The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under its advanced technology scheme, Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP), has invited fresh proposals from biotech companies for providing support on a cost sharing basis targeted at development of novel and high risk futuristic technologies mainly for viability gap funding and enhancing existing R&D capacities.
DBT is operating this BIPP scheme through BIRAC, a not-for-profit company set up by the DBT to promote and nurture innovation research in biotech enterprises specially start-ups and SMEs. BIPP is a government partnership programme with industry for support on a cost sharing basis targeted at development of novel and high risk futuristic technologies mainly for viability gap funding and enhancing existing R&D capacities of start-ups and SMEs in key areas of national importance and public good.
The interested biotech companies can apply for the proposal till July 31 this year.
Major thrust of the programme is towards funding technologies which address a major national problem and/or involves high level of innovation. The proposals spanning across the spectrum of pre-proof-of-concept to validation of established technologies are considered for support in the form of grant and/or loan.
The key feature of the programme is that it supports large, medium, small scale companies as well as start-up companies on cost sharing basis. It would push for high risk, discovery linked innovation and accelerated technology development. It will also support evaluation and validation of biotech products, besides supporting indigenous discovery, innovation and technology to products that are of national relevance or public benefit. Support is also available for infrastructure or facility set up.
Under this advanced technology scheme, support would be provided only for a single or consortia of Indian company (ies) - small, medium or large having DSIR recognised in-house R&D units, alone or in collaboration with a partner from another company/institute/organisation.