Research and Development (R&D) Policy:

Techno International New Town is a reputed institute known for delivering top-notch technical education for more than twenty years. To fulfill the institution's Vision and Mission, it's crucial to establish a strong foundation for excellent research endeavors and encourage a culture of research among students and faculty alike. The main goal of the institution's research and development efforts is to nurture a spirit of inquiry and support the professional development of both teachers and students. Through these initiatives, Techno International New Town aims to promote a vibrant research culture that benefits everyone involved in the learning process.

Improving high-quality scientific and technological research is essential for addressing societal needs effectively. The Institute emphasizes excellence in research and innovation. Alongside traditional research and development efforts, there's a clear focus on advancing both technical knowledge and addressing societal challenges. Our dedication lies in promoting research that positively impacts society. To strengthen our research culture, the local management committee, led by the Head of Institute (HOI), has appointed Coordinators for Research and Development, Industry Relations, Faculty Development, IPR, and Entrepreneurship. They are tasked with shaping policies and initiating various research and development projects while ensuring the institute's research vision is communicated effectively across all departments.

1. Roles and Responsibilities of the R & D Cell:

The R&D Cell holds pivotal roles and responsibilities within the institution, facilitating the advancement of research and development initiatives. Its primary duties include:

• Strategic Planning: Formulating and implementing strategic plans to align research activities with the institution's goals and objectives.
• Coordination: Facilitating coordination among faculty members, departments, and external stakeholders to foster collaborative research efforts.
• Funding and Grants: Identifying funding opportunities, assisting researchers in securing grants, and managing financial resources for research projects.
• Policy Development: Developing policies and guidelines to govern research activities, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and regulatory requirements.
• Capacity Building: Organizing workshops, seminars, and training programs to enhance the research capabilities of faculty members and students.
• Industry Collaboration: Facilitating partnerships with industry stakeholders to promote applied research, technology transfer, and commercialization of innovations.
• Intellectual Property Management: Advising on intellectual property rights, patent filing, and commercialization strategies to protect and capitalize on research outcomes.
• Research Promotion: Promoting research achievements through publications, conferences, and networking events to enhance the institution's reputation and visibility in the academic community.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitoring the progress of research projects, evaluating their impact, and disseminating findings to stakeholders for informed decision-making.
• Continuous Improvement: Continuously reviewing and refining R&D processes, policies, and practices to foster a culture of innovation and excellence within the institution.

2. Primary objectives of the R & D cell:

• Encourage faculty and students to pursue internships and collaborate on research with other reputed institutes.
• Promoting the pursuit of PhDs, knowledge production and training initiatives.
• Facilitating revenue generation for faculty through consulting, research projects, training and patents.
• Recognizing and incentivizing faculty and students for significant contributions to research.
• Introducing modification to the teaching-learning process to enhance students’ research capabilities, such as project-based learning and industry internships.
• Developing and applying research quality objectives in alignment with the objectives of the Academic Committee and IQAC.
• Formulating policies and strategies for faculty involvement in sponsored research projects and securing funding from agencies.
• Increasing Industry Institute Interactions (IIII) for meaningful collaborations on projects, faculty training, guest lectures and student internships.
• Creating an IPR unit that will provide sponsorships to assist teachers in filing patents and commercializing them
• Creating an incubation center to foster entrepreneurship and provide resources for students and professors to develop innovative ideas, prototypes, and secure funding for their projects.
• Proposing and implementing a research budget to optimize infrastructure and fund utilization.
• Establishing a research culture through the organization of seminars, workshops, conferences and events.
• Identifying and addressing areas where faculty requires additional training.
• Each department benefits from mentorship provided by experts from prestigious institutions like IIT and other recognized organizations.
• Formulating a policy framework for the TINT Research Grant program.
• Establishing a policy for the delegation of seminar/conferences and workshops.
• Encouraging faculty and Teaching Assistants (TAs) to pursue higher studies, including PhDs and B.Tech/M.Tech degrees.

