ISRO started the RESPOND (Sponsored Research) programme in the 1970s, with the objective of encouraging academia to participate and contribute in various Space related research activities. Under RESPOND, projects are taken up by Universities/Academic Institutions in the areas of relevance to Space Programme. ISRO has evolved the RESPOND programme through which necessary financial and technical support is provided to academia in India for conducting research and development activities related to Space Science, Space Technology and Space Applications. This is the flagship programme of ISRO to promote the extra-mural research in emerging areas of Space at Academia. To enable the faculty of Universities/ Institutes to prepare suitable proposals of relevance to space programme, a detailed list of R&D areas/sub areas /topics have been evolved as per major programmes of ISRO, by the various centres of ISRO and published annually. RESPOND programme is mutually beneficial to ISRO and Academia, wherein the rich talent of Academia/ faculty is being harnessed to support the Nation's Space programme.
Academic Interface is one of the most important activities of CBPO and it aims at encouraging joint collaborative research with academia/Labs/institutes and establishing the Knowledge/incubation/research etc., across the country.
Research proposals are supported by ISRO in the areas of Space Science, Space Technology and Space Applications which are of relevance to Space Programme. RESPOND Basket document published annually comprises of the most urgent and important research problems identified by ISRO/DOS Centre / Units on the basis of ISRO's upcoming programmatic R&D requirements. And Research Area for Space Document published bi-annually with same moto. Each research problem comprises of a brief write-up about the topic for the faculty of the Academic Institutions/R&D laboratories to select and prepare the proposals. A Co-PI from ISRO/DOS Centres has also been identified for each topic proposed in the Basket.
An individual or group(s) of scientists/faculty members affiliated to any academic institution/autonomous R&D institutions may submit proposals. The Principal Investigator(s) should be full-time employee(s) of the concerned institution. The age limit for the Principal Investigator should be below 65 years (sixty-five years) including the project period. The Head of the academic institution must forward proposals with application for research grants. Proposals from individuals not affiliated to any recognized institution will not be considered. There may also be co-investigator(s) from the same/different institutions working on the project. But satisfactory completion of a project will be the responsibility of the Principal Investigator and her/his institution. The following information is required for the submission of the proposal online.