societal dimension of information and communication technology (ICT) was the centre of attention at the Information Technology for European Advancement (ITEA 2) Symposium 2007. At the annual event on 18 and 19 October in Berlin, stakeholders from industry, politics and academia discussed what ICT can contribute to global challenges such as the ageing society, the digital divide, climate change, security and healthcare.
‘ICT is not an end in itself, but helps meet major societal challenges,’ says Rudolf Haggenmüller, chairman of ITEA 2. However, decision-makers seem to be losing interest in ICT, he adds. …
An increased investment in research and development in ICTs is essential to boost innovation, growth and jobs creation, agrees Rosalie Zobel, Director of the ICT Components & Systems unit of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Information Society and Media. ‘Half of the productivity growth over the last 20 years has been shown by the OECD and others to be due to the use of ICT in all sectors of society and also through the development of ICT industries themselves. So, it is a major contributing factor to the competitiveness of Europe.’
Under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), the EU will invest just over €2 billion in ICT themes in the first two years of the programme alone, making ICT one of FP7’s key areas for research and technological development. But be it at EU or national level, there is currently more money available than good ideas for projects, Mr Haggenmüller thinks.
However, every funding programme has its weakness, he says. In the case of EU research grants, for instance, ‘the problem is that administrators instead of scientists define research topics’.
ITEA 2 is a EUREKA cluster. EUREKA is an intergovernmental initiative and its clusters, like those funded by the EU, involve research institutes and companies from various countries. Under EUREKA, every project partner must apply for funding at national level, having to abide by different rules and meet different deadlines, Mr Haggenmüller points out. …
Generally speaking, Europe is too hesitant to pick up new trends and developments. ‘Europeans always want proof that an idea is going to be a success,’ says Mr Haggenmüller. As a result, they lag behind the US and India. In order for Europe to be able to compete with them, he feels that an effective instrument is needed to counterbalance the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
Mr Haggenmüller therefore welcomes the idea of a European Institute of Technology (EIT), which – from his point of view – should incorporate a ‘faculty’ exclusively dedicated to ICT. ‘IT-specific architectures and standards are not created by chance,’ he says. ‘Considering the fact that ICT is responsible for 80% to 90% of innovations in some areas, I do indeed think that we need a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) devoted to ICT.’ …
October 23rd, 2007
UPDATE: Please go to http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/newsite/schemes/scholarships/scholarships.htm for the detailed and up to date information. If you don’t find some information there you need to send mail to the people at http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/newsite/schemes/schemes_email.asp or contact the people at http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/newsite/main/contact_us.asp for information. Posting a comment to this blog does not help.
Form for Students
Forms for State/UT Govts
List of Institutions eligible for full reimbursement
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme for Minority Communities Students
Objective:
The objective of the Scheme is to provide financial assistance to the poor and meritorious students belonging to minority communities to enable them to pursue professional and technical courses.
Scope:
These scholarships are available for studies in India only and will be awarded through an Agency designated by the State Government/UT Administration for this purpose.
Number of scholarship:
Every year 20000 scholarships will be distributed among the students of minority communities throughout the country. Based on the state-wise population of these communities, the distribution of scholarship will be as under:
State-wise distribution of scholarships: See http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/newsite/schemes/scholarships/scheme_details.htm
For Orissa: 81 for Muslims, 95 for Christians, 2 for Sikhs, and 1 for Buddhists. (total 179)
Conditions for Scholarship:
i) Financial assistance will be given to pursue degree and/or post graduate level technical and professional courses from a recognized institution. Maintenance allowance will be credited to the student’s account. The course fee will be paid by the State Department directly to the institute concerned.
ii) Students who get admission to a college to pursue technical/professional courses, on the basis of a competitive examination will be eligible for the scholarship.
iii) Students who get admission in technical/professional courses without facing any competitive examination will also be eligible for scholarship. However, such students should have not less than 50% marks at higher secondary/graduation level. Selection of these students will be done strictly on merit basis.
iv) Continuation of the scholarship in subsequent years will depend on successful completion of the course during the preceding year.
v) A scholarship holder under this scheme will not avail any other scholarship/stipend for pursuing the course.
vi) The annual income of the beneficiary/parent or guardian of beneficiary should not exceed Rs.2.50 lakh from all sources.
vii) The state department will advertise the scheme every year latest by 31st March and receive the application through the concerned institutions.
viii) After scrutinizing the applications, the state department will prepare a consolidated budget for all eligible students and send an application in the prescribed pro-forma for release of fund from the Ministry of Minority Affairs for distribution of scholarship giving the details of each students viz. name, permanent address, telephone number, annual course fee, name & address of institute, whether hostler or day-scholar, etc.
ix) The application for release of fund from the state department must be received in the Ministry by 30th of September every year.
x) The state department will maintain separate bank account and records relating to the funds received from the Ministry and they will be subjected to inspection by the officers of the Ministry or any other agency designated by the Ministry.
xi) The fund for distribution of scholarship in subsequent year will be released after receiving the utilization certificate for the previous year. Annual inspection by the officers of the Ministry or any other agencies designated by the Ministry will also be carried out.
