The Program Management Unit, which is a BIRAC initiative in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation & IKP Knowledge Park, is now gearing up to receive promising concepts coming in from Indian researchers. These cover ideas to create new medical devices, drug delivery systems, diagnostics and technology-enabled service models for health.

Making its second call for proposals under the Grand Challenges Explorations India programme, it is a funding opportunity for concepts that can change Indian healthcare.

“We are looking at ideas to create new medical devices, drug delivery systems, diagnostics and technology-enabled service models for health, and for the first time, have also expanded our focus to look at clean energy for health, to address some of the greatest challenges that we face today in these areas,” said Dr. Renu Swarup, Senior Advisor, Department of Biotechnology and Managing Director, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

The awardee will be eligible for an award of Rs. 50 lakh for 18 months, and a prize of Rs. 10 lakh for timely completion of milestones. Successful projects will also have the opportunity to apply for follow-on funds from BIRAC through the Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP), Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) or even the GCE Phase II programme of the DBT, BIRAC and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

According to Dr. Shirshendu Mukherjee, Mission Director, PMU-BIRAC, initiative will give successful applicants the chance to work with some of the best networks and mentors offered by our partners to help change the way global health challenges are addressed.  Apart from the funding them, BIRAC and IKP Knowledge Park will work closely with the chosen candidates, providing them technical and business strategy advice, factors that would be critical to making an innovation a medical and commercial success.

“GCE-India programme aims to empower potentially life-changing ideas and enable scale-up. As the implementing partner, we will mentor, provide technical consulting & access to synergistic national and international networks of highly-qualified individuals to work with successful applicants, and help them refine their strategies” said Deepanwita Chattopadhyay, chairman & CEO at IKP Knowledge Park.

This call for proposals is open till February 28, 2017 to any Indian researchers and faculty in colleges, universities, government laboratories and academic institutions, start-ups and SMEs and non-profit organizations.