Lok Sabha Question No. 2311 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Research and Innovation in the Biotechnology Sector
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Jual Oram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA ADMITTED/UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2311 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15/03/2023

## Research and Innovation in the Biotechnology Sector

## 2311. SHRI JUAL ORAM:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- ( a)  whether the Government is planning to increase the incentivization on expenditure incurred by companies engaged in research and innovations in the biotechnology sector and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b)  whether the Government proposes to support local research and development investments in biotechnology sector to provide them a level playing field on global level and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a). Currently, research and  innovations  in the  biotechnology  sector  undertaken  by  the companies is incentivised by funding part of the research and development cost by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a public sector undertaking of the  Department  of  Biotechnology  through  Small  Business  Innovation  Research  Initiative (SBIRI) and Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP) schemes as per the details below:

| Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI)                                                                                                                                                   | Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI)                                                                                                                                                   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Up to 50 lakh                                                                                                                                                                                           | 100% grant from BIRAC (primary applicant + collaborating company, if any)                                                                                                                               |
| More than 50 lakh                                                                                                                                                                                       | BIRAC grant would be Rs. 50 Lakhs + 50% of the Cost over and above Rs. 50 Lakhs. Remaining cost would be borne by the company                                                                           |
| Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP) : Under this scheme, BIRAC contributes up to 50% of project cost as Grant- In Aid and remaining cost is to be met through the company contribution. | Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP) : Under this scheme, BIRAC contributes up to 50% of project cost as Grant- In Aid and remaining cost is to be met through the company contribution. |

(b). The Department of Biotechnology through its various schemes is supporting Biotechnology research  and  development  in  our  country.  Local  research  is  being  supported  in  agriculture biotechnology  and  allied  areas,  health,  climate  change,  synthetic  biology  and  sustainable bioresource management etc. These investments have catalysed research activities at local level and  created  a  trained  human  resource  and  established  infrastructure  facilities,  vaccine  testing facilities, a National Centre for Microbial Resource, Indian Biological Data Centre, a national genomics and genotyping facility, Biotech Startups and incubators etc in different parts of the country.  This  innovation  ecosystem  provided  a  level  playing  field  at  a  global  level  and contributed  to  the  development  of  Rotavirus  vaccine  for  prevention  of  severe  Rotavirus diarrhoea, establishment of an Indian SARS-COV-2 consortium for genomic surveillance, first gene therapy trial  approval  in  India  for  Haemophila  A,  vaccines  for  mitigation  of  COVID-19 Pandemic, a speed breeding platform to fast track development of agricultural crops, indigenous technology for multiple micronutrient fortified rice, a novel device to reduce post-harvest loss of agriculture  produce,  low  glucosinolate  mustard,  high  protein  rice  and  potato,  low  oxalic  acid tomato and lathyrus,  first home grown technology to convert biomass to ethanol to name a few. Further greater investments in biotechnology sector would provide greater opportunities to the academia as well as industry  and also create a  world class human  resource  and infrastructure facilities towards a sustainable bioeconomy.

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