Call for Proposals: Setting up of E-Yuva Centres (India)

Deadline: 16-Aug-23

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is seeking applications to promote a culture of applied research and needoriented (societal or industry) entrepreneurial innovation among young students and researchers.

The scheme provides funding support (through fellowship and research grant), technical and business mentoring, exposure to bioincubation model, orientation to entrepreneurial culture etc. to students at various levels including undergraduates, post-graduates and post-doctoral.

This BIRAC’s scheme is implemented through dedicated hubs called E-Yuva Centers (EYCs) housed within the University/Institute set up and mentored by a BIRAC BioNEST supported bio-incubator. EYCs act as anchors and extend requisite support and mentoring to students. Each EYC has a BIRAC supported pre-incubation space which offers infrastructure and equipment for basic research and experimentation by selected students. Advanced research needs are fulfilled through bio-incubator connect.

Categories

• The scheme provides support under following two categories:
  • BIRAC’s Innovation Fellows (for post graduates and above)
  • BIRAC’s E-Yuva Fellows (for under graduate students)

Areas covered

• BIRAC Innovation Fellowship proposals can be submitted in any domain including Healthcare, Lifesciences, Diagnostics, Medical Devices, Drugs, Vaccines, Drug Formulations and delivery systems, Industrial Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Agriculture, Secondary agriculture, Waste Management, Sanitation, Clean Energy and Artificial Intelligence/IoT/ Automation with application in any of these areas.
• BIRAC encourages interdisciplinary proposals from any stream that can help conversion of innovative ideas into biotech products and technologies in any of the above fields.

Benefits

• BIRAC’s Innovation Fellows:
  • BIRAC’s Innovation Fellows will receive fellowship grant and annual research grant as mentioned below:
    • Fellowship grant:
      • INR 30,000 per month for Post-graduate fellow
      • INR 50,000 per month for Post-doctoral fellow
    • Annual research grant:
      • INR 3,00,000 per year for Post-graduate fellow
      • INR 5,00,000 per year for Post-doctoral fellow
  • Fellowship is provided for a period of 18 months with a provision of 6 months extension only for deserving cases.
• BIRAC’s E-Yuva Fellows:
  • BIRAC’s E-Yuva Fellows will receive quarterly stipend and annual research grant as mentioned below:
    • Quarterly Stipend: INR 7,500 per quarter per student of the team
    • Annual research grant: INR 2,50,000 per team
  • Fellowship is provided for a period of 12 months.

Roles and Responsibilities of EYCs

• View and process online applications received for fellowship
• Screen applications for eligibility and suitability for the scheme
• Carry out online Technical Review of eligible applications through Subject Experts (Reviewers)
• Shortlist proposals for interview(F2F/skype/telephonic) by an Expert Panel
• Communicate decision to applicants at each step of selection
• Seek BIRAC approval on final selection of fellowsor their eligibility
• Issue fellowship award letter to the selected candidates on behalf of BIRAC
• Release fellowship and research grant received from BIRAC
• Provide mentorship, handholding and access to facilities at EYC and EYC Knowledge Partner for BIRAC’s Innovation and E-YUVA Fellows
• Monitor the targeted milestones
• Organize periodic review meetings
• Provide mentorship and handholding for domain expertise, entrepreneurship and activities including but not limited to IP management, mobilizing resources and other business development related activities
• Provide platforms/opportunities for interaction with experts.
• Provide periodic updates and reports on progress of Fellows to BIRAC
• Conduct entrepreneurial workshops
• Any other activity required for effective implementation of fellowships on mutual consent with BIRAC.

Eligibility Criteria

• University/Institution established as a legal entity under the relevant Law of India having at least 51% Indian stakeholders (owners/partners/trustees/ members/associates etc.) is eligible to apply. The University/Institution could be Public (Central/State)/Private owned. Other mandatory conditions are as follows:
  • Applicant University/Institution should have a Department in Life Sciences stream (Biotechnology/ Biosciences/ Agriculture /Horticulture/ Food technology etc.) for technical support
  • Age of the applicant University/Institution should be at least 3 years or more
  • Presence of an Innovation supporting formal body, such as E-Cell/ Institutional Innovation Councils/ IP Cells/ TTOs / Incubation centre etc. is a must
• It is desirous for the applicant organization to have:
  • Connect with a Bio-incubator
  • Network of experts who can provide technical/business mentorship to fellows
• Applications for EYCs need to be routed through the Head of the University/Institution. The Head of the University/ Institution shall appoint/nominate the Project Lead as a contact point for BIRAC EYC until a dedicated staff is appointed for the same.

Criteria for selection of BIRAC’s E-Yuva Centers

• The BIRAC EYC Committee will be responsible for selection of the new centers taking following criteria into consideration:
  • Allocation of dedicated space & relevant infrastructure ready for use.
  • Past experience of conducting innovation promoting/entrepreneurial programs desirable
  • Number of Startups formed by the students (in biotech or any other area)
  • Number of Patents filed from the University/ Institution
  • No. of Industry projects handled or Industry connects
  • Funds received or raised for supporting Innovations
  • Accessibility to experts/mentors
  • Willingness & commitment from the Head of the University/Institution to support the program
  • Availability of IP, regulatory, business support to the EYC fellows. The Institute should be willing to support EYC fellow to facilitate networking through individual/group.
  • Connects with bioincubators and other organizations actively promoting Entrepreneurship
• BIRAC encourages applications from Tier II/III cities for EYCs.

For more information, visit BIRAC.