Do a detail survey of the topic in reputed online journal and conference proceeding Like IEEE, Googlescholar, etc.

Identify the topics which are relatively useful to the society. 

Select 100-150 articles which was published in Recent years.

Identify the key issues which was addressed in those articles.

Find a suitable solution which can overcome using your method. It can be termed as problem definition.

To solve the problem identify the tools or Lab requirement which may require.

If tools not available some sponsoring agencies will provide financial aid to complete your work.

Identify the funding agency, write Research proposal in a prescribed format and send for approval through a research center.