Department of Science and Technology
Technology System Development Programme (TSDP)
CALL FOR PROPOSALS IN THE AREA OF DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED
MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES
Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India has been supporting development and
integration of technologies both in the advanced/emerging areas and in traditional sectors/areas under
its Technology Systems Development Programme (TSDP). The primary mandate of the Programmes
is to convert proof-of-concepts to the development of pre-competitive/commercial technologies/
techniques/ processes. Final commercialization of the technologies may need further
assessment/incubation, which does not fall in the scope of the programmes. The Programme Advisory
Committee (PAC), under certain situations, identifies inter-alia area needing technology interventions
and proactively invites project proposals in the identified areas. One of the areas so selected is
DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES.
Make in India is a powerful strategy for the economic development and sustenance of this country.
It is not only an open invitation to the MNCs to establish their manufacturing base in this country but
also to encourage the Indian companies to enhance their manufacturing capability and thereby
improving the global competitiveness. The Govt. of India has laid emphasis to improve the
manufacturing sector and this was clearly brought out in the National Manufacturing Policy. The
policy envisages increasing the contribution of manufacturing sector in the GDP to 25 % while
creating 100 million jobs by July, 2015.
Technology is going to play a key role in achieving the above mentioned targets. The manufacturing
sector has a special place in the thought process of policy makers in view of its linkage with economic
development. Globalization has led to reorganization of value chains. Outsourcing has become an
important factor. Entire manufacturing process of any product takes place at different geographical
location in different countries. Digital technology has a major influence and supply chain
management has become an integral part of manufacturing. The resources crunch in the form of raw
materials and energy availability is demanding innovation and development in the manufacturing
process for its sustainability. R&D activity in the manufacturing sector need to focus on improvement
of productivity, economy of production, job creation, sustainability and environmental protection.
One of the definitions of Advanced Manufacturing is the utilization of enabling technologies,
incorporating design and process innovations in order to deliver high value-added processes and/or
products in ways that are novel and competitive. The need for advanced manufacturing can be
attributed to the following:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
Limitations in conventional manufacturing technology
Rapid improvements in material properties
Requirement of better precision and high tolerance
Requirement of newer products
Higher rate of production at low cost
Automated data transmission
Miniaturization and (viii) Ultra-precision finishing etc.
The major drivers of advanced manufacturing are i) Material driver ii) Process driver and iii)
Operational driver. The material driver is significant due to the developments of difficult to machine
materials. The process driver due to the stringent product requirements like tight tolerance,
miniaturization, high quality etc. On the other hand, the operational driver is attributed to the
shrinking time to market requirements and to offer products at competitive cost
The newer manufacturing tools, which are being used extensively in recent times are:
1) Ultrasonic machining,
2) Water jet machining,
3) Abrasive water jet machining,
4) Abrasive jet machining
5) Magnetic abrasive flow machining,
6) Plasma cutting and machining,
7) Laser beam processing,
8) Electron beam processing,
9) Electric discharge machining,
10) Ion beam machining,
11) Microwave processing,
12) 3-D printing or additive manufacturing etc.
Combination of manufacturing technologies with appropriate level of automation, supported by a
suitable business model is going to be the key to the success.
There are good number of innovation happening in manufacturing technology research both at
University and Industry. The aim of R & D is to increase productivity, quality and new products.
Important thrust areas are:
1. Nano materials and surfaces
Synthesis and structuring of functional materials to nano scale and micro scale.
Complex polymers and composite materials
Metal matrix composites
Biological materials
2. Robotics and automation:
Create a new relationship through human-robotic teams
Robotics for hazardous environment
Software integration
Sensors development
Modeling and Simulation - Design and operational modes
Nano-robotics and technologies
Embedded Systems and Real Systems
Industrial Automation Circuits and Systems
Tele-robotics, Surgical and Health Applications
3. Precision Manufacturing
New manufacturing that buildup layer by layer to achieve complex 3-D components
Actuators and sensors
4. Manufacturing process of Pharmaceuticals and Bio Manufacturing
Drug manufacturing process by scaling down chemical production of molecule drugs
Custom designed proteins and compounds
5. Advanced forming and near net shape processing:
Advanced forming process which utilises the latest manufacturing techniques for producing
products and components of very complex shapes with close tolerances and minimal wastages
particularly for aerospace and automotive applications
Near net shape is an industrial manufacturing technique. The name implies that the initial
production of the item is very close to the final (net) shape, reducing the need for surface
finishing. Reducing traditional finishing such as machining or grinding and eliminates more
than two-thirds of the production costs in some industries.
Few examples of these processes are Hydroforming, spray forming, isostatic pressing, super
plastic forming, semisolid casting and squeeze casting.
Sound technological solutions, economically viable and environmentally justifiable are the need of the
hour. Proposals are therefore invited, in the TSDP-DST format, from academic institutions and R&D
organizations preferably with industry participation in order to establish the techno-economic
feasibility of the proposed methodologies for the development of appropriate manufacturing
technologies/ combination of technologies, which can be adopted in the small and medium scale
enterprises in order to improve their productivity and global competitiveness. Participation of an
existing/new start-up as industry partner would be preferred. Proposals may be for the development of
platform technologies or product specific technologies. Proposals may be annexed with authenticated
market survey/ research report wherever possible.
CALL OPENING DATE: 15.7.2015
CALL CLOSING DATE: 31.8.2015
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: The scientific out-come of the proposal should have development of
pre-competitive/commercial technologies/ techniques/ processes. This should be clearly brought out in
the proposal. The proposal meeting this requirement would be evaluated based on following criteria;
Novelty and Scientific uniqueness
Research competence of Principal and Co-Investigators
Availability of Research facilities at the Organization/Institute
Proposal formulation (Precision in objective, adequacy and completeness of literature review,
preliminary work done, methodology and work plan, resources requested for this purpose etc.)
The guidelines for formulation, Terms & Conditions of grant and the prescribed format for submission
of the proposal for support under TSDP can also be collected from Dr. Rajeev Sharma, Scientist-D &
Member Secretary (PAC on Tech. Systems), Room No: 20, Hall-C, Department of Science and
Technology, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi 110 016 (E-mail:
[email protected],Telephone : 011-26602187, 26590310, Mobile: 9971888229).
In case of queries/suggestions, please contact Dr. Namrata Pathak, Scientist 'F', Technology
Development & Transfer Division (TDT), (Programmes: IDP, TSDP & GLP), Department of Science
& Technology (DST), Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110 016, Telephone
(Extension:
011-26590367,
Direct: 011-26522815),
E-mail:
Namrata
Pathak
<[email protected]>.
The complete proposals (10 copies) may be addressed to: Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Advisor & Head (TDT
Division), Room No 1A, Administrative Block, Department of Science & Technology, Technology
Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110 016, Phone: +91-26590223, Telefax: +91-1126964781, Email: [email protected].
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