Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), the Department of Biotechnology’s interface agency with emerging biotech industries, has announced the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) scheme. This scheme is designed to stimulate commercialisation of research discoveries by providing very early stage grants for the development and maturation of those discoveries into marketable product or intellectual property (IP), in particular to help bridge the gap between discovery and invention.Funding will be in the form of grant-in-aid limited up-to Rs 50 lakh and the period for the study would generally not exceed 18 months.BIRAC’s BIG scheme is thus tailor made for for potential entrepreneurs from academia, start-ups or an incubatee (researchers, PhDs, medical degree holders, biomedical engg. graduates) who have an exciting idea which may be in the nascent and planning stage and there is an unmet need for mentorship and initial funding.The purpose of the BIG Scheme is to upscale and validate of Proof of Concept, encourage researchers to take technology closer to market through a start up and excite interest of potential licensees or investors. BIRAC will invite proposals for this Ignition grant at least twice a year. The scheme would be managed by BIG Partners. who would provide mentoring and hand-holding for activities related to mobilising resources, IP management, legal and contracts and other business development related activities for the BIG innovators. They will monitor targeted milestone and disbursement of funds and also organise workshops, meeting, travel etc.The current BIG Partners are the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), Bangalore; Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), New Delhi; and IKP Knowledge Park, Hyderabad.
More details on the scheme can be accessed at http://www.birapdbt.nic.in/news_desc.php?id=45
EP News Bureau — Mumbai
