External Funding Potential
Proposals with a clear pathway towards attracting research grants or external financial support are given priority.
SM-SMS Research Support
Supporting Early-Stage Research & Innovation
The Stella Mary's Seed Money Scheme (SM-SMS) is intended to foster research and innovation among faculty members and students by providing initial financial support for promising research initiatives. The scheme is designed to help researchers begin or sustain projects that may later attract external financial support. Applicants are expected to demonstrate novelty, a clear research direction and the potential to develop into a stronger externally funded proposal. Projects already supported through alternative funding sources are not eligible under the scheme.
Maximum Support
Up to ₹10,000 for one semester
Priority Areas
Preference is given to proposals demonstrating strong academic, societal and future-funding potential.
Agricultural & Societal Relevance
Research addressing meaningful societal, community or agricultural challenges is encouraged under the scheme.
Interdisciplinary Research
Projects that strengthen collaboration across disciplines and encourage multidisciplinary problem-solving are preferred.
Scheme Guidelines
Eligibility, project duration, evaluation, funding and grant administration requirements under SM-SMS.
Eligibility Criteria
- Regular faculty members along with a maximum of four students are eligible to apply. The Principal Investigator must be the faculty supervisor guiding the project.
- Students and supervisors should establish clear project milestones and submit progress reports at the end of every month.
- If a proposal is rejected by the Seed Grant Approval Committee, the Principal Investigator may submit a new proposal in the next semester.
- If the Principal Investigator resigns before project completion, responsibility must be transferred to another faculty member who will complete the project and submit the required reports.
- After completion, the Principal Investigator must submit a detailed project report, present the outcomes before the relevant committee and provide the required Utilization Certificate.
Submission of Proposal
- Proposal submission begins during the initial month of each semester.
- All proposals must follow the prescribed SM-SMS proposal format.
- The maximum duration of a Seed Money Scheme project is one semester.
- Extensions beyond the approved semester are not provided under the stated scheme.
Completion of Project
- The Principal Investigator is responsible for submitting three copies of the project completion report.
- The final Utilization Certificate must be submitted along with the completion documentation.
- Project outcomes should be formally documented and presented as required by the Research and Development Cell.
Evaluation of Project
- The date of the proposal evaluation meeting will be communicated by the Research and Development Office.
- Project proposals and final completion reports will be reviewed by a committee notified by the R&D Office.
Allocation of Funds
- Funding support under the scheme is limited to a maximum of ₹10,000 for one semester.
- No additional grant beyond the approved scheme amount will be provided.
- Fifty percent of the funding may be released after achieving 50% project completion, with the remaining amount released following successful completion.
- Where necessary, an amount below 50% may be requested at the initial stage through a justified formal requisition submitted to the Principal through the Research and Development Cell.
Maximum Grant
₹10,000
Maximum Duration
1 Semester
Standard Release
50% + 50%
Eligible Expenditure
- Minor equipment or software directly related to the proposal and not already available within SMCE.
- Consumables required for the approved research work.
- Travel and registration support for conferences within India, subject to applicable approval.
- Books, eligible technical-society annual membership fees and necessary contingency expenses.
- Additional essential items may be considered with prior approval from the Principal.
Administration of Grants
- The Principal Investigator is responsible for administering the approved funds.
- The Principal Investigator must ensure that expenditure remains within the sanctioned amount.
- All expenses should be appropriately documented for reporting and Utilization Certificate requirements.
Approval Committee
- The committee responsible for evaluating the initial proposal and final completion report will be notified by the Office of Research and Development.
- Applicants are expected to comply with the review, reporting and presentation requirements communicated by the committee.
SM-SMS Downloads
Download the official proposal and project-report formats used for the Stella Mary's Seed Money Scheme.
What is the Stella Mary's Seed Money Scheme (SM-SMS)?
The Stella Mary's Seed Money Scheme (SM-SMS) is an institutional research-funding initiative of Stella Mary's College of Engineering, Kanyakumari. It provides initial financial support of up to ₹10,000 for one semester to eligible faculty-led projects involving up to four students. The scheme encourages novel research, interdisciplinary collaboration, societal and agricultural relevance, and projects with potential to secure future external funding. Approved projects must follow defined milestones, progress reporting, evaluation, financial administration and completion-report requirements.