Enthused by the success of the ongoing R&D programme, the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) which has generated a number of successful projects in pharma sector, the government is expanding its purview to experiment newer models of innovation development.

The public-private partnership launched in 2000-01 and being handled by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) will have now 50:50 funding with the industry and seek co-financing with venture capital funds, among the set of new proposals cleared by the government.

"There are many Indian companies which are doing financially very well but do not have the necessary expertise and intellectual resources to develop focused network projects for development of technologies/products in their line of activities. Their efforts need to be complemented from suitable R&D institutions and guidance from recognized peers to develop and commercialize newer technologies/products. Therefore, NMITLI will leverage its experiential base to encourage and assist such companies for developing network projects for those companies in product/technology development through a specific scheme called 'NMITLI 50:50 initiative," according to official sources.

Following the interest shown by venture capital funds, the government has decided also to take them on board for new projects. The venture funds can fund upto 50 per cent of the costs, but projects would be monitored by a joint team involving also the government representatives. The successes and failures resulting from the projects will be shared on equitable basis.

"Some areas need long term sustained support with requisite human resource as well as infrastructure, assembled at one place to cross the threshold of intellectual barrier in order to generate globally competitive technologies and products, IPR, and high quality publications. It is envisaged to set up 'NMITLI Innovation Centres' in PPP mode for sustained efforts in some selected areas for example, photovoltaics, fuel cells, white LEDs, industrial enzymes, medical implants, vaccine development," sources said.

Support to post NMITLI projects, acquisition of early stage relevant knowledge/IP for portfolio building, expansion to cover overseas partners, flexibility to convert loan into equity, and relaxation in the condition of more than 50 per cent shareholding by Indians/Non-resident Indians will also be among the new steps.

The programme has generated about 100 international patents and 150 publications in peer reviewed journals. The achievements, concerning pharma and biotechnology included development of bio-informatics software viz. Bio-Suite, GenoCluster, Bio-SuiteC and Darshee and developing poly herbal formulations for diabetics, arthritis and hepatic disorder. An anti-psoriasis formulation is in the phase-III clinical while another molecule lysostaphin is in phase-II stage. An anti-tuberculosis molecule has been developed and is going through phase-II clinical trial. Besides, micro-PCR based immuno-diagnostics for detecting eye infections have also been developed under the programme aimed at encouraging research and development by the scientists in the country, sources said.