BUILDER

DBT- Boost to University Interdisciplinary Life Science Departments for Education and Research Programme (DBT-BUILDER)

As the name suggests, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), through DBT-BUILDER provides support to establish interdisciplinary School of Life Sciences for advanced research and education at the post-graduate level.

Guidelines for DBT-BUILDER Level I

Proforma for DBT-BUILDER Level I

Objective: The specific objective is to upgrade the post-graduate teaching and training laboratories by:

• Enabling interdisciplinary advanced research and teaching capacity emphasizing discovery and innovation in proposed research areas.
• Addressing emerging technologies with inter-disciplinary cross talk to realize their full potential.
• Increasing number of postgraduate students at M.Sc., Ph.D and postdoctoral levels with quality education, skills and research temperament.
• Collaborate and invoke industry through public-private partnership in advanced research and education.

Expected outcome: The outcome of support received from DBT-BUILDER shall be gauged by the following parameters (but not limited to):

• Modernization of laboratories involved in PG teaching
• Acquisition of essential equipment
• Upgradation of existing research facilities, networking and computational facilities (including software & databases), scientific & technical books (no journals).
• Maintenance and refurbishing of existing and new facilities
• Provide fellowships for students
• Introduction of training programmes
• Regrouping of research activities along the biotechnology innovation chain (from discovery to market)
• Promotion of academia- industry interaction

What is not intended?

• No fresh constructions
• Individual R&D support

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply?

The following categories of institutions with proven track record in life sciences research and education are eligible to apply for DBT-BUILDER:

• UGC recognized Central, State and Private universities
• PG colleges registered under Central Universities Act 2009 and section 2(f) and 12B (for PG colleges only) of the UGC Act, 1956 (http://www.ugc.ac.in/)

2. When is the call for DBT-BUILDER announced?

The call for DBT-BUILDER is announced annually and is advertised on the DBT website.

3. What are the different levels of support provided under DBT-BUILDER ?

Support under DBT-BUILDER is provided at three levels: Level – I, Level - II & Level – III for duration of 5 years subject to review of progress and fulfillment of Terms and Conditions of the grant.

The criteria for short-listing for these three levels are as follows:

A. FOR LEVEL I:

• Type of Institution: PG College with teaching and active research.
• Funding at this level is up to Rs. 3.00 Crores (Teaching & up gradation of existing laboratory) for 5 Years.
• PG College should be accredited by respective Accreditation Agency, with minimum of ‘A’ rating; or equivalent rating
• Minimum number of students in each participating department shall be 10 (admitted in 1st year) in PG Programs.
• Minimum number of regular Faculty at PG level shall be 4 per Department.
• At least 1 Extra-mural Research Grant, major project (>Rs 50 Lakhs) to each Department in past 3 years as evidence of research in the PG Department(s) of the College
• Participating departments should have existed at least for 3 years.
• Number of members in core group having Ph D degree should be four (4) or more.
• In case of Non-Govt. University/ Institute, departments of the University should have at least 5 PhD students in each participating departments pursuing their PhD as full time Research Scholar and receiving their fellowships either by virtue of NET/GATE qualification or holder of Institute/any other agency fellowship.

B. FOR LEVEL II:

• Type of Institution: University with teaching and active academic research.
• Funding at this level is up to Rs 5.0 Crores for 5 Years.
• Evidence of Extra-mural Research grants received in last 5 years, for each participating faculty of participating department.
• Performance in last 5 years: Publications, Patents, Awards received by the Faculty Members of the Department/ Centre.
• Department should have existed at least for 3 years.
• Minimum number of students in each participating department shall be 10 (admitted in 1st year) in PG Programs.
• Number of members in core group having Ph.D. degree should be five (5) or more.
• In case of Non-Govt. University/ Institute, departments of the University should have at least 10 PhD students in each participating departments pursuing their PhD as full time Research Scholar and receiving their fellowships either by virtue of NET/GATE qualification or holder of Institute/any other agency fellowship

C. FOR LEVEL III:

• Type of Institution: Established Department of University/ Research Institutes.
• Funding at this level is up to Rs 10.0 Crores for 5 Years.
• Well established Department/ Centre and should be internationally competitive.
• Each faculty should have received at least one (01) Extramural Research grants in last 5 years.
• Performance in last 5 years: Publications in SCI Journals, Patents, Awards received by the Faculty Members of the Department/ Centre.
• Number of members in core group having Ph.D. degree should be eight (8) or more.
• Department should have existed at least for 5 years.
• In case of Non-Govt. University/ Institute, departments of the University should have at least 15 PhD students in each participating departments pursuing their PhD as full time Research Scholars and receiving their fellowships either by virtue of NET/GATE qualification or holder of Institute/any other agency fellowship.

