BIRAC initiatives
Q. Which of the following is/are related to Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)?
1) eYUVA
2) BioNEST
3) BIG- Published on 29 Sep 16a. 1, 2
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 3
d. All of the above
ANSWER: All of the above
- Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a Public Sector Undertaking under the aegis of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
- In the National Biotechnology Development Strategy, 2015-2020, Bio-incubators would be scaled up to 50 and 5 new Bio-clusters would be formed.
- With over 500 Start ups and SMEs, 100 Entrepreneurs being a part of this ecosystem, BIRAC has nearly 50 products in different stages of development and commercialization.
- The target is scaling this 10 times in the next 5 years through initiatives like BIG (Biotechnology Ignition Grant), SITARE (supporting grass root student innovators), eYUVA (creating entrepreneurial culture in universities), BioNEST (nurturing entrepreneurship by establishing Bio Incubation Centres), tax exemptions to biotech startups in Budget 2015-16, inter alia.
