1 DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Functional Foods for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy-Application Assistance-Last date-10th July, 2025

DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on ‘Functional Foods’ for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy Last Date : 10th July,2025

https://www.birac.nic.in/desc_new.php?id=1257

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2 Anaemia Innovation Challenge

Call for Innovations: Combat Anaemia in South Asia Last date 30 May 2025

https://www.cpnh.cornell.edu/anaemia-innovation-challenge?utm_source=cornell_pin&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news-from-the-program-in-international-nutrition-8925

3 DBT- BIRAC Joint Call for Proposal on ‘Precision Biotherapeutics - mRNA therapeutics for fostering high performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

1. Background -The BioE3 (Biotechnology for High Performance Biomanufacturing The Policy lays down the framework for the development and scale up of b fundamentally transform the global economy from today’s consumptive manufacturing paradigm to the one based on regenerative principles in ‘Green Growth’ while driving country’s Bioeconomy 2. Scope of the Call mRNA therapy can potentially transform existing therapies or target difficult indications, including respiratory, cardiac, metabolic cancer. mRNA technology can be used for the following therapeutic applications: •Replacement therapy: to compensate for a defective gene/protein, or to supply therapeutic proteins •Vaccines: mRNA encoding specific antig •Cell therapy: mRNA is transfected into the cells ex vivo to alter cell phenotype or function, and these modified cells are subsequently delivered to the patient. e.g. in vitro transcribed chimeric antigen receptor mRNA There are many benefits of mRNA therapies as compared to similar emerging platforms, such as modular nature with easy proteins or genes, the potential to directly manufacturing times compared to antibodies or protein pharmacokinetics, and lack of genome integration Recognizing the fact that mRNA therapeutics represents field with great promise fo BIRAC invite proposals on ‘Precision Biotherapeutics policy to further the indigenous development and manufacturi biotherapeutic. The proposals will be invited under 2 categories: (i) Discovery & Application (ii) Bridging the Gap for scale up 2.1 Discovery & Application Outcomes –TRL: 3-5) 1 Call for Proposal on ‘Precision Biotherapeutics ’ for fostering high performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy technology for Economy, Environment & Employment) Policy High Performance Biomanufacturing’ has been approved by Union Cabinet down the framework for high-performance Biomanufactur he development and scale up of bio-based products in the country. Biomanufacturing can fundamentally transform the global economy from today’s consumptive manufacturing paradigm to the one based on regenerative principles, and will play a pivotal role promoting driving country’s Bioeconomy. mRNA therapy can potentially transform existing therapies or target difficult including respiratory, cardiac, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases, as well as cancer. mRNA technology can be used for the following therapeutic applications: •Replacement therapy: to compensate for a defective gene/protein, or to supply therapeutic •Vaccines: mRNA encoding specific antigen(s) to elicit protective immunity •Cell therapy: mRNA is transfected into the cells ex vivo to alter cell phenotype or function, and these modified cells are subsequently delivered to the patient. e.g. in vitro transcribed chimeric antigen receptor mRNA (IVT CAR mRNA) T cells platform. There are many benefits of mRNA therapies as compared to similar emerging platforms, odular nature with easy-to-switch sequences for specifically targeting different otential to directly affect the underlying cause of a disease manufacturing times compared to antibodies or protein-based drugs ack of genome integration. that mRNA therapeutics represents an emerging precision medicine field with great promise for preventing and treating human diseases on ‘Precision Biotherapeutics-mRNA therapeutics’ policy to further the indigenous development and manufacturing of this important biotherapeutic. The proposals will be invited under 2 categories: Discovery & Application-oriented Integrated Network Research Bridging the Gap for scale up Discovery & Application-oriented Integrated Network Research herapeutics- mRNA under BioE3 Policy Policy for ‘Fostering- Union Cabinet in August 2024. uring, to accelerate Biomanufacturing can fundamentally transform the global economy from today’s consumptive manufacturing , and will play a pivotal role promoting mRNA therapy can potentially transform existing therapies or target difficult‑to‑treat and autoimmune diseases, as well as cancer. mRNA technology can be used for the following therapeutic applications: •Replacement therapy: to compensate for a defective gene/protein, or to supply therapeutic en(s) to elicit protective immunity •Cell therapy: mRNA is transfected into the cells ex vivo to alter cell phenotype or function, and these modified cells are subsequently delivered to the patient. e.g. in vitro transcribed There are many benefits of mRNA therapies as compared to similar emerging platforms, switch sequences for specifically targeting different affect the underlying cause of a disease, faster based drugs, predictable an emerging precision medicine diseases, DBT and mRNA therapeutics’ under the BioE3 ng of this important ted Integrated Network Research (Expected 2 Under this category, the proposals are expected to advance cutting-edge innovative research with applied knowledge, for accelerating innovations and fostering the development of affordable solutions. The proposals may be focused on the following:  Optimizing mRNA Stability and Expression: Development of new techniques to improve the stability, translation efficiency, and half-life of mRNA in vivo. This could involve mRNA sequence optimization, modified nucleotides, or co-delivery systems to protect mRNA from degradation and enhance its expression.  Next-generation mRNA expression vectors and platforms: Exploration of new mRNA vaccine platforms, including Circular RNA, endless-RNA, multi-protein mRNA, and indigenous microfluidic devices for mRNA formulations.  mRNA for Infectious Disease Prevention and Treatment: Expanding mRNA applications beyond COVID-19 to address other conventional and emerging viral, bacterial, and fungal infectious diseases, such as Influenza, Zika, HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria. This includes developing multivalent vaccines or broad-spectrum therapies targeting multiple pathogens. Research could focus on optimizing antigen selection, immune modulation, and delivery mechanisms.  