1. MIT Tata Center for Technology & Design
Overview Call for Proposals Information Session
tatacenter.mit.edu

2. Tata Center Overview Design in context of developing world
Not necessarily Bottom of the Pyramid
Window for graduate students and faculty
Students spend time in India
Develop technologically sophisticated products & services
Shovel ready thesis
No “studies” per se, rather projects with connections to designs/ implementation
Commercial or government implementation is the goal

3. Tata Center Key Data 47 Graduate Student Tata Fellows
30 Faculty representing 20 Departments/ Programs
7 Postdocs & 6 Staff
25 current projects in 5 focus areas
Projects can be single or multi-student
Energy
Health
Water
Agriculture
Housing/Infrastructure

4. What is a Tata Center project?
Mitigates the “constraints” associated with the developing world
Scale
Cost
Infrastructure Dependency
Access to Energy, Water, etc.
Develops solutions needed by the developing world that wouldn’t otherwise become available
Informed through close interactions with Indian communities, business and government
Embodied in a thesis that provides the basis for new product or system in the developing world

5. Single Student Project Example: Prosthetic Foot Development
Katy Olesavanage Video

6. Multi-Student Project: Ad hoc Electric Grid Architecture for Universal Access
Develop a technology platform for electricity delivery
Peer-to-peer transactions mediated primarily by distributed intelligence
An intelligent ‘point-of-connection’ in place of current power electronics
Principal Investigator/Project Coordinator: Rajeev Ram (EECS)
Post Doctoral Fellow: Reja Amatya (MITEI)
Electrification market analysis and design & construct GIS model
Y. Borofsky (DUSP)
I. Perez-Arriaga (ESD)
Systems level design & analysis of proposed electrification scheme
D. Ellman (TPP)
I. Perez-Arriaga (ESD)
Distributed control algorithm (software) for electricity distribution
D. Strawser (ME/Aero)
B. Williams (Aero)
Power electronics design/construct, point of connection (hardware)
W. Inam (EECS)
D. Perrault (EECS)

7. Learning on the ground…..visits to energy service providers in India
Mera Gao Power (MGP): DC micro grid operator
OMC Power: Anchor customer (Telecom tower)
Husk Power: AC mini-grid operator
Selco: Solar Home System

8. Tata Fellowship
Admitted by an MIT department, then apply to Tata Center
2 years’ stipend, tuition & research budget support
Develop stakeholder-driven technical & business model solutions for the resource constrained Indian environment, but with focus on wider applicability
Integrates with department degree requirements
Significant travel to India: 6 week summer, 2 week IAP
Requires participation in the Tata Seminar (15.s17, 6 credits first fall/spring, 3 credits 2nd year onwards)
This slide for students, delete for profs

9. RFP Details Open to all MIT community members with PI status
Focus on solving concrete challenges in India!
Require technology or business model development/application
Preference given to Tata focus areas, other areas considered
- Energy - Water - Housing/Infrastructure
- Health Care - Agriculture - Waste
Explain relevance of fieldwork in India & timeline to completion
PIs are strongly encouraged to actively participate in India
Delet if useless

10. RFP Awards Awards consist of full 2-year fellowship for each student
2nd year award is contingent on student progress at the end of the 1st year
$25,000 in funds per student per year to PI for use on the project or related activities
Equipment budget of up to $25,000 per project
Must be specified in the proposal
One time award per project
Funds for students/PIs to travel to India as needed
Delet if useless

11. Proposal Guidelines Submission Requirements Cover page Project Title
Name, title, department of PI, Co-PI, investigators
Phone, address of primary contact
Number of Full-time Graduate Students Requested
Equipment Funds Requested
Abstract
Brief description of problem/goals to be addressed
Applications should be submitted online.
URL will be announced when the RFP is formally released on Dec. 13, 2013

12. RFP Process & Timing Optional 1-page abstract
Submit by: Monday, January 6, 2014.
Feedback by: Monday, January 20, 2014
Full Release RFP: Friday, December 13, 2014
Proposal Deadline: Monday, Feb. 17, 2014
Awards Announced: Monday, March 3, 2014
Fellowship Nominations: no later than May 31, 2014
Project Start Date: June 1, 2014 (or later)

13. For more information contact:
Dr. Rich Roth, Executive Director |
Patricia Reilly, Assistant Director |
Dr. Rob Stoner, Co-Director |
Professor Charlie Fine, Co-Director |