Note: All the IITs/IISERs and AIIMS would be considered for support only under Level III.

4. What are the major heads under which grants received under DBT-BUILDER can be utilized?

The grant sanctioned shall be utilized under 2 major heads i.e. Non-recurring and Recurring.

Non-recurring

• Civil Works (only for Renovation & Refurbishment) and Interior Infrastructure (No fresh Construction)
• Equipments suggested for up gradation, AMC/ CMC, refurbishment (only be provided if not existing). A list of existing facilities and equipments needs to be provided by the Institution, Sophisticated common facilities (Only those which are related to the area of research and if not available are to be proposed).

Recurring

• Operational cost like consumables and contingencies
• Salaries of the manpower

University/Institution proposals would be considered for co- funding; wherein the University/Institution will have to show proof of matching contribution on a 3:1 ratio basis (i.e. 75% Contribution from Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and 25% Contribution from grantee University/Institution) under N R Head proposed (except for funding under Level I projects)

(The manpower hired would be contractual and they would devote 100% time to the DBT- BUILDER project. The contractual appointment of Manpower should be in accordance with the prevailing guidelines of DBT/DST/ICMR. The DBT shall not be responsible for their continuity after the tenure of the project is concluded.)

5. How is a new proposal processed?

Upon receipt of the detailed proposal, the same will be reviewed for completeness by the Internal Screening Committee (ISC). Applications that are complete and responsive will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by a high-powered Committee or Task Force on Research Resources, Service Facilities and Platforms. The programme coordinator may be invited to make a detailed presentation before the Committee. The decision of the Committee/ Task Force will be final and binding on the applicant and no representation of any kind against the decision of the Committee/ Task Force will be entertained.

• The proposals will be evaluated based on the following criterion:

A “Site Visit Committee” comprising of the members nominated by the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Task Force including officers from DBT and its finance may be formed to access its suitability for support prior to final approval. This can be held after the evaluation by the Screening Committee or after the presentation before the Task Force.

6. Who can be a Programme Coordinator?

The participating departments should form a core group headed by the Coordinator. The Programme coordinator may be Vice-chancellor or Dean, Life Sciences/ Biological Sciences or senior Professor nominated by Vice- Chancellor having at least 6 years of service remaining before superannuation; with proven track record in life science research and education as evidenced by publications, patents, technology developed/ transferred, research projects implemented, awards and fellowships etc.

(Core group consists of PI and all the Co-PIs from the participating departments.)

7. What are the responsibilities of the Co-ordinator?

• Ensure coordination between participating Departments focusing on an interdisciplinary approach
• Avoid plagiarism while drafting the proposal
• Ensure fulfillment of stated objectives against timelines and timely utilization of grants
• Timely submission of progress reports, financial documents to DBT

8. Under which conditions can the duration of support be extended?

Project will be supported for a maximum period of Five (05) years and subsequent year grants will be released only after submission of the necessary documents. In General, No extension will be provided beyond Five years though in exceptional circumstances with proper justification, project duration may be extended as follows: .

1. Maximum of one year within the approved budget of the project
2. Maximum of two years, including (a) above, for projects shown exceptionally outstanding performance with additional budget. During extension period, ONLY the manpower, maintenance of equipment purchased under BUILDER Programme and consumables will be considered for financial support.

9. Is there any guidance provided by DBT during the tenure of support?

For any assistance, recipients of the DBT-BUILDER grant / Co-ordinators may contact the Programme Officer: Dr. Garima Gupta, Sc. F, DBT Email: garima[dot]g[at]nic[dot]in

Contacts Concerned Officer for more Information