mRNA for Cancer Immunotherapy: Development of mRNA-based therapeutic vaccines or treatments that stimulate the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. This could involve mRNA encoding tumor-specific antigens, checkpoint inhibitors, other immune-modulatory proteins, mRNA techniques improvising intervention strategies including Chimeric-antigen receptor development, and bi- or multi-valent antigen engineering, etc.  Gene Editing and Gene Therapy via mRNA: Facilitating gene editing or gene replacement therapies using mRNA. This could include strategies of CRISPR-based gene therapies, as well as mRNA approaches to correct genetic mutations, including rare genetic disorders.  Personalized mRNA Therapeutics: Advancing personalized mRNA-based treatments that are tailored to individual patients, particularly in the context of rare genetic diseases, autoimmune conditions, and cancer. Research could include identifying biomarkers for patient stratification and developing individualized mRNA therapies.  Immunology of mRNA Vaccines and Therapies: Investigating the immune responses elicited by mRNA vaccines and therapies, including the role of innate immunity, T cell responses, and antibody production. Research could explore strategies to modulate immune responses to enhance efficacy or reduce adverse effects.  mRNA Delivery Technologies: Innovation in methods to enhance the delivery of mRNA to target cells, tissues, and organs, using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), viral vectors, exosomes, or other nanomaterials. Research should focus on improving delivery efficiency, targeting specificity, and overcoming challenges related to stability and immune response. 3  Scalability and Manufacturing of mRNA Products: Improving the production and scalability of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, with a focus on cost reduction, efficiency, and manufacturing for global access. This could involve innovations in RNA synthesis, purification, and quality control. 2.2. Bridging the Gap for Scale-up (Expected Outcomes –TRL: 5-8) Under this category, proposals should focus on:  Advancing existing POCs (with available animal data) to pre-clinical formulations and pre-clinical formulations to clinical trial phase I/II 3. Key requirements for the proposed projects a. Developed technology (if applicable) should be sustainable from an economic and environmental point of view and the technology should be scalable. b. Gap in the technology to be addressed and strategies proposed to address the gap should be outlined clearly. c. Proposals must mention the present TRL level of the technology and the TRL proposed to be attained at the end of project duration d. The proposal should strictly adhere to the prescribed proforma. e. The proposals with clear focus and likely execution of deliverables within timelines will be preferred. f. All proposals must adhere to statutory regulatory requirements. 4. Mode of Submission Proposals maybe submitted by both Academia and Industry applicants, either independently or as a collaborative project. a. For proposals from Academia/Research Institutions: Interested applicants should submit the proposals in the prescribed format duly forwarded by the executive head of the institution through the Department’s e-ProMIS portal (www.dbtepromis.nic.in). b. For proposals from Industry and Industry-Academia collaboration: Interested applicants should submit the proposals in the requisite format duly forwarded by the executive head of the Company/LLP/Institution by logging to the BIRAC website (www.birac.nic.in). 5. Eligible Organizations 5.1 Academic Organisations 4 a. Proposals may be submitted by interested applicants engaged in research activities at various Institutions/Universities/Societies/Trusts/NGOs/ Foundations/Voluntary Organizations, recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO). b. The Principal investigator must have at least four years of the employment remaining in the institution at the time of proposal submission. 5.2 Industry a. Eligibility criteria for the Industries will be as per “Implementation Plan for the Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry Initiative” attached at ANNEXURE I. b. Pre-requisite documents required to be submitted by the Industry as per the BIRAC norms are as follows: 5.2.1 Companies/Startups a. Incorporation certificate. b. CA/CS certified shareholding pattern as per BIRAC format (Companies having a minimum of 51% Indian shareholding / individuals holding Indian passports are only eligible) mentioning UDIN number. c. Details regarding in-house R&D facility, if any; or Incubation Agreement with recognized Incubator. d. Audited financial details of latest last three financial years, e. Copy of passports of the shareholders if required (in support of 51% eligibility criteria). 5.2.2 Limited Liability Partnership a. Incorporation/Registration Certificate. b. Partnership deed; CA/CS certified certificate which states that minimum half of the partners are Indian citizens mentioning UDIN number. c. Copy of passports of Indian partners/subscribers d. Research mandate/ details regarding in-house R&D facility, if any/Incubation agreement e. Audited financial details of the last three financial years; Companies/LLP if recommended have to provide a declaration stating that Company/LLP is not in default of BIRAC OR any other organization. Further there are no Legal Proceedings going against the applicant. 6. Evaluation Criteria The proposals will be evaluated as per existing norms of DBT and BIRAC. 5 7. Funding Modalities a. Projects having academic partners only will be funded by DBT. Projects involving Academia and Industry or only Industry will be supported by BIRAC. b. Extent of funding will depend on the proposed activities and will be in alignment with the “Implementation Plan for the Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry Initiative” attached at ANNEXURE-1. c. Project duration will be upto 2 years, extendable upto 5 years based on performance. 8. Scope of Intellectual Property Generated During the Duration of the Project The Intellectual Property (IP) generated during the duration of the project will be in accordance with the IP Policy of DBT and BIRAC. 9. Discretion DBT/ BIRAC shall reserve the discretion on determination of sanction of funding and processes as per its standard norms and such determination shall be final. The selection process is not open to review. 10. Contact Information Any queries may be addressed to Dr. Varshneya Singh, Sc-‘D’, DBT @ BioE3- mRNA@dbt.nic.in (for academia applicants only) and Dr. Dhiraj Kumar, Chief Manager, BIRAC @ dkumar.birac@nic.in (for industry applicants only).

Last date for submission of proposals is 15th May 2025.

