The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a new scheme, 'Medical Innovation Fund' to support and pursue innovative novel ideas having far reaching scientific and medical implications, mooted by the scientists under the institutions of ICMR network.

Projects related to new targets, diagnostics, diagnostic tools, non invasive measuring devices, separation techniques, development of new evaluation protocols and new in vitro-in vivo methods shall be given financial assistance to test and validate novel and highly creative ideas even if they have a high probability of failure. The two-year projects are typically for testing ideas with funds of Rs 10,000 each and if the idea is successful and results in international patents and reaches a commercially viable stage, a personal award of Rs 20,000 to Rs. 1 lakh will be given to the scientists.

The scheme is for individuals or a group of collaborating scientists and will be carried out by ICMR institutes where basic infrastructure already exists. The fund, now open to only the council's scientists, will be enlarged by inviting joint proposals between ICMR laboratories on one hand and other scientific institutions or universities on the other if proved rewarding based on initial experience and the scope of the scheme, informed ICMR sources.

Proposal for concept proof has to be prepared for a duration of 2-3 years and the idea could be commercialised within 4-6 years. Once the concept has been proven, a full project can be submitted to the funding agency. Sanctioned projects are monitored on six-month basis and the investigators shall submit the progress report by 1st March and 1st September every year. Ten copies of the research proposal in the prescribed format (Form A1 and Form A2) have to be submitted to DG, ICMR and the proposal can be submitted either in the month of January or July, said sources.