Lok Sabha Question No. 464 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Incentives to Biotechnology Sector
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Jual Oram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## ADMITTED/UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 464

## LOK SABHA TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/12/2023

Incentives to Biotechnology Sector

464. SHRI JUAL ORAM:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ मंğी

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is planning to increase the incentivization on  expenditure  incurred  by  companies  engaged  in  research  and innovation 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) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ राÏ  य मंğी (è वतंğ Ĥभार) ( डॉ. िजतेÛ ġ ͧसंह )

- (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 Parks, 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 vaccine for prevention of severe  Rotavirus  diarrhoea,  establishment  of  an  Indian  SARS-COV-2 consortium for genomic surveillance, COVID-19 diagnostics and vaccines for mitigation of COVID-19 pandemic, first gene therapy trial approval in India for Haemophila A, a speed breeding platform to fast track  development  of  agricultural  crops,  indigenous  technology  for multiple  micronutrient  fortified  rice,  a  novel  device  to  reduce  postharvest  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  investments  in  biotechnology  sector  would  provide  greater opportunities  to  the  academia  as  well  as  industry  to  develop  and deploy new and emerging technologies in diverse sectors towards a robust bioeconomy.

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