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The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), under its Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) scheme, has invited proposals from Indian biotech companies for supporting affordable bio-pharmaceutical development in identifying novel tools/technologies and process optimisation.
Under this flagship public-private partnership programme, BIRAC will support discovery, proof-of-concept and early stage innovations in companies for development of biotechnological products and processes with high societal relevance. Under this scheme, BIRAC will provide support for identification and validation of novel bio-processes for bio-pharmaceuticals at lab scale and also for innovative R&D solutions for upstream and downstream process optimisation.
A single or consortia of Indian companies registered under 'the Indian Companies Act 2013' with minimum 51 per cent Indian ownership and DISR recognised in-house R&D units are eligible to apply either alone or in collaboration with a partner from another company, institute or university. The companies can send their proposals till March 31, 2016.
The SBIRI scheme was launched by BIRAC 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.
The scheme aims to strengthen those existing private industrial units whose product development is based on in-house innovative R&D; encourage other smaller businesses to increase their R&D capabilities and capacity; create opportunities for starting new technology-based or knowledge-based businesses by science entrepreneurs; stimulate technological innovation; use private industries as a source of innovation and thereby fulfill government objectives in fostering R&D; and increase private sector commercialisation derived from government funded R&D.
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