Bayer in collaboration with Bhubaneshwar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster Foundation (BCKIC), an initiative by the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India.
- Medha fellowship will support 125 Master’s and Ph.D. students across the country
- Bayer has pledged ₹100 million to support researchers in the field of Life-Sciences
- The focus is on Women candidates and Persons with Disabilities, for the fellowship
NEW DELHI: Bayer, in collaboration with Bhubaneshwar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster Foundation (BCKIC), has launched a new fellowship program called ‘Medha’, specifically for students from economically weaker sections. The program will support 125 research scholars in the field of agriculture and life sciences with a monthly financial assistance of INR 20,000 for Master’s students and INR 40,000 for Ph.D. students for a period of 2-3 years, respectively. The program will be implemented through Bayer Foundation India.
The ‘Medha’ fellowship combines annual financial assistance with mentorship opportunities under Bayer employees and industry experts. Students will also get an opportunity to visit Bayer’s research labs and interact with industry experts to gain exposure and build their knowledge base. The fellowship will be provided for two years to the master’s students and three years to the Ph.D. students. The program’s goal is to enable the fellows to achieve their short and long-term academic and professional goals.
D Narain, President of Bayer South Asia and Global Head of Smallholder Farming, said “As India increasingly becomes a knowledge and innovation hub for the rest of the world, we are thrilled to be supporting the future of young scholars who are shaping our tomorrow through impactful research in the areas of Life Sciences. At Bayer, we are committed to supporting education, research, and innovation, and providing inclusive opportunities for all sections of society. Through ‘Medha’ fellowships, we are extending our support towards students from economically weaker sections and women scholars, encouraging and supporting them to play an active part in nation-building.”
The program aims to benefit students from lower-income families who are facing financial constraints in funding their education. To encourage applications from women students and students with disabilities, Medha provides 60% reservation for women candidates and an additional 10% reservation for persons with disabilities (PWD). Students enrolled in 1st year Master’s/Ph.D. can apply for the fellowship.
Dr. Mrutyunjay Suar, Chairman of BCKIC Foundation, said “It is imperative to work toward making education and research more accessible by removing financial barriers and providing opportunities to meritorious underprivileged students to succeed. Bayer’s fellowship program – MEDHA – is the enabler.”
This initiative is in line with Bayer’s commitment to bridge the education finance gap, the company has pledged INR 100 million to support researchers in the field of Life-Sciences. The Medha Fellowship is an example of how industry is supporting research and innovation in India. This program enables the best brains to learn today and contribute tomorrow to the nation’s social impact.
