Fellowship Structure

The Fellowship begins on 15^th March 2024 with an orientation. The five selected Fellows/teams will present their projects. The session will be attended by Fellows, mentors, members of the Panel of Reviewers, and the CDSSI team.
Prior to initiating their projects, Fellows will submit a Project Implementation Plan outlining the scope, deliverables, methodology, and timelines. Fellows will specify the nature and extent of the support they would need (and from whom) during the course of the Fellowship.
Each Fellow/team will be assigned a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) from CDSSI, ensuring regular interactions throughout the Fellowship.
The Fellowship will be conducted in a phased development manner. Each phase will be attached to specific milestones consisting of specific output/deliverables. This approach will allow for periodic ‘check-ins’, progress monitoring, and if required, course correction.
Fellows will be required to submit periodic progress reports, with the frequency determined in consultation with their mentors and CDSSI SPOCs. These reports must include their accomplishments, challenges, and acquired insights. In addition, there will be monthly review meetings with the CDSSI team, and quarterly review meetings with the Panel of Reviewers.
A comprehensive final report, detailing the problem, methodology, outcomes etc., will be submitted by the Fellows towards the end of the Fellowship.
At the end of the Fellowship, a symposium will be organised, where Fellows will present their work to stakeholders from the social sector.

More Details:

Each Fellowship project will be granted a remuneration of INR 12 lakhs. This sum will be distributed among the Fellow(s) involved in the project.
Fellows will primarily work remotely.
Fellows will identify the DPGs they wish to develop. Applicants are expected to clearly articulate the problem or opportunity they are addressing and provide specifics regarding the proposed solution. The proposed DPG project should adhere to the following guidelines:
1. The DPG should be freely accessible in the form of:
  1. Open-source software application
  2. Open AI/data science model
2. The DPG must have mainstream application in the social sector. The DPG should be relevant to and usable by organisations/individuals in the social sector.
3. The DPG should be rooted in one or more of the following data science technologies:
  1. Machine Learning (including deep learning and Generative AI)
  2. Computer Vision
  3. Natural Language Processing
  4. Predictive Analytics
  5. Geospatial Analytics
  6. Optimisation Algorithms
The DPG can be crafted using open/public data or data owned by a social purpose organisation (NGO, non-profit organisation, social enterprise, etc). If a project requires the utilisation of an SPO’s data, Fellows should identify the SPO and procure the dataset. A description of the dataset should be incorporated into the Fellowship application.
A panel of experts – academics, data science/tech professionals and senior social sector stakeholders – will serve as reviewers for the Fellowship. The panel will provide strategic guidance to the Fellows and periodically assess the progress of projects.

Fellowship Output (DPG)

Intellectual property: The DPG will be jointly owned by the Fellow(s) and CDSSI. CDSSI and the Fellow(s) will have the authority to manage, maintain, and distribute the DPG, while ensuring its availability for public use. Fellows will be expected to suggest distribution approaches to maximise the visibility and adoption of the DPG.
Open licences: The DPG (open-source software or open DS/AI model) will be released in the public domain. It may be released under the one of the following open licensing options:
1. Open-Source Software License (e.g., MIT, Apache, GPL)
2. Creative Commons License (e.g., CC BY, CC BY-SA)
3. Public Domain Dedication
Distribution channels: The DPG will be made available to the public through online platforms such as GitHub, a dedicated webpage, landing pages on ISDM/ CDSSI website, or other online portals owned by ISDM, and the Google Play and the App Store for mobile apps, and other stores for web apps.
User support: Fellows will be responsible for providing support resources to enhance the usability of the DPG in consultation with mentors and SPOCs from CDSSI (or ISDM). These may include collaterals such as documentation, user guides, tutorials, use cases/examples, and other materials.
Outreach: To promote the extensive adoption and use of the DPG by its intended users, Fellows – in collaboration with the CDSSI team – will actively engage with stakeholders from the social sector through workshops, demos, and similar initiatives.