The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has invited proposals from biotech companies for the eighth batch of Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP), which was launched by the DBT sometime back. BIPP is a unique programme, a government partnership with industry for support on a cost sharing basis for development of novel and high risk futuristic technologies mainly for viability gap funding and enhancing existing R&D capacities.
Initiated under Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Programme (BIRAP), it provides support for breakthrough research which creates intellectual property and technology for product development that is both innovative and of benefit to society.
This new scheme will be one of the most enabling mechanisms to promote R&D in biotech industry and public private partnership programmes. The scheme supports large, medium, small scale companies to start-up on cost sharing basis. It would push for high risk, discovery linked innovation and accelerated technology development. Varying models of grants, loans or grant plus loans will be made available under the scheme.
The programme will also focus on the evaluation and validation of biotech products and indigenous discovery, innovation and technology to products with focus on the products of national relevance or public benefit BIPP is an advanced technology initiative by the DBT for supporting innovative and challenging R&D in industry.
Under this advanced technology scheme, support would be provided only for a single or consortia of Indian companies for profit that have a small, medium or large having DSIR recognised in-house R&D units. According to the notification the proposals can be submitted solely by an Indian company or jointly by an Indian company and national R&D organisations and institutions or by a group of Indian companies along with national research organisations etc.
Recently with a view to keep up with the latest trends in the biotechnology sector, the DBT under the BIPP, had also launched a scheme to promote the development of biosimilars by the domestic industry by extending financial support. This is the first time that DBT has taken such effort to in the field of biosimilars for support on cost sharing basis for development of novel and high risk futuristic technologies mainly for enhancing research capacities.
The BIPP is a unique initiative of DBT being implemented in partnership with Association of Bio-Technology of Led Enterprises (ABLE) and BCIL to nurture R&D and innovation in Biotech industry. Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL) is the BIPP Management Agency and will ensure maintenance of strict confidentiality of the proposals as per DBT norms.