Call For Proposal

SPARSH (Social Innovation Programme for Products: Affordable and Relevant to Societal Health) is the Social Innovation Programme of BIRAC aimed at promoting the development of innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems through biotechnological approaches. Since its inception, the program has been investing in high impact ideas and innovations that could address unmet needs and challenges that are neglected. Till date, six calls for proposals have been launched under the program. The first two calls of SPARSH were aligned with UN Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 i.e., “Reducing child mortality and improving maternal health”. The third and the fourth call for proposals were on “Waste to Value”, and “Ageing and Health”, respectively. A dedicated call on “Waste to Value” also reflects the mandate of Swatch Bharat Mission which aims at elimination of open defecation, conversion of unsanitary toilets to pour flush toilets, etc. The Fifth call on “Innovative Diagnostic tools for Soil and Plant Health” was launched on 26th January, 2017 for entrepreneurs and startups in the field of soil and plant health assessment. The theme of the Sixth call was “Waste to Value”.

Objectives of the Program

1. To identify and provide support to cutting edge innovations towards affordable product development that can bring significant social impact and address challenges of inclusive growth.

2. To provide support in form of impact funding of biotech product innovations (with social goals) that can be scaled. Under the Scheme funding is provided to support innovations towards affordable product development that can bring significant social impact and address challenges of inclusive growth. 46 projects have so far been supported and 13 products/prototypes/technologies have been developed. 

Click here to view an advertisment

Soil & Plant Health
• Sensors & Diagnostics
• Remote Sensing & Automation
• Big Data Analysis & Web Based Platform

• Companies/Start-ups/Limited Liability Partnerships - LLP (with minimum 51% Indian ownership) are eligible to apply either alone, or in collaboration with another Company/Academic Institution â€‹
• Academic Institute, University, NGO, or Research Foundation, having proper registration/ accreditation from a government body are eligible to apply with one or more partners of which at least one is a Company​

Proposals are required to be submitted online only. For scheme details and submission of proposal, please log on to BIRAC website (www.birac.nic.in).

Last date for Submission of Proposals : 17th November, 2018

Head – Investment : investment.birac@gov.in or Senior Manager : sparsh.birac@nic.in

Announcement Date: 02-10-2018
Last Submission Date: 17-11-2018