3. Roles of IQAC in R & D: The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) plays a crucial role in Research and Development (R&D) within an academic or research institution. Here are some of the key roles of IQAC in R&D:

• Quality Assurance: IQAC ensures research quality through the development and implementation of guidelines, standards, and benchmarks, fostering high-quality standards in R&D.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: IQAC monitors and evaluates R&D activities for compliance with institutional and regulatory standards, assessing effectiveness, identifying areas for improvement, and initiating corrective actions as needed.
• Capacity Building: IQAC fosters research capacity building by organizing workshops, seminars, and training programs, and providing resources for faculty, researchers, and students to enhance skills in research methodologies, data analysis, and proposal writing.
• Promotion of Research Culture: IQAC cultivates a dynamic research culture by encouraging and supporting faculty and students to participate in research, fostering an environment conducive to interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and creativity.
• Ethical Oversight: IQAC ensures ethical standards and research integrity by reviewing proposals for compliance, addressing ethical concerns, and promoting responsible research conduct across all R&D activities.
• Documentation and Reporting: IQAC maintains thorough documentation of R&D endeavors, encompassing projects, publications, patents, and collaborations, while also generating periodic reports to assess and accredit both internal performance and external achievements.
• Top of Form
• Benchmarking and Best Practices: IQAC compares R&D activities to national and international standards, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, and promotes the adoption of innovative approaches to enhance research quality and impact.
• Stakeholder Engagement: IQAC fosters collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including industry partners, funding agencies, government bodies, and the communities, to establish research partnerships, secures funding, and disseminate findings for societal advancement.

Overall, IQAC plays a pivotal role in ensuring the effectiveness, integrity, and impact of R&D initiatives within an institution, contributing to its academic excellence and reputation in the research community.

4. R & D Cell’s Vision/Mission:

5. R & D Cell Committee Members:

R & D cell has been established since inception of the college. The constituent members of the present Institutional R&D Cell are as follows -

6. Norms and Standards for the Research Grant Policy:

Institutional R & D budget is prepared based on the requisition received from the respective departmental R & D cell. The distribution of R & D budget duly approved by the BOG is as follows:

TINT management has approved funds to back academic research endeavors across diverse fields. This program aims to elevate research efforts, especially among junior faculty, and encourage them to seek substantial grants from different funding agencies. Below are the standards and guidelines of the scheme provided to assist faculty members in preparing their proposals.

• Faculty research proposals will undergo review by the research review committee for approval. Assistant Professors may serve as principal investigators, with Professors or Associate Professors acting as Co-PIs or advisors.
• Preference will be given to proposals that address multidisciplinary research areas and involve collaboration with professors from both within and outside the department (intra and interdepartmental).
• The research committee will prioritize the approval of research proposals regardless of specific subjects or departments.
• Projects will be selected based on peer evaluation and presentations of shortlisted concepts before the Expert Committee.
• All assets funded by the project, such as equipment, books, and journals, will become the property of the institution and will be properly documented.
• Research articles must be published in international peer-reviewed conferences or journals, including the institute's affiliation and recognition. A copy must be provided to the R&D department.
• The project should involve the participation of at least two undergraduate students and/or one postgraduate

Guidelines for Internal Research Proposal:

• A research proposal serves as the initial step for faculty members to initiate or advance their research endeavors at the Institute. Here are the guidelines for writing research proposals:
• Clearly outline the objectives of the proposal, including the current national and international research landscape, methodology, work plan, expected outcomes, and a two-year budget estimate.
• Break down the budget estimate into categories such as equipment, consumables, contingencies, and books.
• Follow institute procurement procedures for acquiring equipment, consumables, and components.
• Present project progress to the project assessment committee every six months.
• Release of the second installment of funds depends on the quality of work completed in the first stage and the utilization of 75% of funds from the first stage.
• Submit an annual progress report, statement of accounts, and utilization certificate to the R&D office for subsequent grant release at the end of the financial year.
• All Principal Investigators must publish their work in reputable international peer-reviewed conferences or journals.
• Obtain signatures from the relevant department HOD and HOI on each bill before submitting them for audit.
• Expenditure on items such as air conditioners, laboratory renovations, electronic devices, and furniture is as per Institute rules and regulations.
• Each Institute-funded project must involve two undergraduate students and one postgraduate student.
• The final research project report should include a technical report with conclusions (two hard-bound copies), published or presented papers (soft copy), statement of accounts, and utilization certificate.
• Internal/external audits will be conducted after the financial year to assess the financial status of research projects.
• Any additional resources that contribute to building the research culture at Institutes are permitted with approval from the Head of the Institute.

