Food Science Vacancy at ICMR | Candidates Apply Now
Request For Proposal
Are you looking for a Food Science Vacancy, an ICMR Careers opportunity, or a prestigious Call for Proposal in nutrition and food innovation? The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in partnership with the Gates Foundation, has announced a Grand Challenge Call for Proposal focused on developing aspirational nutrient-dense food products for adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. This funding opportunity offers up to ₹1 Crore to support innovative food science solutions aimed at reducing anemia in India.
About the ICMR-Gates Foundation Grand Challenge
The ICMR-Gates Foundation Grand Challenge is a collaborative initiative focused on advancing innovative nutrition solutions for adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. The program seeks scalable, affordable, and consumer-friendly food products that can improve iron intake and contribute to anemia prevention with ICMR Careers.
The challenge encourages interdisciplinary collaboration among nutrition scientists, food technologists, behavioral researchers, startups, industry partners, and public health organizations. Through this Call for Proposal, ICMR aims to support impactful innovations that can be integrated into public health systems and commercial markets.
Target Population Segments
| Target Group | Age Group | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Adolescent Girls | 10–19 Years | Peer influence, social norms, low agency, and nutritional awareness |
| Young Women (WRA) | 20–35 Years | Reproductive health, convenience, taste-driven choices, guilt-free consumption |
| Older Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) | 35–49 Years | Sustained micronutrient support, adherence, accessibility, guilt-free consumption |
Key Responsibilities / Areas of Interest
- Product Innovation and Design
- Development of nutrient-dense or fortified food products delivering iron
- Use of bioavailable nutrient forms and ingredients that improve absorption
- Development of snacks, beverages, gummies, chewables, chikkis, bars, bites, and other innovative formats
- Inclusion of regionally relevant ingredients such as millets, seeds, spices, and plant-based sources
- Consumer-Centric Product Development
- Designing modern and aspirational products
- Creating products that do not appear medicinal
- Developing branding strategies aligned with adolescent girls and women
- Enhancing product acceptability and desirability
- Behavioral Science Integration
- Leveraging existing food consumption habits
- Addressing social norms and peer influence
- Reducing barriers associated with food consumption
- Promoting sustained product use
- Nutritional Effectiveness
- Delivering approximately 4–5 mg of iron per serving
- Improving nutrient bioavailability
- Supporting measurable improvements in hemoglobin levels
- Addressing nutritional deficiencies among target populations
- Scalability and Sustainability
- Integration into schools and community nutrition programs
- Commercial retail and e-commerce adoption
- Cost-effective manufacturing and pricing
- Shelf stability and nutrient retention
- Packaging and Market Fit
- Attractive and modern packaging
- Clear communication of benefits
- Alignment with mainstream food categories
- Daily consumable product formats
Eligibility / Qualifications
Applications are invited from:
- Academic Institutions
- Research Institutions
- Universities
- Food Industry Companies
- Food Technology Startups
- FMCG Companies
- Nutrition Organizations
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Collaborative Consortia
Collaborations involving nutrition science, food technology, behavioral science, and product development experts are strongly encouraged.
Experience Required
Applicants should demonstrate expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Nutrition Science
- Food Science
- Food Technology
- Product Development
- Behavioural Science
- Public Health Nutrition
- Consumer Research
- Fortification Technologies
- Health and Nutrition Programs
Skills Needed
- Food Product Development
- Nutritional Formulation
- Consumer Behaviour Analysis
- Prototype Development
- Sensory Evaluation
- Market Research
- Manufacturing Planning
- Supply Chain Management
- Public Health Program Integration
- Grant Proposal Development
- Scientific Research and Validation
Funding Details
Grant Amount: Up to ₹1 Crore
Project Duration: 1 Year
Purpose: Prototype Development and Validation
Expected Outcomes:
- Nutrient-dense and fortified food prototypes
- Improved sensory quality and consumer acceptance
- Scalable nutrition delivery models
- Commercially viable food innovations
- Reduction of anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies
- Contributions to national initiatives such as Anaemia Mukt Bharat
Application Process
Interested applicants can submit proposals through the official application portal.
Important Dates
Date of Publication: 3 June 2026
Last Date of Submission: 3 July 2026
Submission Deadline: 11:30 PM IST
Contact Information
Dr. Priyanka Gupta Bansal
Scientist-E
Reproductive, Child Health and Nutrition Division
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Email: [email protected]
Researchers, food innovators, startups, nutrition scientists, and organizations seeking a Food Science Vacancy, ICMR Careers opportunity, or a high-impact Call for Proposal should not miss this prestigious funding initiative. The ICMR-Gates Foundation Grand Challenge offers a unique platform to transform innovative nutrition ideas into scalable solutions that can help reduce anaemia and improve public health outcomes across India.
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