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4 DBT- BIRAC Joint Call for Proposal on ‘Precision Biotherapeutics - Monoclonal Antibodies’ for fostering high performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

Background The BioE3 (Biotechnology for High Performance Biomanufacturing The Policy lays down the framework for the development and scale up of b fundamentally transform the global economy from today’s consumptive manufacturing paradigm to the one based on regenerative principles in ‘Green Growth’ while driving country’s Bioeconomy 2. Scope of the Call Monoclonal antibodies represent a promis prophylactic/therapeutic options during outbreaks / pandemics / epidemics and also as complementary approaches where vaccines cannot reach elderly, immune-compromised or individuals with vaccine hesitancy. Advances in personalized medicine are also being driven by monoclonal antibody biotherapeutics, which also holds promise for better biotherapeutics have greatly advanced clinical care, there are still several challenges which needs to be addressed for efficient adoption and accessibility of this high Hence, DBT and BIRAC envision devel promote development and manufacturing of novel mAbs and  Improve patient access to cost effective and high quality mAbs  Become a significant global hub for technology leadership and biomanufacturing  Build capacity to address ongoing health needs and respond to emergencies In view of this, DBT and BIRAC Antibodies’ under the BioE3 policy to further the indigenous development and manufacturing of this important biotherapeutic. (i) Discovery & Application (ii) Bridging the Gap for scale up 2.1. Discovery & Application Outcomes –TRL: 3-5) Under this category, the proposals are expected to advance cutting research with applied knowledge, for accelerating innovations and fostering of affordable solutions. The proposals may be focused on the following  Monoclonal Antibodies for New Therapeutic Targets mAbs that target novel or previously challenging biological molecules, including those involved in immune regulation, cancer immunotherapy, and chronic diseases. 1 Call for Proposal on ‘Precision Biotherapeutics Antibodies’ for fostering high performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy technology for Economy, Environment & Employment) Policy High Performance Biomanufacturing’ has been approved by Union Cabinet down the framework for high-performance Biomanufactur he development and scale up of bio-based products in the country. Biomanufacturing can fundamentally transform the global economy from today’s consumptive manufacturing paradigm to the one based on regenerative principles, and will play a pivotal role promoting driving country’s Bioeconomy. Monoclonal antibodies represent a promising avenue as the first line of prophylactic/therapeutic options during outbreaks / pandemics / epidemics and also as complementary approaches where vaccines cannot reach – such as the very young, or compromised or individuals with vaccine hesitancy. Advances in personalized medicine are also being driven by monoclonal antibody biotherapeutics, which patient outcomes in the future. While monoclonal antibodies as biotherapeutics have greatly advanced clinical care, there are still several challenges which needs to be addressed for efficient adoption and accessibility of this high-cost medicines. envision developing a biomanufacturing ecosystem that can promote development and manufacturing of novel mAbs and biobetters to: Improve patient access to cost effective and high quality mAbs Become a significant global hub for technology leadership and biomanufacturing Build capacity to address ongoing health needs and respond to emergencies DBT and BIRAC invite proposals on ‘Precision Biotherapeutics under the BioE3 policy to further the indigenous development and manufacturing of this important biotherapeutic. The proposals will be invited under 2 categories: Discovery & Application-oriented Integrated Network Research Bridging the Gap for scale up Discovery & Application-oriented Integrated Network Research Under this category, the proposals are expected to advance cutting research with applied knowledge, for accelerating innovations and fostering of affordable solutions. The proposals may be focused on the following: Monoclonal Antibodies for New Therapeutic Targets: Discovery and development of mAbs that target novel or previously challenging biological molecules, including those involved in immune regulation, cancer immunotherapy, and chronic diseases. herapeutics- Monoclonal under BioE3 Policy Policy for ‘Fostering- Union Cabinet in August 2024. uring, to accelerate Biomanufacturing can fundamentally transform the global economy from today’s consumptive manufacturing , and will play a pivotal role promoting ing avenue as the first line of prophylactic/therapeutic options during outbreaks / pandemics / epidemics and also as such as the very young, or compromised or individuals with vaccine hesitancy. Advances in personalized medicine are also being driven by monoclonal antibody biotherapeutics, which . While monoclonal antibodies as biotherapeutics have greatly advanced clinical care, there are still several challenges which cost medicines. oping a biomanufacturing ecosystem that can to: Become a significant global hub for technology leadership and biomanufacturing Build capacity to address ongoing health needs and respond to emergencies herapeutics-Monoclonal under the BioE3 policy to further the indigenous development and manufacturing The proposals will be invited under 2 categories: ted Integrated Network Research (Expected Under this category, the proposals are expected to advance cutting-edge innovative research with applied knowledge, for accelerating innovations and fostering the development : Discovery and development of mAbs that target novel or previously challenging biological molecules, including those involved in immune regulation, cancer immunotherapy, and chronic diseases. This 2 includes discovery, in vitro characterization including epitope identification, neutralization potency; effector function analysis and structural studies; mAb optimization, determination of mechanism of action; in vivo evaluation including efficacy, dose titration, and route of administration studies in animal models, and candidate down-selection.  Antibody Engineering and Optimization: Advancing the engineering of mABs to improve properties such as half life, specificity, affinity, stability and reduced immunogenicity.  