Policy Guidelines for support to Faculty to attend conferences in India:

The faculty of Techno International New Town is encouraged to be actively engaged in research and enhance and broaden their knowledge by participating in seminars/ workshops/ conferences. Research finds its expression through publications in learned journals and through presentation of papers in Conferences and Seminars.

The following Policy Guidelines are laid down for providing financial support to faculty members for attending Conferences / Seminars in India.

• Eligibility:All faculty members who have successfully completed their probation    period and have regular / confirmed appointments will be eligible. (40% of dept. faculty eligible every year)
• Frequency of Support: National/International Conferences / Seminars: Not more than once a year
• Level of Conferences / Seminars: The Conference/Seminar, to have an assurance that they are well recognized and are of a high standard, are expected to be organized by an Institution of good standard or of a professionally high repute.                  
• Requirements for Participation:
  • Essential:
       i)  The paper should have been accepted for presentation
      ii) The paper must be peer reviewed in the Department / Centre to ensure that it is of sufficiently high quality             and standard.
  • Preference Criteria

                   i) The applicant has been invited to chair one or more sessions.

                  ii) The applicant has been invited to deliver a keynote /plenary/inaugural address:

                 iii) The applicant has been invited to present the paper / papers in the International / National Conference:

• Financial Support:As a policy, partial financial support will be provided to faculty members. The partial support will cover:

1. Full Registration Fee (max: 10K).
2. 50% of travel cost and daily allowance (railway AC3 Tire only)

• Procedure: The following documents will be forwarded to the admin office through the HoD, R&D and HoI for approval at least one month in advance to give time for proper processing:

            a) Synopsis and a copy of the Paper to be presented.

            b) Certificate from the Author about originality of paper and “No Objection”     

            c) Brochures of Seminar /Conference

            d) Letter of Acceptance / Invitation from the organizers     

            e) Detailed information about the organizers of the International Conference/ Seminar and their credibility

            f) Expenditure details: Registration Fee, Travel Fare, Boarding & lodging/other expenses and detailed                     
                recommendation of the Head of the Institution

• Duty Leave: Faculty members attending Conferences/Seminars may be granted “duty leave” for the period of Conferences/Seminars and actual journey period. In exceptional cases, if recommended by the R&D Committee and HoI may waive certain conditions for granting permission and financial support.
• Publications: Faculty members publishing papers in reputable journals indexed in SCI/SCOPUS/UGC Care with a non-zero impact factor listed by Thompson Reuter’s Journal Citation Index (JCI) are eligible for financial assistance according to the Journal rubrics table given below. Additionally, for faculty publishing papers in renowned conferences, the college may sponsor publication or registration fees, capped at a maximum of Rs. 10,000 per financial year.

        Table: Performance Evaluation Rubrics for TINT Researchers:

*Engineering and Basic science discipline Journal:

*Faculty/student will get partial financial benefits.

• SCI, SCIE, and ESCI are all citation databases maintained by Clarivate Analytics.
• SCI stands for Science Citation Index, SCIE stands for Science Citation Index Expanded, and ESCI stands for Emerging Sources Citation Index.
• These databases index and track the citation impact of scholarly articles, conference proceedings, and other materials in the natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences.
• Scopus is another citation database, maintained by Elsevier. It covers a wider range of subjects than the Clarivate Analytics databases, including the arts and humanities, and it includes more international content.
• Web of Science is a platform that provides access to the Clarivate Analytics citation databases, as well as other resources such as the Journal Citation Reports, which provide information on journal impact factors.
• UGC CARE List is a list of journals maintained by the University Grants Commission of India. This list is used to determine the quality and eligibility of academic publications for the purpose of career advancement of Indian academics.

Conference:

 Journals in English Language & Literature ranking: 

1. Scopus
2. Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)
3. Academic Resource Index
4. EBSCO (EBSCO host & EBSCO Discovery Service)
5. MLA International Bibliography
6. Master FILE Premier
7. Arts and Humanities Citation Index

For the above criteria the faculty should be:

1. a) The first author, affiliated with TINT. OR
2. b) If the faculty member is not the first author, the first author should be a TINT student,  

           and the work must be published with TINT affiliation.

• Patent: As per IPR policy (IPR Cell)

Guidelines for Expenditure on Research for Funded Projects:

The faculty will be authorized to present the shortlisted research proposals only if the faculty applied to the research funding scheme through TINT and specified TINT as an affiliation on the proposal.

