The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under its Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) scheme, has invited proposals from Indian biotech companies for funding of research and development in the field of biotechnology.

Under this SBIRI scheme, the BIRAC will provide support for discovery, proof-of-concept and early stage innovations, and R&D aimed at affordable product development.  BIRAC has been set up by the government to nurture the biotech innovation ecosystem, support start-ups and SMEs for innovation research and promote affordable product development through public-private partnership.

The major aims of this programme are to nurture and mentor innovative and emerging technologies/ entrepreneurs, to assist new enterprises to forge appropriate linkages with academia and government; to create opportunities for starting new technology-based or knowledge-based businesses by science entrepreneurs; and to stimulate technological innovations.

Under this flagship public-private partnership programme, the BIRAC will support early stage and proof-of-concept for innovations based on valid hypothesis, R&D aimed at affordable product development, lab-scale technology refinement, validation of a technology at pilot scale, platform technologies/prototype development, etc.

Under this  programme, financial support is extended as a grant-in-aid limited to Rs. 50.00 lakhs with a contribution from the company. Collaborating public or private institutions and universities are eligible for grant-in-aid. The companies can send their proposals till March 31, 2015.

The proposals can be submitted by a single or consortia of Indian companies - small, medium or large-- having DSIR recognized in-house R&D units, alone or in collaboration with a partner from another company/institute/ organization/ university.

The 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.