Global Innovations (International Cooperation )

• NBM

The objective of the Global Innovation (International Cooperation) Directorate is to bridge the technology and capacity gap in emerging areas of biotechnology and life sciences by enabling bilateral and multilateral sharing of knowledge, resources, and expertise through:

• Strategic Scientific Cooperation by development and execution of agreements
• Science Diplomacy by provision of interventions on Biotechnology related aspects in international forums in consultation with relevant stakeholders including governmental agencies, academic institutions, and industry.

The International Cooperation Program directly contributes to SDG-17, “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.” Through participation in bilateral and multilateral programmes GID supports, Research based in and led by laboratories in India, aligned with national priorities, equitable access to scientific benefits, enhances human capabilities, and reduces regional/sectoral disparities. Collaborations are aligned with global scientific advances and partnerships for mutual benefit.

Strategic Partnerships with other countries through instruments of cooperation including agreements, Memorandum The DBT supports bilateral programmes of Understanding (MoU), Program of Cooperation (PoC), Letter of Intent (LoI), etc. have been established.

Strategic Bilateral Partnerships: are active with 21 countries. List of countries with active Bilateral Partnerships with DBT is shared below:

Some notable bilateral co operations are as follows:

Indo-US Collaborations:

• India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET):

  As part of Government of India’s efforts to add depth to the bilateral partnership with United States of America, an India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) to facilitate outcome-oriented cooperation was announced. The iCET initiative is co-led by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in India and the U.S. National Security Council.
  An implementation arrangement has been made between National Science Foundation and Department of Biotechnology on research collaboration to facilitate generation of valuable discoveries and innovations which may lead to enhancements in multiple areas of Science & Technology.

• Collaborations with National Institutes of Health
  • India-U.S. Collaborative (Vision Research Program):

    The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has signed a Statement of Intent on Indo-US Collaboration on Expansion of Vision Research with the Department of Health & Human Services, Government of the United State of America, with the objective of translating research outcome to develop potential interventions to reduce eye disease burden in India and the USA. The mandate of this collaboration is to strengthen research focusing on ophthalmic disorders, diabetic retinopathy, genetics of ophthalmic diseases and ocular inflammation, Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) are issued, to solicit joint proposals under this programme.

  • Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme (VAP):

    The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is implementing a focused bilateral collaborative programme known as the Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme (VAP), with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA, since July 1987. The VAP is recognized internationally and considered as a model programme in biomedical research. Efforts to support basic and applied research for Tuberculosis, Vaccine development, Human Immunology, Adjuvant Science and Bioethics have been supported.
    The RePORT India initiative to advance regional basic and clinical tuberculosis science in India and foster research collaboration is being implemented. (https://reportindia.org/)

• Tripartite Collaboration between DBT, ICMR and IAVI:

  A tripartite MoU has been signed between the Department of Biotechnology, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) to participate and collaborate to prevent, diagnose and/or treat diseases of concern in India and globally.

Indo-Canada Cooperation

IC-IMPACTS

Department of Biotechnology, recognising the DST-DBT-Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) MOU for supporting joint projects under the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnership to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability (IC-IMPACTS) is supporting joint projects under this cooperation.

India-Australia Cooperation

DBT has strategic partnership with Australia for fostering research in the medical biotechnology domain. The Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund (IABF) is managed jointly by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India and Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS), Govt. of Australia. Since its inception in 2006, the IABF has supported collaborative, leading-edge research between scientists in Australia and India across a range of jointly agreed priority areas. It has also helped to build linkages between premier research and educational institutions in both countries.

Indo-UK Bilateral Cooperation

Department is in collaboration with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), on behalf of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and with Indo-UK DBT-BBSRC.

Indo-Sweden Bilateral Cooperation

DBT has signed a Protocol of Cooperation (PoC) with the Swedish Government Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA) in the fields of science, technology and innovation on 21st August 2018 for the period of four years with the possibility of continuation for another two years by written mutual agreement the Coordinating agencies.