xii) 30% scholarship will be reserved for girls of each minority community in a state which is transferable to male student of that community in case of non-availability of female candidate in that community in the concerned state.
xiii) If the target for distribution of scholarship to a particular minority community in a state/UT is not fulfilled, it will be distributed among the same minority community of other States/UTs strictly in accordance with the merit.
xiv) A student residing in a particular State/UT will be entitled for scholarship under the quota of that State/UT only irrespective of his place of study.
xv) The number of scholarship has been fixed state-wise on the basis of minority population of the states/UTs. Within the state-wise allocations, the applications from reputed institutions will be exhausted first. The list of such institutions will be made available by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
xvi) The scheme will be evaluated at regular intervals and the cost of the evaluation will be borne by the Ministry of Minority Affairs under the provision of the scheme. An additional provision of 3% of the total budget will be made to meet the administrative and allied costs viz. expenditure on monitoring of the scheme, impact study, evaluation study, purchase of office equipments, engaging of contract employees, if necessary and other expenditure to run the cell etc. This will be shared between the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India and the State Governments/UT Administration.
Rate of Scholarship:
The rate of scholarship will be as under:
|
Sl.No.
|
Type of Financial Assistance
|
Rate for hostler
|
Rate for Day Scholar
|
|
1.
|
Maintenance Allowance (For 10 months only)
|
Rs.10,000/-per annum
( Rs.1000 p.m.)
|
Rs.5,000/- per annum.
( Rs.500 p.m.)
|
|
2.
|
Course Fee*
|
Rs.20,000/- per annum or Actual whichever is less
|
Rs.20,000/- per annum or Actual whichever is less
|
|
Total
|
|
Rs.30,000/-
|
Rs.25,000/-
|
* Full course fee will be reimbursed for eligible institutions listed at Annexure-III
Payment:
i) Maintenance allowance is payable from 1st April or from the month of admission, whichever is later, to the month in which the examinations are completed, (including maintenance allowance during holidays) maximum twice a year, provided that if the scholar secures admission after the 20th day of a month, the amount will be paid from the month following the month of admission.
ii) In case of renewal of scholarships awarded in the previous years, maintenance allowance will be paid from the month following the month upto which scholarship was paid in the previous year, if the course of study is continuous.
iii) The Government of the State/Union Territory Administration, to which they belong, in accordance with the procedure laid down by them in this regard, will pay the scholarship money to the selected students.
iv) Scholarship will not be paid for the period of internship/housemanship in the M.B.B.S. course or for a practical training in other course if the student is in receipt of some remuneration during the internship period or some allowance/stipend during the practical training in other course.
Other Conditions for the Award:
i) The scholarship is dependent on the satisfactory progress and conduct of the scholar. If it is reported by the Head of the Institution at any time that a scholar has by reasons of his/her own act of default failed to make satisfactory progress or has been guilty of misconduct such as resorting to or participating in strikes, irregularity in attendance without the permission of the authorities concerned etc., the authority sanctioning the scholarship may either cancel the scholarship or stop or withhold further payment for such period as it may think fit.
ii) If a student is found to have obtained a scholarship by false statement, his/her scholarship will be cancelled forthwith and the amount of the scholarship paid will be recovered, at the discretion of the concerned State Government. The student concerned will be blacklisted and debarred for scholarship in any scheme forever.
iii) A scholarship awarded may be cancelled if the scholar changes the subject of the course of study for which the scholarship was originally awarded or changes the Institution of study, without prior approval of the State Government. The Head of the Institution shall report such cases to them and stop payment of the scholarship money. The amount already paid may also be recovered at the discretion of the State Government.
iv) A scholar is liable to refund the scholarship amount at the discretion of the State Government, if during the course of the year, the studies for which the scholarship has been awarded, is discontinued by him/her.
v) The regulations can be changed at anytime at the discretion of the Government of India.
Procedure for Applying
i) An application for scholarship should comprise:
a) One copy of the application for scholarship in the prescribed form (separate application forms prescribed for ‘fresh’ and renewal of scholarship by the concerned States/UTs).
b) One copy of the passport size photograph with signatures of the student thereon (for fresh scholarship).
c) One attested copy of certificates, diploma, degree etc. in respect of all examinations passed.
d) An income declaration by the self-employed parents/guardians, stating definite income from all sources by way of an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper. Employed parents/guardians are required to obtain income certificate from their employer and for any additional income from other sources, they would furnish declaration by way of an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper.
e) Proof of permanent residence.
f) A receipt in acknowledgement of the scholarship in the previous year on the form attached to the application duly counter-signed by the Head of the Institution concerned, if the application was in receipt of a scholarship under this scheme in the preceding year.
g) The State department should satisfy itself that the student belongs to a particular minority community.
ii) Application complete in all respects shall be submitted to the Head of the Institution, being attended or last attended by the candidates and shall be addressed to an officer specified for this purpose by the Government of State/ Union Territory to which the student belongs, in accordance with the instructions issued by them from time to time.
Funding Pattern of the Scheme:
The Scheme will be implemented by the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, which receive 100% central assistance from Government of India for the total expenditure under the scheme.
September 29th, 2007