Development of mAbs for prevention or treatment of emerging infectious diseases (e.g. viral infections, antimicrobial resistance, pandemics) and treatment of oncologic and autoimmune diseases.  Innovative solutions for large scale production of mAbs, focusing on cost reduction, scalability, and increasing yield. This includes cell line development, bioreactor optimization, and purification technologies.  Applications of mAbs in diagnostics for disease detection, biomarker identification and rapid testing platforms (e.g., point-of-care diagnostics, antibody-based biosensors).  Exploration of advanced format, such as nanobodies, single-domain antibodies, and other antibody derivatives, with a focus on improving delivery mechanisms, crossing biological barriers, or enhancing specificity.  Investigating mechanisms of antibody resistance (e.g., mutations in target antigens) and developing strategies to overcome resistance, reduce the risk of immune responses, and improve the long-term effectiveness of mAb therapies. 2.2. Bridging the Gap for Scale-up (Expected Outcomes –TRL: 5-8) Under this category, proposals should focus on scaling technologies from proof of concept to early/late stage validation/ pre-commercialization in following areas:  Development of bio-betters for cancer & autoimmune diseases (from early clinical to commercialization) against existing validated therapeutic targets for which there are products currently available in market. The candidate being developed should have substantial improvement over existing/marketed products in areas of specificity, efficacy, potency, half-life, immunogenicity, reduced toxicity and side effects.  Centres for indigenous manufacturing and scale up of consumables/raw materials - serum-free, chemically defined media, protein purification resins & Single Use disposables (filters, bags), bioreactors; Industry validation of indigenously developed raw materials with established POC. 3. Key requirements for the proposed projects a. Developed technology (if applicable) should be sustainable from an economic and environmental point of view and the technology should be scalable. 3 b. Gap in the technology to be addressed and strategies proposed to address the gap should be outlined clearly. c. Proposals must mention the present TRL level of the technology and the TRL proposed to be attained at the end of project duration d. The proposal should strictly adhere to the prescribed proforma. e. The proposals with clear focus and likely execution of deliverables within timelines will be preferred. f. All proposals must adhere to statutory regulatory requirements. 4. Mode of Submission Proposals maybe submitted by both Academia and Industry applicants, either independently or as a collaborative project. a. For proposals from Academia/Research Institutions: Interested applicants should submit the proposals in the prescribed format duly forwarded by the executive head of the institution through the Department’s e-ProMIS portal (www.dbtepromis.nic.in). b. For proposals from Industry and Industry-Academia collaboration: Interested applicants should submit the proposals in the requisite format duly forwarded by the executive head of the Company/LLP/Institution by logging to the BIRAC website (www.birac.nic.in). 5. Eligible Organizations 5.1 Academic Organisations a. Proposals may be submitted by interested applicants engaged in research activities at various Institutions/Universities/Societies/Trusts/NGOs/ Foundations/Voluntary Organizations, recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO). b. The Principal investigator must have at least four years of the employment remaining in the institution at the time of proposal submission. 5.2 Industry a. Eligibility criteria for the Industries will be as per “Implementation Plan for the Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry Initiative” attached at ANNEXURE I. b. Pre-requisite documents required to be submitted by the Industry as per the BIRAC norms are as follows: 5.2.1 Companies/Startups a. Incorporation certificate. 4 b. CA/CS certified shareholding pattern as per BIRAC format (Companies having a minimum of 51% Indian shareholding / individuals holding Indian passports are only eligible) mentioning UDIN number. c. Details regarding in-house R&D facility, if any; or Incubation Agreement with recognized Incubator. d. Audited financial details of latest last three financial years, e. Copy of passports of the shareholders if required (in support of 51% eligibility criteria). 5.2.2 Limited Liability Partnership a. Incorporation/Registration Certificate. b. Partnership deed; CA/CS certified certificate which states that minimum half of the partners are Indian citizens mentioning UDIN number. c. Copy of passports of Indian partners/subscribers d. Research mandate/ details regarding in-house R&D facility, if any/Incubation agreement e. Audited financial details of the last three financial years; Companies/LLP if recommended have to provide a declaration stating that Company/LLP is not in default of BIRAC OR any other organization. Further there are no Legal Proceedings going against the applicant. 6. Evaluation Criteria The proposals will be evaluated as per existing norms of DBT and BIRAC. 7. Funding Modalities a. Projects having academic partners only will be funded by DBT. Projects involving Academia and Industry or only Industry will be supported by BIRAC. b. Extent of funding will depend on the proposed activities and will be in alignment with the “Implementation Plan for the Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry Initiative” attached at ANNEXURE-1. c. Project duration will be upto 2 years, extendable upto 5 years based on performance. 8. Scope of Intellectual Property Generated During the Duration of the Project The Intellectual Property (IP) generated during the duration of the project will be in accordance with the IP Policy of DBT and BIRAC. 9. Discretion 5 DBT/ BIRAC shall reserve the discretion on determination of sanction of funding and processes as per its standard norms and such determination shall be final. The selection process is not open to review. 10. Contact Information Any queries may be addressed to Dr. Varshneya Singh, Sc. D, DBT @ BioE3- mAb@dbt.nic.in (For Academia applicants only) and Dr. Aparna Sharma, Chief Manager, BIRAC @ tech01@birac.nic.in (for industry applicants only)

