The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has set up the 'Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council' (BIRAC) which is aimed to stimulate, foster and enhance the strategic research and innovation capabilities of the Indian biotech industry. Established as a ‘Not-for-Profit’ Section 25 Company, BIRAC would be DBT’s inter-face agency for supporting industry-academia interaction, and will serve as a single window for the emerging biotech industry in the country.
A unique initiative of the government to promote the growth of biotechnology industry in India, the BIRAC will also help establish connectivity with professional and institutional networks and provide financial support for mid-level, quality innovation targeted at affordable solutions and product development.
Incorporated as a company under the Companies Act, it will be an independent, autonomous, dynamic organization, applying unique methodologies for nurturing the high risk projects which hold potential for commercialization. BIRAC as an organisation nurturing and promoting innovation lead research would play an important role of “Connector and Catalyser”.
BIRAC will operate as an organization which will act as a facilitator and not merely as a service provider. It will serve the biotech industry by operating an IP & Analysis cell, Regulatory and Liaison cell, Technology Transfer and Acquisition cell and Legal & Contracting services cell to begin with, which shall be the major support services to help the different programmes run smoothly. It would provide technical platform services to industry and academia, offer product validation and other services required to create, nurture and support new enterprises. There will also be a provision to add more activities in future.
It is mandated to trigger, transform and tend biotech start-ups to convert innovative research in public and private sector into viable and competitive products and enterprises. It will also support and strengthen small scale and medium enterprises through gap filling intervention that facilitates high risk research, innovation and product development. It is also mandated to provide financial, infrastructural, institutional and mentoring support so that barriers to entry are reduced for the budding entrepreneurs. BIRAC is also mandated to encourage knowledge networking among biotech entrepreneurs at national and international level to maintain the technological and scientific edge.