The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has invited proposals from biotech companies for the first batch of Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP), which was launched by the DBT recently. BIPP is a unique programme under which it provides support for breakthrough research which creates intellectual property and technology for product development that is both innovative and of benefit to society.

Those eligible to apply for the project include: a single or consortia of Indian 'for profit' company/ies irrespective of small, medium or large who are involved in R&D; the proposals can be submitted solely by in-house R&D unit(s) of industrial firms (DSIR recognized); jointly by industry and national R&D organizations and institutions; and collaborative projects of common interest to the concerned sector/or proposed by a group of industries/users, national research organizations, etc. However, major rather than incremental innovation will be preferred under the scheme.

BIPP is an advanced technology initiative by the DBT for supporting innovative and challenging R&D in industry. It is an Advanced Technology Scheme (ATS), envisaged as a government partnership programme with industries for support on cost sharing basis for high risk discovery and innovation, accelerated technology development especially for futuristic areas. Its main objective is to accelerate the development of futuristic technologies in areas like vaccine manufacturing through public-private partnerships.

This new scheme will be one of the most enabling mechanisms to promote R&D in biotech industry and public private partnership programmes. The scheme provides for a government contribution of 30-50 per cent to the industry for discovery linked innovation.

Under this advanced technology scheme, support would be provided only for futuristic areas, transformational technology and product development for public good. Grant in aid support would also be provided for evaluation and validation of biotechnology products that are based on indigenous discovery and innovation. The scheme will support major research facilities and platform technology centres as core facilities that are readily accessible to SME's and public sector scientists.