Amrit Team Grants
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Government of India, in collaboration with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), has introduced the Amrit Team Grants initiative. Launched in October 2024, this program is aligned with the Indian government’s commitment to promoting research and innovation as a key driver of economic and social progress. The Amrit Team Grants are intended to bolster collaborative, interdisciplinary research that addresses national challenges and promotes India as a global biotechnology leader.
This Blog covers the grant’s objectives, application process, funding mechanisms, and more, shedding light on how this initiative aims to transform India’s bioeconomy through impactful science.
Background and Purpose
The Amrit Team Grants program was conceived in response to the Prime Minister’s “Jai Anusandhan” call, which aims to foster groundbreaking research that will drive India forward in the biotechnology sector. Recognizing the need for high-impact scientific research, the DBT-BIRAC initiative seeks to support projects that solve critical societal issues. By providing financial backing for collaborative research, this initiative aims to create a foundation for sustainable innovation. The program will also encourage interactions between academic institutions, startups, and clinical experts, facilitating cross-disciplinary research and fostering the development of knowledge-based solutions to complex biological and societal issues.
Salient Features
The Amrit Team Grants program is structured to support ambitious, high-risk research endeavors that promise to address knowledge gaps and promote breakthrough discoveries.
Key features include:
Focus on Innovative Research: The program aims to fund transformative projects that go beyond traditional laboratory research, enabling high-risk, milestone-driven research projects that incorporate interdisciplinary approaches. This encourages innovation and aims to address national biotechnology goals through groundbreaking discoveries.
Encouraging New Ventures: By supporting spin-outs and venture creation, the initiative hopes to convert research into tangible, marketable solutions. Through this framework, both established institutions and startups are provided with the resources and infrastructure to take significant strides in their research and development.
Wide Domain Coverage: Proposals from various areas of biotechnology are eligible, including healthcare, agriculture, animal biotechnology, plant sciences, and biomanufacturing. This inclusive approach aligns with the initiative’s goal to catalyze transformative discoveries across all aspects of biotechnology.
Outcome-Driven Approach: The program is outcome-oriented, focusing on research projects that can directly or indirectly enhance India’s bioeconomy. This involves developing new methodologies, creating impactful products, and addressing urgent societal needs, such as sustainable agricultural practices, healthcare improvements, and environmental conservation.
Scope of the Program
The DBT-BIRAC Amrit Team Grants aim to facilitate groundbreaking research by overcoming traditional knowledge bottlenecks and fostering collaborations that transcend organizational boundaries. The program is structured to meet various research objectives:
Breaking Research Silos: By encouraging collaborations across multiple organizations, the initiative aims to integrate different research perspectives and address complex problems that single entities cannot tackle alone.
Promoting Societal Engagement: Projects funded under this grant will be directed toward solving pressing societal issues, enhancing knowledge transfer, and generating solutions that benefit both current and future generations.
Supporting Mechanistic Understanding: The initiative aims to delve deeper into biological mechanisms, encouraging investigations across systems to develop a comprehensive understanding of complex biological issues.
The program has outlined specific areas that are not eligible for funding, including:
a) Disease epidemiology and cohort creation
b) Clinical drug trials and in silico studies
c) Standalone improvements to existing technology or training programs
d) Infrastructure development alone, with no defined research objective
Application Process and Eligibility Criteria
The DBT-BIRAC Amrit Team Grants have specific eligibility criteria designed to identify the most capable institutions and researchers:
Eligible Entities: Applications are open to various public and private research organizations, educational institutions, NGOs, and startups that comply with Indian legal regulations. Startups are encouraged to partner with academic institutions to maximize the interdisciplinary potential of their projects.
Application Submission: Interested teams should submit their applications through the DBT e-PROMIS portal for academia-academia collaborations and through the BIRAC portal for academia-startup collaborations. The applications should detail the roles of all involved organizations and investigators.
Investigator Requirements: Teams must consist of at least three organizations or departments from a single organization, with a defined lead investigator. Applications led by women scientists and early-career researchers are highly encouraged.
