The Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP), launched in November 2008 to promote research, has elicited good response so far with Department of Biotechnology (DBT) getting as many as 250 proposals in five rounds of call.

After the five rounds announced so far, altogether, 20 proposals were cleared and 11 projects were given support. Some of the major projects supported under the programme included 'development and pilot scale production of anti-TNF-a antibody scFv for treatment of inflammatory diseases' by ARA Healthcare Pvt Ltd, Gurgaon; 'development of self-glucogenic pearl millet adapted for marginal lands' by Avesthagen Ltd, Bangalore; 'a multi-center randomized, double-blind,placebo control study of IN-105 tablets' by Biocon Limited, Bangalore and 'development of a cost effective prophylactic and therapeutic recombinant human papilloma virus vaccine' by Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Limited, Pune, sources said.

'Enhancement of ethanol yield from molasses fermentations by adding a specific enzyme to convert an un-fermentable sugar to a fermentable sugar' by Richcore Lifesciences, Bangalore, 'process for asymmetric synthesis of hexahydrobenzophenanthrenes, dopamine D1 agonists' by TCG Life Sciences, Kolkata, 'a strategy for the development of alternative treatment for heart failure complicated with diabetes mellitus' by Torrent Pharmaceuticals of Gandhinagar, and 'development of a novel mucosal vaccine for Hpv' by Virchow Biotech of Hyderabad are the other prominent projects.

The BIPP scheme was approved in November 2008 for partnership with industries on a cost sharing basis for path-breaking research in frontier, futuristic technology areas with major economic potential and making Indian industry globally competitive, and focused on IP creation with ownerships by Indian industry and collaborating scientists.

Development of appropriate technologies in the context of recognized national priorities in the area of agriculture, health, bioenergy, green manufacturing, when the scale of the problem has serious consequences for social and economic development was another mandate under the scheme.