BIRAC Call for Proposals 2019
BIRAC call for proposals in the area of synthetic biology. BIRAC call for proposals in the area of synthetic biology. Individual and company (ies) are encouraged to apply for the call for proposals (BIRAC) in the area of Synthetic Biology. Interested and eligible indivisuals check out all of the details on the same below:
This call expires in :
Introduction:
With mounting concerns on global warming, climate change and the looming threat of fossil
resource scarcity, the world is increasingly looking to bio-based resources for a variety of
applications and end products. Increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions is an additional factor in searching for an alternate route for the production of chemicals from renewable sources. There is a need to replace chemical processes and allow the production of new products by environmentally friendly technologies. Therefore, to achieve a long term sustainable development there is an urgent need for a fundamental shift towards bio-based clean technology. A bio-based economy can favourably impact several areas such as fine chemicals, terpene-based materials, vitamins, food ingredients, flavours and fragrances, sweeteners, bulk chemicals, detergents and bioplastics to name some.
Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary area that involves the application of engineering
principles to biology. It aims at the (re-)design and fabrication of biological components and systems that do not already exist in the natural world. The production of chemicals was attainable previously only through expensive extractions or through the use of petrochemicals and other nonrenewable resources. However, through the design and construction of biological systems, it is now possible to turn organisms into living factories thereby forwarding towards a bio-based economy. Synthetic biology, at the heart of a bio-industrial revolution, has an impact on multiple industrial sectors ranging from the production of chemicals, biofuels, food ingredients and supplements, and pharmaceuticals. By improving the productivity of bio-manufacturing processes, synthetic biology can help generate more sustainable materials, chemicals and energy.
PROGRAM GOAL
The theme of the current RFP is:
“Synthetic Biology Approach for Transition towards a Bio-Based Economy”
Primary scope of the RFP: is to (re-) design and fabricate biological components and
systems that do not already exist naturally but should exclude simple recombinant
production systems.
Definition – “synthetic biology is defined as a new interdisciplinary area that involves the
application of engineering principles to biology.”
Projects applied must take into account the criteria for affordability, wide-spread adoption
and have a realistic possibility for scale-up. The scope of the RFP is inclusive of and not
exhaustive of the following areas:
a. Pathway engineering/genome engineering for affordable and/or sustainable routes
for production of useful chemicals in microorganisms, mammalian cells and algae:
i. Fine chemicals (active pharmaceutical ingredients, amino acids, vitamins,
proteins, peptides, oligonucleotides, organic acid)
ii. Speciality chemicals (adhesives, surfactants, oleochemicals, catalysts, dyestuffs and pigments, enzymes, flavors and fragrances, food and feed additives, pharmaceuticals)
iii. Polymers (Polyhydroxyalkanoates, cellulose, alginate, chitin, chitosan, hyaluronan, Isoprene monomer and polymer)
iv. Biolubricant range esters
v. Aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons
vi. Enzyme production
b. Development of synthetic genetic parts (including engineered proteins) and synthetic circuits for the production of above-mentioned products.
Key requirements for the proposed technologies/ products that will be considered:
a. Projects with a well-established proof of principle
b. Projects that propose a process/product innovation with significant commercial
potential
c. Developed process should be sustainable from an economic and environmental point of view
d. Projects on establishing proof of concept for technology idea
e. Should be scalable
EXCLUSIONS- Examples of areas that will not be considered:
a. Exploratory research ideas not leading to a product
b. Simple recombinant production systems will not be considered.
c. Projects with no element of novelty
d. Projects not having product development component
e. The proposed concept not having commercialization potential
f. Funding cannot be used to support PhD student research or any other academic
research. The grant is not a research fellowship.
Key Features of the Call:
Focus of the Call
1. Pathway engineering/ genome engineering in microorganisms, mammalian cells and algae:
• Fine chemicals
• Speciality chemicals
• Polymers
• Biolubricants
• Aromatic and aliphatic Hydrocarbons
• Enzymes
2. Development of synthetic genetic parts and synthetic circuits
Who Can Apply?
- A single or consortia of an Indian company (ies)
- Limited liability partnerships
- Academia
- Start-ups
- Non-academic Individuals
The proposals can be submitted either alone or in collaboration (where applicable) as per Request For Proposal (RFP) document.
ELIGIBILITY: The proposals can be submitted by:
a. Company (Start-up, Small, Medium or Large) incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 having a minimum of 51% of the shares of the Company to be held by Indian Citizens (Indian passport holders).
b. Limited liability Partnership (LLP) incorporated under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 having a minimum half of the persons who have subscribed their names to the LLP document as its Partners should be Indian citizens
NOTE: The applicant Company/LLP should have adequate in-house facility to address the project implementation (which shall be evaluated during the site visit) or incubated with any of the recognized incubation facility. DSIR certificate is not mandatory.
c. Academia (Public or Private Research Institute, University) having a wellestablished support system for research. The institute should have been established in India and have NAAC/ UGC/ AICTE or any equivalent recognition certificate or any other Public/Government supported organization
NOTE: Academia (with or without enabling industry partners) will be considered as a primary applicant as per the conditions mentioned in the next section as the objective of the first category is to enable early-stage research/product development efforts for further translation.
d. Non-academic Individuals (NAI)
The application can be submitted by any of the above entities (a-d) jointly or severally in accordance with the criteria of specific Category.
NOTE: Applicants and Co-applicants should not have any other legal disqualification that will prohibit them from participating in the scheme process and execution of necessary agreements thereafter
How to Apply?
Proposals are required to be submitted online only. For more details, about registration and proposal submission, please log on to BIRAC website (www.birac.nic.in)
APPLICATION PROCESS
a. Process of application submission
i. Proposals are required to be submitted online only. Online proposal submission can be done by registered users. The RFP will be open for a period of 45 days. Process for submitting the proposals online is detailed below:
ii. Log on the BIRAC website (www.birac.nic.in)
iii. Registered users may log-in using the credentials and new users need to register the institution with by clicking on New User Registration.
iv. In case of new user registration, a computer-generated password is sent to the email-id provided at the time of registration.
v. Upon login, the user is navigated to the page displaying the specific scheme link.
vi. Click on the link under Programmes and the active call would be highlighted.
vii. Click on the active call against which the proposal needs to be submitted.
viii. Further details on How to submit a proposal are available in the specific
program User Guide available on the website.
Last date for proposal submission: 30th June 2018
FOR FURTHER DETAILS, PLEASE CONTACT:
- GM & Head – Technical; [email protected];
- Senior Manager – Technical; [email protected]
Important Dates:
- ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: 15th May 2019
- LAST SUBMISSION DATE: 1st July 2019
REGISTER
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