Last date for submission of proposals is 16 May 2025.

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5 DBT BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on मूल ां कुर Bioenablers: Biofoundries and Biomanufacturing hubs under BioE3 Policy

1. INTRODUCTION: Recognizing the potential of Biomanufacturing to power green growth, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India has undertaken an initiative on Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing. Proposals are invited for setting up of Biofoundries (for early scaling-up of proof-of-concepts) and Biomanufacturing Hubs (shared pilot-scale and pre-commercial-scale facilities) to support research, innovation and scale up in the following thematic sectors/subsectors: (i) Bio-based chemicals, Bioplastics, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs),and Enzymes (ii) Functional Foods and Smart Proteins (iii) Precision Biotherapeutics (monoclonal antibodies, mRNA therapeutics, cell & gene therapy) (iv) Climate resilient agriculture(agri-biologicals) (v) Biofuels and Carbon capture (vi) Futuristic marine and space research The applications may be submitted either solely or in partnership by 1.Academia, 2. Company/LLP 3.Societies /Trust/ Non-Government Research Organisations/ Foundation and 4.Start-ups. Support is envisaged for co-development of Biofoundries and Biomanufacturing hubs as programmatic research support for scaling-up and biotech product development through biotechnological approaches. These Biofoundries and Biomanufacturing hubs are expected to provide research resources and scale-up support to advance in-house research projects as well as provide services to other organizations, biotech start-ups, SMEs, and industries. The funding mechanisms for the proposed activities will be as per the ‘Implementation Plan’ (Annexed). 2. SCOPE OF THE CALL: Proposals for seeking support to establish Biofoundries and Biomanufacturing Hubs should clearly indicate anyone of the following categories: A) Using existing facilities B) Augmenting existing facilities C) Setting up of new facilities. The detailed proposal should also highlight the following but not limited to: i. Available facilities and resources ii. Biological systems and processes iii. Product portfolios iv. Demonstrated experience of setting up such facilities and enabling access to Start-ups (for projects in PPP mode v. Modalities of engagement and business model to sustain the proposed facility vi. Resource Commitments vii. Any other relevant points 3. MODE OF SUBMISSION: Proposals may be submitted by both Academia and Industry applicants, either independently or as a collaborative project. a. For proposals from Academia / Research Institutions : Interested applicants should submit the proposals in the prescribed format duly forwarded by the executive head of the institution through the Departments ePromis portal (www.dbtepromis.nic.in) b. For proposals from Industry and Industry-Academia collaboration: interested applicants should submit the proposals in the requisite format duly forwarded by the executive head of the company/ LLP/ Institution by logging to the BIRAC website (www.birac.nic.in) 4. ELIGIBILITY: Following documents need to be submitted by the entity during submission of detailed proposal (whichever is applicable): A. Companies a) Incorporation certificate b) b. CA/CS certified share holding pattern as per BIRAC format (Companies having a minimum of 51% Indian share holding/individuals holding Indian passports are only eligible) mentioning UDIN number c) Details regarding in-house R&D facility, if any; or Incubation Agreement with recognized Incubator. d) Audited financial details of latest last three financial years, e) Copy of passports of the share holders if required (in support of 51% eligibility criteria) B. Limited Liability Partnership a) Incorporation Certificate b) Partnership deed; CA/CS certified certificate which states that minimum half of the partners are Indian citizens mentioning UDIN number. c) Copy of passports of Indian partners/subscribers d) Research mandate/details regarding in-house R&D facility, if any incubation agreement e) Audited financial details of last three financial years. Companies/LLP if recommended have to provide a declaration stating that Company/LLP is not in default to BIRAC OR any other organization. Further there are no Legal Proceedings going against the applicant C. Indian Institution/ universities/ public/ private research organization a) Affiliation / registration certificate or statute reference for establishment b) Details regarding in-house R&D facility, if any c) If the institution/public research organization are registered under/as Society or Trust, then they have to submit the documents as mentioned for trust/society D. Society/ Trust/ NGO / Foundation i) Society a) Society Registration Certificate b) Bye laws of society c) Details regarding in-house R&D facility, if any d) CA certificate (supporting the fact that half of the members of the society are Indian citizens) mentioning UDIN number ii) Trust a) Trust deed and Registration Certificate b) Details regarding in-house R&D facility, if any c) CA certificate (supporting the fact that half of the trustees are Indian Citizens) mentioning UDIN number iii) NGO/ Foundation a) For NGO, or Research Foundation, submission of proper registration/accreditation from a government body is mandatory like UGC affiliation certification AICTE,CSIR/DSIR/SIRO certificate / Byelaws of society/ Trust Deed etc whichever is applicable iv) Startups The company must be no more than10 years old from the date of incorporation at the time of closing the call other documents required: I. Expression of Interest (EOI), MOU or support letters as scanned copies executed on relevant Letter Heads to show the mutual partnering arrangements in case of collaborating Project/ Project. II. Documents related to the conveyance of legal interests in the background technology/IP. 5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GOVERNING FRAMEWORK Existing guidelines of DBT and BIRAC will be followed. 6. OPERATIONAL MODALITIES  Implementation plan may be referred for upper cap on funding and details on applicant’s contribution for biofoundries and biomanufacturing hubs  Budget heads to be funded by BIRAC/DBT would include Non- recurring (refurbishing, renovation, equipment, accessories etc), Manpower, Consumables (repair and maintenance of equipment, chemicals, labware, etc.), Travel, Contingency, C o n d u c t i n g Training & workshops and Outsourcing. Any kind of land/construction cost will not be considered under project cost.  As per clause 3.1 of the Implementation plan  For Biofoundry: A list of technologies proposed to be scaled-up must be provided along with their PoC. The biofoundry must also support projects by external users, the budget for which shall be provided by the biofoundry as per the implementation plan.  For Biomanufacturing hubs: a list of technologies proposed to be scaled-up is to be provided. In-house technologies are also to be mandatorily included in the list provided. PoC/validation data available for such technologies need to be provided  The proposal should be accompanied by a brief description on how the biofoundry/ biomanufacturing hub would generate revenue and plan for cash flow projections. The business plan is mandatory for the biomanufacturing hub and biofoundry.  Facilities developed/ operationalized through this programme should be accredited by a reputed accreditation agency i.e. Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) etc, if required.  The facilities developed/ operationalized through this programme should adhere to relevant regulatory compliances, environmental authorizations and appropriate approvals. Proposals that have already secured the relevant clearances or are close to obtaining them will be prioritized.  BIRAC/DBT may reach out to the PI if further information is required to consider the proposal as complete. 7. OTHER REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA ARE RELEVANT TO SPECIFIC CATEGORY AS FOLLOWS: Category A & B. Development of biofoundries/ biomanufacturing hubs using existing facilities or augmenting existing facilities  The applicant seeking BIRAC support for augmenting the existing facility should have an operational facility at the time of application.  The applicant should have proven track record in providing services to the startups/ researchers.  The applicant should have adequate expertise and infrastructure to support biomanufacturing activities  The applicant should preferably have an existing ISO9001/2015 certified facility and ISO 14001certification  The applicant should give commitment for developing cataloguing and data management capabilities Duration: Project duration will be upto 2 years. Extent of funding will depend on the proposed activities and will be in alignment with the “Implementation Plan for the Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry Initiative” attached at ANNEXURE-1. 8. USAGE AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES / FACILITIES/ PLATFORMS  The Facility supported under the Biofoundry/ Biomanufacturing programme should provide access to its high-end equipment and infrastructure to entrepreneurs and any public/private entities to scaled-up their innovations. Once established, their websites are expected to reflect Infrastructure facility usage forms with well-defined usage charges terms and conditions.  The website of the Biofoundry/Biomanufacturing hub shall host a well- defined link for the facility enumerating the details of user charges, terms & conditions, mode of application and timelines for the decision on the applications.  The user charges shall be separately defined for different categories viz. Research Institutes, Universities (central, state, private), colleges and start-up/Entrepreneurs 9. PROPOSAL FORMAT AND SUBMISSION Proposals maybe submitted by both Academia and Industry applicants, either independently or as a collaborative project  For proposals from Academia/Research Institutions: The application must be submitted as per the prescribed format duly forwarded by the Head of the institution through the Department’s e-ProMIS portal (www.dbtepromis.nic.in).  For proposals from Industry and Industry-Academia collaboration: The application must be submitted as per the prescribed format duly forwarded by the Head of the Company/Institution by logging to the BIRAC website (www.birac.nic.in). 10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Acknowledgement of DBT/BIRAC support: Acknowledge the assistance of DBT/BIRAC while publishing, marketing the resultant Product or presenting in any manner the details of the Project, its progress or its success along with the “Disclaimer” that reference there into any specific commercial product, process, views or service by tradename, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or assuming liability of any sort by the BIRAC. Use of DBT/BIRAC logo is not permitted without written approval. 11. DISCRETION DBT/BIRAC shall reserve the discretion on determination of sanction of funding and processes as per its standard norms and such determination shall be final. The selection process is not open to review. 12. CONTACT INFORMATION The programme shall be governed by the relevant Government/ DBT approval, DBT orders, corresponding call of proposals, project GLA and the BIRAC norms Contact Information: Further information can be obtained at www.dbtindia.gov.in and www.birac.nic.in Contact person from DBT Dr. Kalaivani Ganesan, Scientist ‘F’, DBT Email: k.ganesan@nic.in Contact person from BIRAC 1. Dr. Shilpi Gupta, Deputy General Manager, Technical, BIRAC Email: sgupta.birac@nic.in 2. Dr. Prachi Kaushik, Senior Manager, Investment, BIRAC Email: pkaushik.birac@nic.in

