BIRAC ANNOUNCES CALL FOR PROPOSALS UNDER PACE
About the Programme
Biotechnological research and development in India is largely carried out by academic institutions (universities/research organizations) and to some extent by industry (mostly large companies). By virtue of their strong infrastructure & technical capability academic/ research establishments are mandated to research on variety of problems of national importance and societal relevance. Also, unlike industry, research by academia is not governed by commercial gains alone thus allowing them to work on problems involving even high degree of risk.
To encourage/support academia to develop technology/product (up to PoC stage) of societal/ national importance and its subsequent validation by an industrial partner, BIRAC has launched PACE (Promoting Academic Research Conversion to Enterprise).
The scheme has two components as below:
1. Academic Innovation Research (AIR):
The objective of Academic Innovation Research (AIR) scheme is to promote development of Proof-of-concept (PoC) for a process/product by academia with or without the involvement of industry
2.Contract Research Scheme (CRS):
Contract Research Scheme (CRS) aims at validation of a process or prototype (developed by the academia) by the industrial partner
Important Feature of the Project
Eligibility Criteria FOR ACADEMIC INNOVATION RESEARCH (AIR):
1. Types of projects to be supported :
- Projects with well-established proof-of-principle leading to development of prototype of a product /technology of national relevance or commercial potential
- (Basic/exploratory research, projects without well-established Proof of principle or with no or low commercial potential will not be supported)
2. Duration of project : up to 18 months (BIRAC’s Technical Expert Committee at its discretion may recommend for increased duration of the project depending upon the nature of the research study)
3. Funding Support (Grant): Total cost of the project must not exceed Rs. 50 lakhs (Non-recurring cost must not exceed 10% of the total cost)
4. IPR : IP rights may be with academia alone, or jointly shared between academia and industry (if academia establishes PoC with industry) as per the understanding between the two partners
(On completion, successful AIR projects of national priority or with high commercial potential would be encouraged to apply under CRS)
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR CONTRACT RESEARCH SCHEME (CRS):
1. Types of projects to be supported:
Academia must have an established Proof-of-Concept (PoC) as evident by scientific data ready for validation by the industry in contract research mode
2. Duration of the project
No time limit
3. Funding Support (Grant): Funding in the form of grant is provided to both academic as well as industrial partners. While funding is provided to the academia for In-House research which forms a part of validation of the Proof of Concept, funds are provided to the industrial partner for validation. There is no ceiling to the funding.
4. IPR : Although the IP rights reside with the academia, the industry partner has first right of refusal for commercial exploitation of the New IP
WHO CAN APPLY?
ACADEMIC INNOVATION RESEARCH (AIR):
Under the scheme, academia (Public or Private Institute, University, NGO, or Research Foundation) having a well-established support system for research shall be the primary applicant. It can apply either:
- Individually,
- or
- Jointly with academic or industrial partner
- For Public or Private Institute, University, NGO, or Research Foundation, proper registration/accreditation from a government body is mandatory
- Participating companies should be under the Indian Companies Act, 2013 with at least 51% Indian shareholding i.e., shares of the Company should be held by Indian Citizens holding Indian passport (Indian citizens do not include Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) holders)
CONTRACT RESEARCH SCHEME (CRS):
- Academia has to be the Primary Applicant with one or more partners of which at least one is a company
- For Public or Private Institute, University, NGO, or Research Foundation, proper registration/accreditation from a government body is mandatory
- Participating companies should be under the Indian Companies Act, 2013 with at least 51% Indian shareholding (shares of the Company should be held by Indian Citizens holding Indian passport). Indian Citizens do not include Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) holders
Application Procedure
Proposals under PACE are required to be submitted online only. For submission of proposals, Institutions need to register with BIRAC through “Institution User Registration”. Additional information on user registration, and proposal submission are available online at BIRAC website
For further details, please contact:
Head-Investment, BIRAC
Email:investment.birac@gov.in
Announcement Date: 15-10-2019
Last Submission Date: 30-11-2019 05:30 PM