Government to launch Rs350 crore biotechnology partnership programme

The cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval for launching a Rs350 crore biotechnology-industry partnership programme during the 11th plan.

An advanced science and technology scheme, the programme envisages government partnership with industries for support on a cost sharing basis for high risk discovery and innovation.

The partnership aims at accelerated technology development, specially for futuristic areas and the scheme envisages:

Increasing the global competitiveness of Indian industry in new and futuristic technologies and enhance ownership of IP in these areas by Indian companies and scientists;

Addressing major unmet national technological needs in agriculture, human health, animal productivity, energy and environment where expected social and economic impact is high; and

Fulfilling the biotech strategy objectives that 30 per cent of DBT's R&D investment in partnership with industry under BIPP support would be in four major categories.

The new scheme will be one of the enabling mechanisms to promote biotech industry R&D and public private partnership programmes, the release said. 

The scheme provides for a government contribution of 30-50 per cent to the industry for discovery linked innovation. Under this advanced technology scheme, support would be provided only for futuristic areas, transformational technology and product development for public good.