The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), under its advanced technology scheme, Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP), has invited fresh proposals from biotech companies for providing support on a cost sharing basis targeted at development of novel and high risk futuristic technologies mainly for viability gap funding and enhancing existing R&D capacities of start-ups and SMEs in key areas of national importance and public good.

BIPP is an advanced is an advanced technology scheme for high risk, transformational technology/ process development from proof-of-concept to validation leading to high value product commercialisation and under this scheme BIRAC supports new and futuristic technology development with major social bearing but uncertain market driven demand; and also it supports start-ups, SMEs and other biotech companies on cost sharing basis.

It supports pilot scale validation of novel processes and demonstration of novel engineering processes for existing technologies. The interested biotech companies can apply for the proposal till July 31, 2016.

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 for the project either alone or in collaboration with a partner from another company, institute or university.

BIPP is a government partnership with industries for support on a cost sharing basis for path-breaking research in frontier futuristic technology areas having major economic potential and making the Indian industry globally competitive. It is focused on IP creation with ownership retained by Indian industry and wherever relevant, by collaborating scientists.

BIPP supports the development of appropriate technologies in the context of recognized national priorities in the area of agriculture, health, bio-energy, green manufacturing, when the scale of the problem has serious consequences for social and economic development. BIPP is an advanced technology scheme only for high risk, transformational technology/ process development. It is for high risk futuristic technologies and mainly for viability gap funding. The uniqueness of this scheme is that it is for "Break through research" which enables product and process development and is patentable, with IP ownership rights resting with industry.

The main features of BIPP are it will provide support for high risk, accelerated technology development especially in futuristic technologies; and support for very high risk, nationally and socially relevant areas, with no assured market. This would be more of translational research in such cases. It is envisaged that public institutes would be useful partners, so that the basic R&D leads can be translated to product development by the industry. It also provides for product evaluation and validation through support for limited and large scale field trial for agriculture products and clinical trials (Phase I, II, III) for healthcare products. It will also supporting research project for novel IP generation.