Last date for submission of proposals is 30th June, 2025

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6 Call for proposals under wise-SCOPE Fellowships

Societal challenges refer to problems and issues that affect societies on a large scale, often spanning across multiple domain such as environment, technology, health, energy, waste, water, management, agriculture, economic, and more.The Women In Science and Engineering (WISE)-Societal Challenges with Opportunities (SCOPE) Fellowship Program of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) aims to provide opportunity to Women Scientists and Technologists who have completed Ph.D. and want to utilize their S&T knowledge and expertise for the benefit of society. This program promotes projects that directly deal with challenges at grassroots level and address them through S&T interventions. Projects under WISE-SCOPE (WISE-Societal Challenges with Opportunities) should provide S&T solutions to our social problems, livelihood generation, drudgery reduction, health and nutrition related issues, management of natural resources, sustainable agriculture, climate change, disaster management etc. Project proposal should include the development of viable technology/technique with possibility of lab-to-land tran 1. Energy, Water and Waste Management (EWWM) 2. Engineering and Technology Development (ETD) 3. Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development (ECSD) 4. Agriculture and Allied Sciences (AAS) 5. Health, Food and Nutrition (HFN)sfer, adaptation and scaling up for the benefit of society under following identified broad thematic areas.

Application Deadline: 31 August 2025

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7 CALL FOR INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED RESEARCH PROPOSALS FOR INTERMEDIATE EXTRAMURAL GRANTS(2025)

I. Discovery Research aimed at finding novel interventions, novel targets (basic research) and validation of leads in in-vivo models. It includes those proposals where proof-of-concept studies are already done, and further research is required. For example, if there is proof-ofconcept of a biomarker which is to be taken for further research, is an example of such a study. It also includes drug discovery and drug delivery systems, non-animal and animal models, organoids, organ on-chip, biomaterials and personalized medicine including immuno-therapeutics and genomic medicine. The scope also includes AI-ML algorithms for drug and biomarker discovery. II. Development Research aimed at developing interventions for screening, diagnosis, prevention, treatment of diseases/conditions or make existing interventions simpler, safer, more efficacious, or more affordable. Examples of such research includes development of Point of care tests, molecular diagnostic tests, medical devices, health technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning predictive tools/models to solve health problems, phase-1 and phase 2/3 (or equivalent phase) clinical trials of vaccine and therapeutics etc. III. Delivery Research or implementation research aimed at learning how to overcome barriers in delivering effective interventions to the people who need them. This will include health system-based interventions to scale-up access, and to successfully implement national health programmes or schemes, reducing inequity and improving quality of health care. Some examples include learning how to achieve single digit neonatal mortality rate in a district, how to integrate newer technological interventions into primary health care system to improve health and wellbeing of the population, how to optimize functioning of Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Health & Wellness Centres) or how we can reduce treatment gaps for mental health conditions. When submitting a delivery research proposal, it is essential for project investigators to possess a thorough understanding of delivery research and its various phases. The proposed intervention must be clearly articulated, and investigators should demonstrate a commitment to engaging stakeholders throughout the process. It is crucial to show the necessity of implementing the selected intervention in the specified settings, including the support from relevant parties and the alignment of the intervention with local needs. Additionally, applicants can access a series of online webinars on Delivery Research by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on YouTube

