This initiative is follow-up to the Government of India’s VAIBHAV Summit, organized in October 2020, to connect Indian STEMM diaspora with Indian Institutions. In this connection, the Government has taken further steps to shape and implement the VAIBHAV programme. VAIBHAV Fellowship envisions collaborative research between scientists from the Indian Diaspora and Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), Universities and/ or public funded Scientific Institutions. The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for research and may spend up to two months per year, for a maximum of three years.

Department of Science & Technology (DST) has assigned INAE to administer and implement VAIBHAV Fellowship through International Cooperation Division (ICD) of DST. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between DST and INAE for the implementation of Vaishvik Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellowship on July 15, 2024.

VAIBHAV Fellowship Call was announced in 2023 and a total of 22 VAIBHAV and 2 Distinguished VAIBHAV fellows selected under the first call in 2024. The projects have since been sanctioned, and the visits to Indian Host Institutes by VAIBHAV fellows are progressing. The post visit reports are being sought from fellows who have completed their visit to Indian host Institutes, and these reports are being submitted to DST.