The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has invited proposals from biotech companies for its 15th batch of Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) scheme to support innovative, early stage, proof of-concept Research and Development (R&D) and commercialisation efforts of available innovative research leads in all areas of biotechnology.

The main objective of this scheme is to assist small and medium business units including new enterprises with not more than 500 employees in R&D and offer them  phase I funding for early stage, pre proof-of-concept innovative research. It also provides phase II funding towards commercialisation of research leads.

It also aims at strengthening the existing private units with in-house innovative R&D and to create opportunities for starting up technology-based or knowledge-based businesses in biotechnology and to stimulate technological innovation and product commercialisation. The department also uses the scheme to support public-private partnership model between industry and public funded institutions.

The proposal has to be sent to the Biotech Consortium India Ltd (BCIL), promoted by DBT, major biotech companies and financial firms, on or before February 28, 2011.

The DBT has appointed BCIL as the SBIRI Management Agency assuring the confidentiality of the documents. The proposals can be submitted solely by an industry or jointly by industry and national R&D organisations, universities and institutions. The private firm R&D units should be registered in India and it must fulfil the criteria of small business unit i.e. it should have not more than 500 employees in R&D as defined in the scheme.

At least 51 per cent of the company's shares should be held by Indian promoters, family and friends and the general public. The company should have a well established in-house R&D unit recognised by Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) or have patent rights (National or International) on preliminary work done related to the proposed activity, elaborates an announcement from the DBT.