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8 DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on ‘Climate Resilient Agriculture’ for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

The proposed study should mandatorily indicate the following aspects in the proposal: a. Name of the background strain/variety, procurement source, IP associated with the strain or tools used, if the strains are genetically modified b. Present TRL level of the technology and the TRL proposed to be attained at the end of project duration. c. Outline the minimal benchmark (titer/productivity/scale) proposed to be attained for the selected bio-based Agri-input/product. d. Gap in the technology to be addressed and strategies proposed to address the gap e. Framework for toxicity studies, quantification of residue in produce, sustainability of the process from an economic and environment point of view f. Scalability of the technology and its commercialization potential g. All proposals must adhere to statutory regulatory requirements

The last date is extended till 15th, May, 2025 (midnight; 23:59 hrs).

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9 DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on ‘Enzymes’ for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

The proposals will be invited under the two categories: (i) Discovery & Application-oriented Integrated Network Research (ii) Bridging the Gaps for scale up .Academic Organisations a. Proposals may be submitted by interested applicants engaged in research activities at various Institutions / Universities / Societies / Trusts / NGOs / Foundations / Voluntary Organizations, recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO). b. The Principal investigator must have at least four years of the employment remaining in the institution at the time of proposal submission.

The last date is extended till 10th May, 2025

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10 DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on ‘Precision Biotherapeutics- mRNA Therapeutics’ for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

Key requirements for the proposed projects a. Developed technology (if applicable) should be sustainable from an economic and environmental point of view and the technology should be scalable. b. Gap in the technology to be addressed and strategies proposed to address the gap should be outlined clearly. c. Proposals must mention the present TRL level of the technology and the TRL proposed to be attained at the end of project duration d. The proposal should strictly adhere to the prescribed proforma. e. The proposals with clear focus and likely execution of deliverables within timelines will be preferred. f. All proposals must adhere to statutory regulatory requirements

Last date for submission of proposals is 15th May 2025

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11 DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on ‘Precision Biotherapeutics- monoclonal antibodies’ for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

Under this category, proposals should focus on scaling technologies from proof of concept to early/late stage validation/ pre-commercialization in following areas:  Development of bio-betters for cancer & autoimmune diseases (from early clinical to commercialization) against existing validated therapeutic targets for which there are products currently available in market. The candidate being developed should have substantial improvement over existing/marketed products in areas of specificity, efficacy, potency, half-life, immunogenicity, reduced toxicity and side effects.  Centres for indigenous manufacturing and scale up of consumables/raw materials - serum-free, chemically defined media, protein purification resins & Single Use disposables (filters, bags), bioreactors; Industry validation of indigenously developed raw materials with established POC.

Last date for submission of proposals is 16 May 2025.

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12 DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on ‘Precision Biotherapeutics- monoclonal antibodies’ for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

Proposals may be submitted by interested applicants engaged in research activities at various Institutions/Universities/Societies/Trusts/NGOs/ Foundations/Voluntary Organizations, recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO).

Last date for submission of proposals is 16 May 2025.

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13 DBT BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio-AI for establishing मूल ांकु र hubs under BioE3 Policy for Biomanufacturing Submit Problem Statements and Research solutions as Concept Note (LoIs)

For proposals from Academia/Research Institutions/National Laboratories: Interested applicants should submit the proposals in the prescribed format duly forwarded by the 7 | P a g e executive head of the institution through the Department’s e-ProMIS portal (www.dbtepromis.nic.in).

Last date for submission of proposals is 10th May, 2025.

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14 DBT BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio-AI for establishing मूल ांकु र hubs under BioE3 Policy for Biomanufacturing Submit Problem Statements and Research solutions as Concept Note (LoIs)

a. Proposals may be submitted by interested applicants engaged in research activities at various Institutions/Universities/Societies/Trusts/NGOs/ Foundations/Voluntary Organizations, recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO). b. The Principal investigator must have at least four years of the employment remaining in the institution at the time of proposal submission.

Last date for submission of proposals is 10th May, 2025

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15 India Singapore call for Joint project Proposal 2025

Within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Science and Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Government of the Republic of Singapore on Cooperation in the fields of Science, Technology and Innovation signed on February 23 2022, Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India and Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore invite Indian and Singapore scientists / researchers to submit proposals for joint research projects in the areas of “Digital Health/ Medical technologies” and “Green Hydrogen”

Last Date to Apply- May 16, 2025

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16 11th INDIA-SPAIN Joint Call for R&D&I Projects 2024

DST-TDB - CDTI CALL FOR PROPOSALS UNDER THE INDIA – SPAIN PROGRAMME OF COOPERATION ON INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT The 11th joint industrial R&D call for proposals between Indian and Spanish industries is opened for application submission till 20th May 2025. Potential projects will be funded by DST through TDB in India and CDTI in Spain. Your project must demonstrate: Industry-driven and market-oriented R&D projects, joint technological co-operation projects consisting in the development of new or substantial improvement of products, processes or services for the companies that operate and are headquartered in India and industrial partners (start-ups, SMEs and large companies) in Spain will be considered. The product, process or service must be innovative and there must be a technological intervention involved. The project should have an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the technological cooperation and mutual contribution between the participants from the partnering countries (e.g. sharing knowledge base, commercial leads, access and sharing of R&D infrastructure etc.). The project must have a civilian purpose. The project must be significant for all project partners in a well-balanced consortium. The collaborative projects should be innovative and focused on creating possibilities for new technologies, services or processes that will results in commercialisation. This Call for proposals is open to collaborative R&D projects in the following areas/sectors: Circular economy and sustainability: Economically competitive production processes and products, critical materials and/or energy that reduce, replace and/or reuse resources and/or aim for sustainability and environmentally friendly processes and/or technologies. Also including Drinking Water, Water Purification, Water Desalination, Irrigation Technologies and Wastewater Treatment & Management in the subarea of Water Technologies. Digital transformation (Smart Mobility, Smart Grids, Smart Cities, etc.). Digital health and medical devices: include categories such as mobile health (mHealth), health information technology (IT), wearable devices, telehealth and telemedicine, and personalized medicine. Artificial Intelligence Advanced Materials Any other sector of mutual interest. Duration of projects: Project may be up to two years. Selected project participants will receive funding from Technology Development Board (TDB), on behalf of Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, in India and from Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation, E.P.E. (CDTI) in Spain respectively.