Duration and Extensions: Projects must have achievable goals within a two-year timeframe, with potential extensions of up to five years, based on progress and outcomes. Funding allocation will ensure no single organization receives more than 40% of the total grant amount.
Funding Mechanism
Financial support under this program will be provided through the DBT Bio-RIDE scheme, with DBT funding projects involving academic partners and BIRAC supporting projects with startup involvement.
Funding for Academia: Grants for academic projects can reach up to ₹10 Crore over two years, with extensions up to five years depending on project success. Private institutions and NGOs are encouraged to cover 25% of the capital costs.
Funding for Startups: Projects involving startups may receive up to ₹50 lakh through grants, enabling them to bring new, high-impact solutions to the biotechnology industry.
Selection Process
The selection process for the DBT-BIRAC Amrit Team Grants is multi-tiered and focuses on ensuring that only the most scientifically sound and impactful projects receive funding. Here’s how the process is structured:
Initial Screening: Proposals are first evaluated by a Screening Committee for technical and scientific merit. Only proposals that pass this stage will proceed to the next level.
Presentation and Peer Review: Shortlisted proposals are then presented to a Selection Committee. They may also undergo peer review by subject experts to ensure a rigorous and objective selection process.
Final Approval: The DBT reserves the right to make final determinations on funding and will decide on the continuation of support based on performance reviews one year after project initiation.
Project Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring is an essential aspect of the Amrit Team Grants program. DBT and BIRAC will review each project’s performance annually, with a focus on milestone achievements and overall project impact. An independent Project Monitoring Committee may be formed to conduct onsite evaluations, if necessary. Projects failing to meet predetermined milestones may face adjustments in funding or program duration.
Intellectual Property and Acknowledgements
Ownership of intellectual property generated through funded projects will be governed by the DBT’s Intellectual Property (IP) policy, available at the Department’s website. Researchers and organizations are required to acknowledge DBT/BIRAC support in all publications, presentations, or commercialization efforts arising from the funded projects.
DBT-BIRAC Amrit Team Grants Application Format
A well-structured proposal is essential for applying to the DBT-BIRAC Amrit Team Grants. Key elements of the application format include:
Project Title and Investigator Information: Include the title, investigator names, affiliations, and contact details.
Research Plan: Proposals should present specific aims, significance, methodologies, and an implementation plan with defined milestones.
Team Composition: Clearly outline the role of each investigator and any collaborators, with a focus on the interdisciplinary nature of the team.
Coordination of Activities: Describe the project’s governance plan, resource allocation, risk management strategies, and collaboration dynamics.
Funding Details: Provide a year-wise and institution-wise budget breakdown.
Institutional Support and Resources: Detail available resources and facilities that will be leveraged for the project.
Appendices: Attach a Gantt chart, statutory approvals, brief biodata of investigators, and information on potential reviewers.
Conclusion
The DBT-BIRAC Amrit Team Grants represent a bold step toward empowering India’s research community. By fostering collaborative, high-risk, and milestone-driven projects, this initiative is designed to propel India’s biotechnology sector to the forefront of global innovation. Researchers, institutions, and startups interested in addressing India’s critical challenges are encouraged to apply, potentially contributing to a future where India leads in biotechnology research, development, and sustainable solutions.
Disclaimer
This blog is intended for informational purposes only and is not an official guide from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) or the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, this blog is not a substitute for the official guidelines and policies of the DBT-BIRAC Amrit Team Grants. Applicants and interested parties should consult the official DBT and BIRAC websites and refer to the latest guidelines, eligibility criteria, and application processes provided directly by the respective organizations. The information provided here is based on publicly available details as of October 2024, and it may be subject to changes or updates. This article does not offer legal, financial, or professional advice. The author and publisher assume no responsibility for errors, omissions, or any outcomes related to the use of this information. For specific questions or clarifications, please reach out to DBT or BIRAC directly through their official communication channels. Always refer to the official guidelines and documents to ensure compliance with current requirements and protocols.
Detail can be check on visiting website link of Department of Biotechnology , Ministry of Science and Technology , Govenment of India – https://dbtindia.gov.in/
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