The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) will launch a scheme to reverse the brain drain by attracting senior and young scientists of Indian origin working overseas with fellowships and R&D support to pursue research on national priorities.

The DBT will partner with global organization Wellcome Trust to identify the scientists and offer enough incentives to lure them back to Indian laboratories, with a view to tap the huge potential of the country in the biotechnology sector, sources said. This is part of the national biotechnology development strategy to be implemented in the next five years.

A special scheme to attract mid-senior level scientists of Indian origin is being launched. The fellowship will be provided for at least five years and DBT will facilitate location in a suitable host institute in the country. The fellowship would be around Rs 50,000 per month and would be increased further depending on the merit of the scientist, sources said.

"Highly attractive fellowships are being set up for young and mid level post doctoral researches and young faculty with R&D grants as well as ensuring mobility into and out of India over a period of 3-4 years,'' a official said.

Existing overseas training programmes would be augmented through bidirectional partnerships with international bodies like Wellcome Trust and reputed universities. These will have inbuilt mechanisms for re-entry.

Wellcome Trust invests more than £400 million a year in biomedical research. Its major share goes to support research that adds to understanding of health and disease but has no immediate application. Sequencing of the human genome, development of the antimalarial drug artemisinin, pioneering cognitive behavioural therapies for psychological disorders and establishing the UK Biobank have been among its achievements. The role of the Trust in the collaboration with the DBT was being worked out.

Recognising the biotechnology as a sunrise sector, the government has prepared a five-year strategy to tap the potentials to the best possible extent. National biotechnology regulatory mission, inter-ministerial coordination, higher allocation for public-private-partnership programmes and setting up of centres of excellence are among the highlights of the strategy.