Who can apply for the SPARC-AI Program?
To be considered for the SPARC-AI fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Institutional Affiliation: Must be a currently enrolled student (undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral) at either UPES, Dehradun or IIT Guwahati.
- Domain Interest: Must have a keen interest in leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve problems in Clean Energy, Alternative Renewables, Cleantech, or Agritech.
- Regional Alignment: Must be passionate about understanding and solving contextual challenges specific to the ecosystems, biodiversity, and socio-economic fabric of Uttarakhand and/or Assam.
- Commitment: Must be able to commit to the 18-month program duration, including intensive field immersion during the first 4 months and subsequent prototype development phases.
Team Composition:
- Students can apply as individuals or as a team (recommended team size: 2-4 members).
Stage of Idea:
- Early-stage/Pre-idea applicants are welcome. (Since Stage 1 involves field immersion to discover problems, you do not need a fully formed idea to apply; a strong domain interest is sufficient).
- Applicants with existing early-stage prototypes aligning with the program themes are also eligible, provided they are willing to adapt based on field realities.
Who is NOT Eligible?
- Students who are graduating or completing their degrees before the 18-month program concludes (unless they commit to continuing the venture post-graduation).
- Alumni who are no longer officially enrolled students at UPES or IITG.
- Ideas that do not integrate AI/tech components or do not align with Cleantech/Agritech