Call For Proposal

BIRAC announces Contract Research and Services Scheme (CRS) in the Biotech Sector which would facilitate the academia-industry interaction to take forward the research leads of Academic Universities and Research Institutes through validation and translation by industry.  This scheme would encourage the lab scale technology of the academia to reach the commercial scale along with the industry under a specific contract and fee structure.

Numerous lab scale research leads have been/are being generated in the academic sector through funding from various agencies like DBT, CSIR, DST, DRDO etc., which have the potential for validation and translation into products. Currently the academia is capable of limited translational research, however, product development is generally not a part of their mandate. Moreover, they may not have the required infrastructure to take on product development and commercialization activity.  It is, therefore, important to take the industry on board to validate such research leads for pilot studies through Contract Research Agreements.

In many cases the Academic researchers require some specific services from the industry which could also be supported under this scheme.

For all purposes, the term academia refers to the eligible applicants from academic sector (private and public universities or institutes).

The contract research and service opportunity for validating academic technologies would have the following principles

2.1  Contract Research

Applicants will provide the Proof-of-Concept (POC)/leads to the industry which in turn would validate it functionally.
 
2.2  Contract Service

The requirements of the Academic groups for some specific services from the industry such as toxicology, sequencing, use of specific equipment etc. which form a part of validation of the PoC could also be supported under this scheme.

2.3  Contract Research and Service

The Contract Research and Service would be undertaken after executing necessary Agreements for Non-Disclosure, Material Transfer, etc. as required. 

a)        Primary applicant (academia)

Public and/or Private Universities and Research Institutions having a well established research support system, for basic or applied research  and education are eligible under this scheme. A registration/recognition/accreditation/ certification from a government body is mandatory. They should have a pre-determined company partner(s) having DSIR recognized R&D/Service unit(s).

The Research group should necessarily have an established lead as evident by scientific data ready for validation/outsourced services and may fall under the following categories but not limited to:

(i)                 Validation of lab scale technology

(ii)               Small scale contract research resulting in generating several batches of process or multiple prototypes

(iii)             Large scale validation of prototype to commercial design.

b)       Collaborating Company (ies)

Only Indian Company (ies), registered under the Indian Companies Act 1956  with atleast 51%  Indian shareholding and having DSIR* recognised in-house R&D unit, interested to perform such a contract research service with academic partner are eligible.

(*companies in the process of obtaining DSIR recognition may also apply along with the proof of application to DSIR. However, the final decision on such applications would be subject to their getting DSIR recognition)

Proposals under CRS are required to be submitted online only. For submission of proposals, Institutions need to register with BIRAC through “Institution User Registration”. Detailed guidelines on how to submit the Proposal will be  available online. www.birac.nic.in

Further details on How to submit a proposal would be available in the CRS User Guide available on the website.
The proposals should be submitted on or before 15^th September, 2012 (midnight).

Institution User Registration is open round the clock.

Online Proposal Submission opens on 1st August, 2012

No Hard Copy to be submitted. Proposals submitted online only would be considered.

Last date for Submission of Proposals under  the CRS scheme : 15^th September 2012

For further details, please contact:

Dr. Amita Joshi, Programme Manager, BIRAC

E-mail:  biraccrs.dbt@nic.in

Announcement Date: 01-08-2012
Last Submission Date: 15-09-2012 12:00 AM