Scheme for Rs 50 lakh biotech grant

The government, on Friday, launched a scheme - ‘the ‘Biotechnology Ignition Grant’ (BIG) programme, for supporting discoveries in biotechnology by providing very early stage grants up to Rs 50 lakh for development of ideas.

The grant will support developing discoveries into marketable product or intellectual property.

Entrepreneurs, students, academicians and scientists with industry research experience or researchers from academia are eligible for the grant.

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council would invite proposals for the grant at least twice a year and the scheme will be implemented through BIG partner across the country. Proposal submission would start on June 2 and would close on July 15.