BIRAC to Nurture Industry R&D

1. “Pilot BIRAP” – Biotechnology Industry Research & Development Assistance Programme BIRAC to Nurture Industry R&D A Govt. of India initiative to promote R&D and innovation in biotechnology in the private sector

2. A Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is being launched to • act as an interface between academic and private sector, particularly SMEs and Startups. • nurture and catalyze R&D and innovation in biotechnology in the private sector and • promote public-private partnerships. • The functions of BIRAC inter alia would be to: • Trigger, transform and tend biotech startups to convert research in public and private sector into viable and competitive enterprises • Support, strengthen and scale up small-and-medium enterprises utilizing indigenous biotechnological innovations • Provide financial, infrastructural, institutional and mentoring support for biopreneurs so that barriers to entry are reduced. • Encourage knowledge networking among biopreneurs at national and international level to maintain technological and scientific edge • Manage support to Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme • Provide other policy and institutional support for the actors involved in converting biotechnological innovations into enterprise.

3. Pilot BIRAP • Launched in October 2008 as an interim measure to kick start the BIRAC activities • To be implemented in partnership with ABLE and BCIL • Some immediate tasks can be handled as a Phase-I component. • Would provide sufficient experience and background for taking up the detailed phase-II activities as listed in the DPR. • Functions of the “Pilot BIRAP” • Logistics, services and support for Public Private Partnership program • Industry Platform Programmes • Facilitating Technology Assessment and Transfer • Information, Research, Analysis and Advisory Services • Building awareness of potential opportunities and capacities in areas which require skilled human resource