BIRAC announces 22nd CFPs under the Biotechnology Ignition Grant Scheme (India)

Deadline: 15-Feb-23

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has announced the 22nd Call for proposals under the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) Scheme.

The Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) is a flagship scheme of BIRAC which recognizes and invests in innovative ideas in the biotech sector. The ideas should have clear potential to translate into commercial products/technologies.

Purpose of the BIG scheme

• BIG scheme:
  • Supports ideation to PoC
  • Nurtures entrepreneurship to enable translation of ideas into commercially viable products/ technologies to address unmet need
  • Enables Biotech Startup Ecosystem in the country to become globally Competitive.

Categories

• The project proposals can be submitted in any of the following seven categories:
  • Devices & Diagnostics
  • Drugs including drug delivery
  • Industrial Biotechnology including Secondary Agriculture
  • Agriculture
  • Biosimilars & Stem Cells
  • Vaccines
  • Bioinformatics & facilities.

Funding Information

• Under BIG scheme, BIRAC provides grant-in-aid of upto INR 50 lakhs (approx USD 75,000).
• Duration: The funding is provided for a period of up to 18 months. The project is implemented in a milestone based manner.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individual:
  • The individual applicant should be an Indian citizen.
  • The primary applicant should be the Project Leader.
  • The applicant has to be incubated in an incubator (Incubator could be located anywhere in the country and may/may not be supported by BIRAC). At the time of application, the applicant is expected to have identified preferred incubator. LoI/MoU with the incubator is required for final approval.
  • If the applicant is formally employed (or registered as a student) with an academic or research organization, then
  • The applicant has to produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from competent authority of the organization clearly indicating that the organization has policies in place to allow the applicant while in service/ on sabbatical/on Extraordinary Leave:
    • Accept funding support (if successful) as an individual,
    • Manage the funds through a separate no-lien account in individual capacity
    • Undertake BIG project in an incubator
    • To create an enterprise.
  • Alternatively, the applicant needs to provide an undertaking that he/she plans to terminate his/her association with the current employer and take up the project full time in the event of grant approval. A resignation/ relieving/ retirement letter will be needed as supporting document before final approval and release of the grant.
  • If the applicant is formally employed with a forprofit company/LLP,
  • The applicant needs to provide an undertaking that he/she plans to terminate his/her association with the current employer and take up the project full time in the event of a grant approval (A resignation/ relieving/retirement letter will be needed as supporting document before final approval and release of the grant.), or,
  • Alternatively, the application should be submitted under Company/LLP category.
  • Individual who is a promoter shareholder of a Biotech company or one of the partners in a Biotech LLP will not be allowed to apply as an individual, irrespective of the percentage of shareholding of the applicant in the company. (In such a case, the application can be submitted through company/LLP route, in case the company/LLP meets the required eligibility criteria.
• Company/LLP:
  • The Company/LLP should be registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1956/2013.
  • The incorporation date of the Company/LLP should not be earlier than 5 years from the date of closing of a particular BIG call.
  • A company is considered as ‘owned’ by resident Indian citizen(s) if minimum 51% of the capital is beneficially owned by resident Indian citizen(s) and / or Indian companies, which are ultimately owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens.
  • Company/LLP’s application should be represented by a Project Leader.
  • The Company/LLP must have its own in-house R&D facility that is functional and adequate to execute the project. If the Company/LLP does not have a functional and adequate laboratory of its own then it should be incubated at an incubator (This shall be verified and confirmed by BIG Partner ),
  • If an applicant company, in which any promoter holding more than or equal to 20% of the shares, is a co-promoter of another ineligible company or a partner in another ineligible LLP, then the applicant will not be eligible. The only exception to this shall be situation wherein the latter ineligible company/LLP is operating in non-biotech domain. In case applicant is a LLP: An applicant LLP, in which any of the partners is also a partner in another ineligible LLP or is a co-promoter in another ineligible company, then the applicant will not be eligible. The only exception to this shall be situation wherein the latter ineligible LLP/company is operating in non-biotech domain.

For more information, visit BIG.