Publications: Faculty members publishing papers in reputable journals indexed in SCI/SCOPUS/UGC Care with a non-zero impact factor listed by Thompson Reuter’s Journal Citation Index (JCI) are eligible for financial assistance according to the Journal rubrics table below.

Additionally, for faculty publishing papers in renowned conferences, the college may sponsor publication or registration fees, capped at a maximum of Rs. 10,000 per financial year.

A faculty member publishes a paper in an Indian conference cited by Scopus, he/she will receive Travel Allowance (TA) and Daily Allowance (DA), along with On-Duty leave for the duration required to attend the conference.

The college does not provide sponsorship for conferences held outside India. However, faculty members may apply for sponsorship for national or international conferences and seminars organized within India.

7. Policy for Distribution of Overhead Charges by TINT: As per Institute rules and regulation policy:
8.    Plagiarism:

Authors must cite others' work, even if they contributed to it as co-authors, editors, advisers, or students. All types of others' work, whether published or unpublished and in any format (written, oral, website), should be cited or credited. TINT employs “Drillbit software” to ensure submitted papers are plagiarism-free. UGC guidelines exclude certain elements from plagiarism checks, including public domain quotes, references, minor similarities, generic terms, and standard equations.

9.   Data:

• Integrity of Data:

Fabrication and falsification in research are serious misconducts, requiring researchers to prioritize accuracy and transparency. Predicted outcomes should not be prematurely published, and complete records of data should be maintained for evaluation of subsequent reports or conclusions. In laboratory research, data is typically recorded in indexed lab notebooks with detailed techniques and material documentation. Mistakes should be clearly marked and corrected, while all data should be contemporaneously recorded and securely stored. Unique materials must be properly labeled and stored. Social sciences and clinical biology face privacy challenges with coded data, necessitating transparent procedures for data access and redaction. Main data, including records and questionnaires, should be available for examination, with redaction possible to protect privacy. Access to redaction rules and processes should be provided for data reviewers to ensure transparency and integrity.

• Use and Misuse of Data:

Researchers must be proficient in quantitative data processing, ensuring accurate graphical and tabular displays, error analysis, and reliability testing. All conclusions should stem from precisely documented facts, with full disclosure of relevant observations, including contradictory or unsupportive data. Failure to disclose such data, especially regarding confounding factors, constitutes research integrity breach. Validated explanations for disregarding data, backed by accepted statistical tests, must accompany published reports. Negative outcomes should be widely published. Deliberate misrepresentation of observations or image manipulation is considered research misconduct. Altering approved protocols or study designs without prior approval is improper and may constitute misconduct. Misusing government grant funds for fabricated research is both unethical and a federal crime, potentially resulting in prosecution, restitution, fines, and/or imprisonment.

• Ownership of and Access to Data:

Research data generated by TINT employees are owned by TINT, even after researchers have left. This is because TINT is the grantee of sponsored research awards. However, all members of the research group should have reasonable access to the data. If copyright or patent potential exists, a written agreement within the group should outline intellectual property rights. Researchers with patentable findings should submit an Invention Disclosure to TINT's IPR Cell.

• Storage and Retention of Data:

Data should be securely stored for at least five years after project completion, final report submission, or research publication, as per sponsor requirements. Certain data may need depositing in the Institute library.

• Authorship and Other Publication Issues:

Publication of research findings is essential for academic discourse, enabling other researchers to build on reported results. Institute scientists have an ethical obligation to adhere to publishing standards, ensuring thoroughness for result replication. Timely publication is crucial, but not at the expense of proper internal validation or interpretation assessment. While commercial sponsors can't veto publication, a six-month delay may accommodate patent application submission.

• Criteria for Authorship:

All authors must be duly acknowledged in the publication, with co-authorship reflecting individual contributions. Authorship standards, often set by professional organizations and publications, typically require contribution to research topic formulation, data interpretation, report drafting, and readiness to defend the publication.

• Order of Authors:

Authorship order conventions vary by discipline, but it's essential that all co-authors agree on the sequence beforehand. A corresponding or senior author typically listed first or last, should be designated for each paper. This individual is responsible for liaising with publishers, updating co-authors on review and publication status, and ensuring everyone approves the submitted manuscript. The corresponding author bears greater responsibility for the research integrity and must thoroughly comprehend and defend all aspects of the study.

