Applications Invited for DBT-BIRAC Amrit Team Grant

• Organization: Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
• Apply By: 20 November 2024
• Grant Amount: 100,000,000 INR

About the Organization

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is India's lead agency in promoting biotechnology research, applications, and development, established in 1986. With initiatives in agriculture, healthcare, animal sciences, environment, and industry, DBT aims to leverage biotechnology for broad societal impact.

About the Grant

The DBT-BIRAC Amrit Team Grant is a collaborative research program inspired by the Prime Minister’s call for “Jai Anusandhan” to boost India’s leadership in biotechnology. It funds high-risk, interdisciplinary research that addresses critical national needs, encouraging spin-offs and venture creation in biotechnology.

• Objectives:

  • Support ambitious research and milestone-driven discoveries across academia, clinical settings, and start-ups.
  • Enable multi-organization collaborations for tackling complex biological issues.
  • Enhance the bioeconomy and create societal solutions.

• Supported Areas:

  • All biotechnology domains, including Healthcare, Agriculture, Plant and Animal Biotechnology, Biomanufacturing.

Scope of the Program

• Focus: Address knowledge bottlenecks, break research silos, and promote solutions to societal challenges.
• Research Goals:
  • Mechanistic understanding of biological processes.
  • Integration of classical and emerging scientific approaches.
• Exclusions: The grant does not support disease epidemiology, new clinical cohorts/biobanks, clinical/drug trials, stand-alone in silico methods, capacity-building, or infrastructure creation only.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Eligible Entities: Public/private research or educational institutes, start-ups, NGOs, voluntary organizations registered in India.
2. Conditions:
   • Must not be blacklisted or terminated by BIRAC within the past 5 years.
   • Private organizations should have a 3-year track record in research or extension activities.
3. Supporting Documents for NGOs/Trusts: Registration proof, NITI Aayog NGO DARPAN registration, financial statements, DSIR certificates, and organizational documents.

Project Structure

• Lead Investigator: A principal investigator (PI) or coordinator with a clearly defined goal achievable in 2 years (extendable up to 5 years).
• Team Composition: Must include investigators from at least three distinct host organizations (or departments in large organizations). Start-ups may partner with academic labs.
• Women-led projects and early-/mid-career investigators are encouraged.

Application Guidelines

• Submission Portal: Apply through DBT e-PROMIS for academia collaborations and the BIRAC portal for academia-startup collaborations.
• Submission Deadline: Proposals must be submitted by 20 November 2024.
• Funding Cap: A single organization/department cannot receive more than 40% of the grant amount.

For detailed guidelines, refer to the Grant Guidelines.

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