Deadline: 15 March 2017
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is seeking proposals for its “Innovative Diagnostic tools for Soil and Plant Health” under the Social Innovation Programme for Products: Affordable and Relevant to Societal Health (SPARSH) in order to engage, encourage and facilitate efforts of young educated minds.
Key Features
- Development of efficient, low cost, easy to use sensors for estimation of pH, moisture, macro and micronutrients, organic matter, etc. for on the spot soil fertility analysis.
- Development of software, and mobile app to analyse test results for appropriate soil amendments.
- Use of GIS, GPS, and Remote Sensing techniques for capturing variability in soil fertility
- Big data analytics tools and techniques, IOT, etc.
- Tools/techniques for estimation of both pathogenic (fungi, nematodes, etc.) as well as beneficial organisms (rhizobia, mycorrhizae, etc.) in the soil.
- Development of sensors/simple tools for estimation of nutritional status in plant tissue to determine nutrient deficiency and plan proper fertilizer application.
- Rapid, specific and low cost diagnostic kits for on-site detection of various plant diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. to minimize production losses.
- Other related activities.
Funding Information
The funding support to a maximum of Rs. 50 lakhs would be in the form of grant-in-aid.
Eligibility Criteria
- Biotechnology Indian start‐ups (Incorporated under the Indian Companies Act and having a minimum of 51% Indian Ownership) (Less than 3 years old as on the date of advertisement)/Indian entrepreneurs (Indian citizen willing to form a Company as per Indian Law)
- Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) incorporated under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 (less than three years old as on the date of advertisement) having a minimum half of the persons who subscribed their names to the LLP document as its Partners should be Indian citizens.
- Indian Academic Scientists, Researchers, PhDs, (who must be willing to incubate in a business incubator).
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via given website.
Eligible Country: India
For more information, please visit BIRAC 5th Call for SPARSH.