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SMALL
BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH INITIATIVE |
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Innovative
capacity determines the ability of a system to create
a continuing pipeline of new products and processes.
Innovation encompasses knowledge creation (R&D),
knowledge diffusion (education & training) and knowledge
application (commercialization). However, there is often
no continuity between these components of innovation
and that is one major reason why leads from the lab
do not often get translated into usable products/processes.
It is a fact that much of the innovation in the field
of biotechnology is driven by small and medium enterprises
(SMEs). However, most SMEs operate on shoe-string budgets
lacking the working capital required to dabble in R&D,
especially for early and late stage development. Recognizing
this debilitating constraint faced by SMEs, the Department
of Biotechnology launched the Small Business Innovation
Research Initiative (SBIRI) in September 2005. SBIRI
aims to support novel, high risk pre-proof-of-concept
research and late stage development in small and medium
biotech companies led by innovators with science background
and to engage them in development of products and processes
of high social relevance. SBIRI seeks to bring users
and private sector producers of technology together
to hasten the process of converting new technology into
newer products with a sense of urgency. |
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SBIRI aims to: |
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strengthen
in-house R&D of private industrial units |
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create
opportunities for new technology-based or knowledge-based
enterprises; |
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stimulate
technological innovation; |
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enhance
public-private partnerships, and |
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increase
product commercialization in public-private sector
derived from Government funded R&D. |
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A
typical project under SBIRI is supported in two phases.
In the first phase, highly innovative, early stage,
pre-proof-of-concept research proposals, which address
important national needs are supported. In the second
phase, funding is provided in the form of a soft loan
for upto Rs.100 crores for late development and commercialization
of innovative research leads wherein proof-of-concept
is already established.
The core objectives of SBIRI is to nurture the development
of indigenous technologies and biotech enterprises that
address ritical societal needs in areas like healthcare,
food, nutrition and agriculture. In the year 2005-06,
10 applications out of a total of 71 received support.
Calls for fresh proposals for the current year has already
been announced in major newspapers.
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| Indo-Finnish
Workshop on Plant and Food Biotechnology held at Helsinki |
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Indo-Finnish
Workshop on Modern Plant and Food Biotechnology was
held at Helsinki, Finland from April 3-5, 2006. The
objective of the workshop was to strengthen communication
between Finnish and Indian research scientists. The
focus of deliberations during the workshop were the
following three thematic areas: |
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Plant
and Crop Biotechnology |
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Food
and Industry Biotechnology |
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Biotechnology
for a Sustainable Bio-future. |
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Representatives
of several renowned Indian research and academic institutions
associated with biotechnology participated in the workshop.
The highlight of the workshop was a visit to Helsinki
University and VTT Technical Centre. It is expected
that the deliberations and contacts established at the
workshop will lead to 8-10 collaborative projects involving
Indian and Finnish institutions . |
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| Indo-US
Workshop on Clinical Trials and Clinical Research held
at Mumbai |
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An
Indo-US Workshop on Clinical Trials and Clinical Research
was held in Mumbai from April 4-6, 2006. The workshop
was sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology; Indian
Council of Medical Research; Drugs Controller General
of India and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. The workshop focused on various aspects related
to clinical trials and research and was attended by
eminent experts from USA and India. |
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| Meetings
held on biotechnology for improvement of pulses and oilseeds
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The
Department of Biotechnology organised
two meetings with institutions engaged
in biotech research on oilseeds, pulses,
fodder and fibre crops. The purpose behind
these meetings was to generate research
ideas pertaining to use of biotechnological
tools for genetic improvement of these
crops. The first meeting was held on 3rd
April 2006, at the Directorate of Oilseed
Research, Hyderabad. Indian Grassland
and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi
was the venue for the second meeting held
on 10th April 2006. The meeting focused
on research and development priorities
for these major crops including improvement
of pulses through transgenosis and marker-aided
selection. |
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A
Think Tank Chaired by Dr. C.R. Bhatia, former Secretary
DBT has also been constituted to deliberate upon and
suggest an action plan for improving food, fodder and
fibre crops through application of biotechnology. The
first meeting of the this newly constituted consultative
group is scheduled in June 2006. |
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| DBT-IAVI
collaborate for HIV vaccine research |
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Department
of Biotechnology and International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
(IAVI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to
cooperate in the areas of R & D and evaluation of
HIV/AIDS Vaccine in India. The broad areas identified
for collaboration are: |
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Basic
and applied research on HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development |
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Exchange
of information |
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Capacity
building for conducting clinical testing of HIV/AIDS
vaccine(s) in India and |
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Identification
of Intellectual Property Rights issues for facilitating
licensing of technology transfer agreements. |
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As
a follow up to the MoU an expert consultation was held
on February 20-21, 2006 at International Centre for
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology(ICGEB), New Delhi
to define the challenges in the way of developing HIV/AIDS
vaccines and also to identify key R & D needs in
this context. |
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| Partnership
in Stem Cell Research |
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Department
of Biotechnology and Christian Medical College (CMC),
Vellore have joined hands to setup the “CMC-DBT
Centre for Stem Cell Research” at Vellore, Tamil
Nadu. Funded by the Department of Biotechnology the
centre aims to promote basic and translational stem
cell research in the country. Initial focus of the team
of the scientists of the centre will be on cardiac disorders.
