The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under its Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) scheme, has invited proposals from Indian biotech companies, including SMEs and start-ups, for funding of research and development in the field of biotechnology. It has invited proposals for product development from these companies in the areas of biosimilars & stem cells; drugs including drug delivery; devices and diagnostics; and vaccines and clinical trials.

Under this flagship public-private partnership programme, BIRAC will provide support to the biotech companies for discovery; proof-of-concept and early stage innovations.

SBIRI is an advanced technology scheme for high risk, transformational technology/process development from proof-of-concept to validation leading to high value product commercialisation. It will support new and futuristic technology development with major social bearing but uncertain market driven demand. It will also support start-ups, SMEs and other biotech companies on cost sharing basis. The companies can send their proposals till March 31, 2017.

A single or consortia of Indian company(ies) registered under “The Indian Companies Act 2013” with minimum 51 per cent Indian ownership, and DSIR recognised in-house R&D unit, are eligible to apply either alone, or in collaboration with a partner from another company, institute or university. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) launched the SBIRI scheme to boost public-private-partnership effort in the country. The distinctive feature of SBIRI is that it supports the high-risk pre-proof-of- concept research and late stage development in small and medium companies led by innovators with science backgrounds which is unique in nature to support private industries and to get them involved in development of such products and processes which have high societal relevance. SBIRI has unique process for generating ideas by bringing users and producers of technology together, it has the direct focus on producing product and a sense of urgency for producing defined results that only private sector engagement can produce.

BIRAC has been set up under the department of biotechnology (DBT) to nurture the biotech innovation ecosystem, support start-ups and SMEs for innovation research and promote affordable product development through public-private partnership.