Indo-Swiss Bilateral Cooperation

An Agreement on cooperation in science and technology in the areas of strategic relevance to India and Switzerland between DST and State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) have been signed.

Indo-Germany Bilateral Cooperation

An Agreement was signed between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in the field of scientific research and technological development on 7th March, 1974. A “Programme of Cooperation” (PoC) between German Research Foundation (DFG), Germany and Department of Biotechnology in the field of Life Sciences & Biotechnology is being implemented.

Indo-Netherlands Bilateral Cooperation

The Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of India had signed MoU with the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands on Co-operation in the fields of Science, Technology and Innovation on 28th March, 2008. Department of Biotechnology signed a Programme of Cooperation (PoC) with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and climate policy on 12.05.2022 for five years.

Multilateral Partnerships:

The Department has been actively supporting the following programmes:

G20

The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU). It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

BRICS

BRICS is a group of eleven major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. It serves as a platform for political and diplomatic cooperation among these countries, primarily from the Global South, to discuss global issues and promote their interests. Since 2020, the department has been participating under BRICS Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) Framework as the nodal Department from India for the Working Group on Biotechnology and Biomedicine, including Human Health and Neuroscience. The activities under the BRICS STI cooperation are undertaken in close coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

European Union

The DBT in collaboration with the European Union (EU) supports Indian researchers participating in global research under Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship funding program for research and innovation. This aims to foster collaborative solutions to address pressing health challenges in India and globally. The program prioritizes areas such as affordable healthcare, combating antimicrobial resistance, addressing non-communicable diseases, and strengthening health systems.

Partnerships with International Organizations/ NGOs

DBT/ Wellcome Trust India Alliance

The DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance (India Alliance) is a co-funded partnership between the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and The Wellcome Trust, UK to support a Biomedical Research Career Program (BRCP). It is a Cabinet approved partnership to establish scientific research of international standards in India, develop appropriate infrastructure and capabilities to undertake cutting-edge research, and create global visibility for scientists engaged in Biomedical research in the Basic, Clinical and Public Health domains in India. The BRCP is a milestone-driven, high-impact programme spanning basic to translational research, designed to strengthen national capabilities, cultivate highly skilled human resources, promote self-reliance in biomedical science training, and foster scientific leadership to advance contributions to global biomedical science. (https://www.indiaalliance.org/)

DBT - Gates Foundation Grand Challenges India (GCI)

GCI is being implemented under a MoU between the DBT and Gates Foundation (Formerly Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Seattle, Washington, USA. It aims to collaborate in scientific and technological research to alleviate some of the world’s most critical global health and development issues over a period for the benefit of people in India and developing countries worldwide. The GCI is being implemented by a Project Management Unit at BIRAC, a public sector undertaking of Department of Biotechnology. (https://birac.nic.in/description_new.php?id=109)

European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)

EMBO is an organization of more than 2,000 leading researchers that promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. The major goals of the organization are to support talented researchers at all stages of their careers, stimulate the exchange of scientific information, and help build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work.

The Government of the Republic of India, EMBO and the EMBC signed a Cooperation Agreement to strengthen scientific interaction and collaborative research between India and Europe. As a result, India became an EMBC Associate Member State in January 2016. This development allows researchers in India to engage in all EMBO programs and activities, including EMBO Young Investigator Network, EMBO Fellowships Programme, EMBO Courses & Workshops. This seeks to empower academics at all stages of their careers while promoting scientific quality, mobility, and teamwork. (https://www.embo.org/)

Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)

The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) is an international program of research, supporting multidisciplinary, cutting-edge frontier research of the life sciences. Grants are awarded for innovative research projects involving extensive collaborations among teams of independent scientists working in different countries. Currently, G-7 nations, Australia, India, Israel, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, New Zealand and the non-G7 members of the European Union, who are represented by the European Commission are members of the HFSP. This membership allows Indian researchers and scientists to compete for the HFSP grants at a global level to raise the bar of science through the merit based success. The HFSP supports highly acclaim interdisciplinary and inter-country collaborative research programs. (https://www.hfsp.org/)

Contacts Concerned Officer for more Information