Projects are also being developed for application of
stem cell or other cell therapies for treatment of damaged
articular cartilage and physeal plate, muscular dystrophy
and immuno-modulation for treatment of systemic sclerosis. |
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The
Centre has state-of-the art infrastructure to conduct
research and production of cellular products for human
use. A Scientific Advisory Committee has been constituted
for providing direction to the centre and monitoring
its activities. |
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Breaking
barriers and building partnerships: DBT and ICMR to
jointly fund projects on HIV/AIDS and microbicides |
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Department
of Biotechnology and Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR)
have decided to jointly invite and fund collaborative
research proposals in the area of HIV/AIDS and microbicides.
The objective of this collaborative programme is to
augment advanced scientific R & D through a shared
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strategic
plan and financial resource mobilization
and also to promote greater collaboration
among HIV/AIDS researchers in the country.
In the meetings held with leading HIV/AIDS
researchers and planners, the areas identified
to be focused upon include, understanding
the pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS, designing
novel vaccines and microbicides concepts,
curtail HIV replication etc. The letters
of intent (LoI's) received from various
research institutions, universities, private
companies and NGOs, are now being reviewed
by an Expert Committee. The criteria for
determining eligibility for support are
scientific merit, priority of the proposed
area, expertise and leadership qualities
of principal investigator(s) and the team,
collaborative abilities, core infrastructure
and support facilities. |
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| Creating
"Centres of Excellence" in biotechnology |
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The
Department of Biotechnology launched its “Centres
of Excellence" scheme in year 2005-06 for augmenting
and strengthening institutional research capacity in
areas of biotechnology. Under this scheme, flexible
support is provided to expand and develop faculty research
capabilities and enhance research infrastructure. Each
centre created under the scheme is expected to have
a specific and sharp thematic focus with multi-disciplinary
approach for achieving end goals. The thematic focus
must use a mix of product-relevant discovery science
and aim at innovation in agriculture, environment, health
and industrial sectors. Addressing emerging technologies
with inter-disciplinary cross talk is a priority and
openness to collaborate with industry is viewed positively.
Announced last year, the scheme has elicited a very
encouraging response. Proposals received from various
institutions for consideration are peer-reviewed and
placed before the Programme Advisory Committee (PAC)
for its final recommendations. In the first year, Centre
for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad has
been supported as a Centre of Excellence for work on
'Genetics and Genomics of Silk Moths'. In addition,
the following institutions have been supported under
the programme support mode:
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Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore (Research on cancer
biology and therapeutics) / Research on Industrially
Important Non-Conventional Yeasts. |
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University
of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and International
Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology,
New Delhi (Development of drought tolerant rice
varieties by biotechnological approaches) |
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M.S.
Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai (Characterization
and validation of the mangrove genes in transgenic
rice systems for abiotic stress tolerance) |
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5.
Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh (Development
of technologies for therapeutic proteins) |
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proposals received for the financial year 2006-07 are
now under various stages of review. |
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| Bio-2006
Convention, Chicago, USA: The flying colours of India
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Mr.
Kapil Sibal, Hon'ble Minister of Science & Technology
and Ocean Development led from the front for India at
BIO-2006 Convention held at Chicago,
U.S.A from 10-12, April 2006. |
Nearly
20,000 participants from more than 60 countries
attended the convention.
At the International Ministerial Seminar, Mr.
Sibal was very articulate in highlighting the
strengths of India as an emerging biotech destination.
This, he underlined, is reflected in India’s
regulatory procedures, TRIPs compliant intellectual
property regime, qualified and high-skilled work
force, rich biodiversity, vast market and the
pro-active government policies. Besides India,
ministers from Germany, European Union, Malaysia
and Taiwan also addressed the seminar. Dr. M.
K. Bhan, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology
chaired the International Food and Agriculture
Seminar held during the convention. A large number
of Indian biotech companies led by CII and ABLE,
DBT as well as several state governments made
their presence felt at the three day long BIO
2006 exhibition.
In New York, on April 5th, Mr. Sibal launched
the India-US Biotech Working Group of the High
Technology Co-operation Group (HTCG) coordinated
by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI). Addressing the |
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members
of the Business Council for International Understanding
(BCIU) and the United States India Business Council,
the Iminister identified high technology as one
of the key elements of Indo-US partnership. He
also highlighted the opportunities that India
presents in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals,
agriculture, food processing, alternate energy
sources, health sector including medical devices
and clean technologies besides infrastructure
and power. A Joint Science and Technology Commission
to oversee the bilateral cooperation |
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matters in the field of science between India and USA,
was a welcome result of Mr. Sibal’s meetings with
senior US officials, that included Dr. Jack Marburger,
Science Advisor to President Bush. The joint commission
would be co-chaired by Minister, Science and Technology
from the Indian side and the Science Advisor to US President
from the US side. |
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During
his visit to Washington D.C., Mr. Sibal’s gave
a talk on “Science and Technology for Development:
The Indian Experience”. |
His
roundtable discussion with members of Pan IIT,
TiE-DC and CII Indian American Council had more
than 150 US based IIT alumni attending and interacting
with the delegation. The delegation led by Mr.
Sibal also visited the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical
Research Center of the National Institutes of
Health (NIH). Dr. Elias A Zerhouni, Director,
NIH and Mr. Sibal deliberated upon various possibilities
of cooperation between Indian institutions and
NIH. The Indian delegation also interacted with
scientists, professors and students at the George
Washington University |
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School, University of Iowa, and the Ohio State University.
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