Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), under its Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) scheme has announced a Special Call for BIG-NER (North East Region). The scheme enables technology innovators and entrepreneurs to pursue a promising technology idea, and establish and validate proof of concept  (POC) for the idea. Special Call for BIG-NER would support innovative ideas for implementation/deployment in the states of North East Region of Indian territory (Arunachal Pradesh,  Assam,  Manipur,  Meghalaya,  Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura).

This is the 16th call for proposals from BIRAC since the BIG scheme was launched in 2012 for igniting new ideas in biotechnology. The last date for submission of proposal is 15 January 2020.

The proposals should highlight the application of the potential outcome in North Eastern Regions. The scheme enables technology innovators and entrepreneurs to pursue a promising technology idea, and establish and validate proof of concept (POC) for the idea.

This supports only upto proof-of-concept stage. Under this special call for BIG scheme, funding will be in the form of grant-in-aid limited up-to Rs. 25 lakh.

KIIT-TBI-BioNEST, Bhubaneswar is the BIRAC’s BIG partner for special call for NER.

The standard eligibility clause is mentioned in the BIG scheme document and additionally the local presence through intent of technology development/implementation in NER can be substantiated.

The BIG scheme was launched by BIRAC as it is of the view that the “bio-innovation capital” of the nation would come from novel ideas which have a commercialisation potential and that evolve out from start-ups or academic spin-offs. BIRAC’s strategy was to support the numerous exciting ideas which have an unmet need for funding and mentorship. This strategy is fulfilled through a grant funding scheme called BIG which is available to scientist entrepreneurs from research institutes, academia and start ups. The applicant must be either an incubatee or have a registered company with a functional R&D laboratory to be eligible for this grant. The scheme is designed to stimulate commercialization of research discoveries by providing very early stage grants to help bridge the gap between discovery and invention.