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 The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited investigator-initiated research proposals for First in the World Challenge Grants (2025) to come up with novel, futuristic ideas, new knowledge generation, discovery and development of breakthrough health technologies in the domain of vaccines, drugs, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
Inspired by Chandrayan-3 landing on the south pole of the moon, making India the first country to do so, ICMR had launched initiative “First in the World Challenge” research grant to support innovative, out of the box ideas from researchers across the country.
Proposal must be submitted only through e-PMS portal of ICMR.
Last date of submission is September 30, 2025 at 05:00 pm and declaration of results is scheduled for end of November 2025.
Over the years, ICMR has encouraged researchers within and outside ICMR by providing funding support through various research schemes.
According to ICMR, the proposal for the First in the World Challenge Grants (2025) must have forward thinking research ideas with significant wide- ranging impact and if successful should have potential ‘first of its kind’ biomedical and technological innovations for better health outcomes in the global context. Proposals aiming for mere increment in the knowledge or process innovation will not be considered for this scheme. The First in the World Challenge Grants (2025) is a high risk, high reward initiative. Each supported proposal may not be successful, but if a project is successful it can result in a revolutionary change in health area.
If the proposal gets selected, funding will be released for the selected proposals upon receiving of the required documents (Institutional undertaking, Institution's Ethics Committee (IEC) IEC as applicable, bank details); as per the ICMR norms.
Three types of projects will be considered under this scheme. Firstly, project to develop ‘Proof of concept’. Projects submitted at conceptual stage to design proof of concept. (up to 1 crore each) with maximum duration of 2 years.
Secondly, project to develop ‘Prototypes’. Shortlisted projects to develop prototype of product in the next stage (up to 4 crore each) with maximum duration 3 years
Thirdly, project to develop ‘Final product/model’. Shortlisted projects to develop final product/implementation model (up to 8 crore each with maximum duration 4 years.
Project investigator (PI) can submit proposals of any one of the types mentioned above depending on the current stage of the innovation. PI can submit the deliverables of a particular stage at any point of time within the project duration and request for funding for the next stage. ICMR will review the deliverables and decide on suitability for funding for the next stage.
Eligibility for the same requires that the proposals can be initiated by an individual or by a team of researchers (either single or multiple institutes). Each team application must designate ONE Principal Investigator from the team, who will be responsible for technical, administrative and financial management of project.
Scientist/faculty working at Government Medical Colleges, ICMR institutes/universities/recognized research and development laboratories and NGOs are eligible for the Grants. Those institutes registered under UGC, AICTE and NMC will not require the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) certificate.
Other Private Institutions and NGOs (Registered with the DSIR, Government of India) working as research organizations are also eligible. NGOs are required to be registered at the NITI Aayog Portal of NGO DARPAN] and Indian startup/MSME/industry are also eligible to apply.
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