Call for Proposals: NVT–ISME Research Grant Program 2026 (India)

Deadline: 30-Nov-2026

The NVT–ISME Research Grant Program supports Indian faculty researchers conducting applied and interdisciplinary research in Organizational Excellence. Each selected project will receive ₹1,00,000, with three grants available to support research that generates actionable insights and advances organizational best practices across sectors.

About the NVT–ISME Research Grant

The NVT–ISME Research Grant is a collaborative initiative of the NVT Group and ISME designed to encourage high-quality applied research in Organizational Excellence. The program focuses on research that can generate practical and actionable insights for organizations and contribute to a broader understanding of effective organizational practices. Researchers are encouraged to develop original proposals addressing management and related disciplines while aligning their work with the Organizational Excellence Framework developed by ISME.

Objectives of the Grant

The program aims to strengthen applied and interdisciplinary research in management and organizational excellence.

Key objectives include:

- Supporting original research in Organizational Excellence. - Encouraging interdisciplinary research approaches. - Generating actionable insights for organizations. - Promoting evidence-based organizational best practices. - Contributing to the broader understanding of management challenges. - Supporting research with practical applications across sectors. Research Focus Proposals should align with the Organizational Excellence Framework developed by ISME. Research may focus on management or related disciplines and should contribute to understanding how organizations can improve their practices, performance, and effectiveness. Applicants are encouraged to develop research questions that have both academic value and practical relevance. Funding Available Each selected project will receive a grant of ₹1,00,000. A total of three grants will be awarded: - Two grants for external researchers. - One grant for internal faculty. The funding provides an opportunity for faculty researchers to undertake applied research that can generate useful findings for organizations and management practice. Who Can Apply? The grant is open to Indian faculty researchers who meet the program’s academic and institutional requirements.

Eligible applicants include:

- Individual faculty members. - Teams of up to four investigators. For team applications, one investigator must be designated as the Principal Investigator (PI).

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements: - All applicants must be citizens of India. - Applicants must be affiliated with a recognized university or higher education institute. - The affiliated institution must be affiliated to AICTE. - Applicants should have a strong academic record. - Applicants should demonstrate an interest in management research. - Team applications can include a maximum of four investigators. - A Principal Investigator must be identified for team submissions. Individual and Team Applications Researchers may apply individually or as part of a research team. Individual faculty members can submit their own research proposals, while teams can include up to four investigators. For team proposals, the Principal Investigator will serve as the designated lead researcher. All investigators included in a team submission must meet the applicable citizenship and institutional affiliation requirements. What Makes a Strong Research Proposal? A strong proposal should demonstrate a clear connection between the research question and Organizational Excellence.

Applicants should focus on:

- An original and clearly defined research problem. - Strong alignment with ISME’s Organizational Excellence Framework. - An applied and interdisciplinary research approach. - Relevance to management or a related discipline. - Potential to generate actionable insights. - Practical value for organizations or sectors. - A strong academic foundation. - Clear potential contribution to organizational best practices. Importance of Applied and Interdisciplinary Research The grant places emphasis on applied and interdisciplinary research rather than research that remains purely theoretical. Successful projects are expected to contribute to a better understanding of organizational challenges and generate insights that can potentially be applied in real-world settings. Interdisciplinary approaches can also help researchers examine organizational issues from multiple perspectives and develop more comprehensive solutions. Benefits of the Grant The NVT–ISME Research Grant provides researchers with an opportunity to: - Undertake original research in Organizational Excellence. - Explore management and related research questions. - Generate actionable findings. - Strengthen their academic research profile. - Contribute to organizational knowledge and practice. - Develop research with practical relevance across sectors. Application Considerations Before submitting a proposal, applicants should ensure that their research clearly fits within the program’s focus. Researchers should review their proposal to confirm that: - The topic is related to Organizational Excellence. - The research is original. - The proposal has an applied focus. - The research has relevance to management or a related discipline. - The project can generate actionable insights. - The applicant meets the citizenship and institutional eligibility requirements. - Team submissions include no more than four investigators. - A Principal Investigator has been designated for team proposals. Frequently Asked Questions What is the NVT–ISME Research Grant Program? It is a research funding initiative supporting Indian faculty researchers conducting applied and interdisciplinary research in Organizational Excellence. How much funding does each selected project receive? Each selected project receives ₹1,00,000. How many grants are available? A total of thr