• Self-citations:

Authors should avoid misrepresenting the status of their unpublished work. A manuscript should not be labeled as submitted until officially submitted. Similarly, it shouldn't be labeled as accepted for publication or in press unless the author has received confirmation from the editor or publisher, including galley or page proofs or an approval letter. This ensures accuracy and integrity in presenting the manuscript's status to the academic community.

• Duplicate Publication:

Publishing the same paper in multiple places without proper citation or editor notification is discouraged, unless justified. Similarly, abstracts should not be replicated without acknowledgment. Inexplicable replication, termed self-plagiarism, can mislead readers about original research data. Submitting the same paper to multiple journals simultaneously is generally considered unethical across disciplines. Clear communication and proper citation are essential to maintain integrity in scholarly publishing.

• Reporting Suspected Misconduct:

All academic community members must report suspected research misconduct to the Dean (R&D) as per Institute policy. Allegations are addressed confidentially, with no repercussions against those reporting in good faith. Confidentiality is prioritized, ensuring a fair process for all involved.

• Special Obligations in Human Subject Research:

Institute Ethics committees must pre-approve human subject research protocols, ensuring acceptable risks and accurate, understandable communication of risks and benefits to participants.

10. Institutionhas created an eco-system for innovations including Incubation centre and other initiatives for creation and transfer of knowledge:

The institute established the Intellectual Property Right cell (IPR) and Business Incubation Cell from its inception, supported by college management. The goal of IPR/BI is to aid incubates in establishing successful businesses by collaborating with various partners and service providers. The center conducts seminars to educate students on financing, startup environments, incubation, and related services. BIC encourages students to submit innovative ideas for incubation, which undergo screening and further consideration. Proposals are evaluated based on potential, practicality, value proposition, and market assessment. These initiatives aim to ignite the region's Innovation & Entrepreneurship ecosystem, fostering creativity, business acumen, and collaboration among students and partners.

• Intellectual Property Right (IPR) Policy:

The provided document outlines an Intellectual Property Rights Policy for Techno International New Town, Kolkata. Here's a summary:( The details report is available in the IPR Cell):

Preamble: Intellectual property is crucial for providing a competitive edge to an organization. The policy aims to guide staff, students, and outside agencies on intellectual property rights (IPR) practices and rules to promote academic freedom and research development.

Scope: The policy aims to create an environment conducive to developing intellectual property, safeguarding academic freedom, and establishing standards for intellectual property management.

Objectives: The objectives include promoting academic freedom, providing a reference system for IPR issues, ensuring fair distribution of returns from intellectual property, introducing IP management practices, providing legal support, and fostering innovation.

Intellectual Property and Ownership: The policy addresses copyright ownership for various works and outlines ownership rules for patents, emphasizing the Institute's ownership in certain cases.

IP Protection and Technology Transfer: Procedures for IP protection, patent filing, and technology transfer are detailed, including the involvement of committees and consultants.

Registration of Patents and Copyrights: Guidelines for filing patent applications in India and foreign countries are provided, along with provisions for financial support.

Revenue Sharing: Revenue sharing arrangements are outlined, including options for creators to reinvest in new research projects.

IPR Administration: The legal status, structure of advisory/review committees, role of consultants, infringement resolution, and dispute resolution mechanisms are detailed.

Overall, the policy aims to foster innovation, protect intellectual property rights, and ensure fair distribution of benefits within the Institute.

• Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Incubation:

Innovation is paramount in the 21st century, with TINT dedicated to fostering a sustainable innovation ecosystem. Through exposure to new ideas and processes, TINT encourages young students, nurturing their innovative potential. Leveraging the problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial acumen of students and faculty, TINT promotes robust intra and inter-institutional partnerships. Aligned with the National Innovation and Start-up Policy of India, and in coordination with AICTE and UGC policies, TINT focuses on enhancing its innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. As a pioneer in West Bengal, TINT has formally adopted the National Innovation and Start-up Policy 2021, establishing an Institution Innovation Cell (IIC) to cultivate an innovative culture among students and faculty.

By participating in this initiative, TINT becomes part of a nationwide network fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, enriching the experiences of its students and faculty.

R&D Cell Structure