Date to apply- January 31, 2025 to May 20, 2025

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17 Call for Proposal under Policy Research Cell (PRC)

Call for Proposal under Policy Research Cell (PRC) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) through its Policy Research Cell, invites proposals from potential institutions across the country for extending financial support to set up two Centres for Policy Research (CPR) focusing on specific themes. These centres are envisioned to help build a robust institutional mechanism for strengthening the STI statistics system, evidence-driven policy and program planning in the country. The present call for proposal is aimed to support two CPRs one each on the following two themes: i. Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) Statistics ii. Technology Foresight

Date to apply- May 1, 2025 to May 30, 2025

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18 Call for Proposals under EVolutionS Program to support Startups in Electric Vehicle Component Manufacturing

DST invites applications from innovative Electric Vehicle Startups with promising technologies validated at laboratory (TRL 3-4) and have higher potential in translating them into commercially viable products (TRL 6-8). Financial support will be provided to the selected startups through incubators for product development, pilot demonstration, testing and validation, market-entry and commercialization. The program is implemented in collaboration with Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) and Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA). The specific thematic areas for seeking indigenous solutions includes - Tropical EV Battery, Power Electronics and Machine Drives and EV Charging Infrastructure.

Date to Apply- 16 April, 2025 to May 30, 2025

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19 The Call for Proposals focuses on capturing direct CO2 emissions and their utilization for demonstrating CCU technologies in the steel sector

India is at a critical juncture in its efforts to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors, especially the steel industry. As one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions, the steel sector plays a pivotal role in the country’s economic development, contributing approximately 12% to national emissions. With its steelmaking capacity set to reach 300 million tonnes by FY 2031, it is essential to focus on carbon emissions to avoid consuming a significant share of the global carbon budget by 2050. Hence, decarbonization efforts are needed to ensure that growth of the sector is aligned with India’s climate goals.

Date to apply- April 22, 2025 to June 23, 2025

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20 Call for Proposal under Policy Research Cell (PRC)

Call for Proposal under Policy Research Cell (PRC) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) through its Policy Research Cell, invites proposals from potential institutions across the country for extending financial support to set up two Centres for Policy Research (CPR) focusing on specific themes. These centres are envisioned to help build a robust institutional mechanism for strengthening the STI statistics system, evidence-driven policy and program planning in the country. The present call for proposal is aimed to support two CPRs one each on the following two themes: i. Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) Statistics ii. Technology Foresight

Date to apply - May 1, 2025 to May 30, 2025

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21 Call for Proposals under WISE-SCOPE Fellowship

Societal challenges refer to problems and issues that affect societies on a large scale, often spanning across multiple domain such as environment, technology, health, energy, waste, water, management, agriculture, economic, and more. The Women In Science and Engineering (WISE)-Societal Challenges with Opportunities (SCOPE) Fellowship Program of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) aims to provide opportunity to Women Scientists and Technologists who have completed Ph.D. and want to utilize their S&T knowledge and expertise for the benefit of society. This program promotes projects that directly deal with challenges at grassroots level and address them through S&T interventions. Projects under WISE-SCOPE (WISE-Societal Challenges with Opportunities) should provide S&T solutions to our social problems, livelihood generation, drudgery reduction, health and nutrition related issues, management of natural resources, sustainable agriculture, climate change, disaster management etc. Project proposal should include the development of viable technology/technique with possibility of lab-to-land transfer, adaptation and scaling up for the benefit of society under following identified broad thematic areas. 1. Energy, Water and Waste Management (EWWM) 2. Engineering and Technology Development (ETD) 3. Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development (ECSD) 4. Agriculture and Allied Sciences (AAS) 5. Health, Food and Nutrition (HFN)

Last Date to Apply- August 31, 2025

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22 Call for Proposals under WISE-SCOPE Fellowship

Societal challenges refer to problems and issues that affect societies on a large scale, often spanning across multiple domain such as environment, technology, health, energy, waste, water, management, agriculture, economic, and more. The Women In Science and Engineering (WISE)-Societal Challenges with Opportunities (SCOPE) Fellowship Program of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) aims to provide opportunity to Women Scientists and Technologists who have completed Ph.D. and want to utilize their S&T knowledge and expertise for the benefit of society. This program promotes projects that directly deal with challenges at grassroots level and address them through S&T interventions. Projects under WISE-SCOPE (WISE-Societal Challenges with Opportunities) should provide S&T solutions to our social problems, livelihood generation, drudgery reduction, health and nutrition related issues, management of natural resources, sustainable agriculture, climate change, disaster management etc.

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23 Fellowship Opportunities for Researchers

Fellowship of Ministry of Science & Technology(DST/DBT/CSIR(DSIR)/SERB)

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24 Call for Proposal by DST Haryana

डीएसटी हरियाणा द्वारा आर और डी परियोजना प्रस्ताव प्रस्तुत करने के लिए कॉल खुला है। कृपया अपने संदर्भ के लिए संलग्न दस्तावेज़ ढूंढें। इच्छुक संकाय कृपया कॉल पर आवेदन कर सकते हैं। धन्यवाद।

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