ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 Department of Biotechnology Ministry of Science & Technology Government of India DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 1 ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20 2 DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY Contents 1. OVERVIEW 5 2. BUILDING CAPACITIES 23 - HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS 24 - RESEARCH RESOURCES, SERVICE FACILITIES AND PLATFORMS 44 - BIO-TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE CLUSTERS 48 3. RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION AND TRANSLATION ACTIVITIES 53 - AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED AREAS 54 - BIOENERGY, BIORESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT 66 - HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 82 - KNOWLEDGE GENERATION, DISCOVERY RESEARCH, NEW TOOLS 111 AND TECHNOLOGIES 4. PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INDUSTRIAL GROWTH 126 - STARTUP INDIA 127 - MAKE IN INDIA 128 - BIODESIGN PROGRAMME 129 - BIOTECHNOLOGY PARKS & INCUBATORS 133 5. BUILDING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS 137 6. SPECIAL PROGRAMMES 144 - PROGRAMMES FOR SOCIETAL RELEVANCE – RURAL, SC/ST 145 POPULATION AND WOMEN 7. PROMOTING BIOTECHNOLOGY IN NORTH EASTERN REGION 156 8. AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKINGS 163 9. REGULATION, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND LEGISLATIONS 204 10. ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE 207 ABBREVIATIONS 212 DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 3 01 OVERVIEW ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20 The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) set up more than there is a need for creating right kind of manpower with three decades ago under the aegis of Ministry of Science and requisite skill set. Hence, impetus has been on supporting Technology has been instrumental in creating a strong various schemes under Human Resource Development foundation for Biotechnology sector to contribute towards Programme which include postgraduate teaching programme, nation building. Department has been committed towards star college scheme for strengthening of undergraduate science creation of policy framework, promotion of excellence and education, short term training courses for upgrading the skill innovation, support discovery research, fundamental and of mid-career scientists and UG & PG teachers engaged in applied research in areas of agriculture, affordable teaching and R&D, skill vigyan programme for imparting skill healthcare & medical biotechnology, animal and aquatic based training to young students, biotech industrial training sciences, environmental safety, new generation bio-fuels, programme for apprenticeship. nutritional security besides, impetus is also on taking the Star College Scheme: During the year colleges which fruits of biotechnology to the community at a large. To drive showed potential towards excellence were supported these niche area programs there is a need to have skilled both under rural and urban category. 159 Colleges manpower at various levels. Department is committed supported under Star College Scheme for strengthening towards capacity building and nurturing talent by supporting undergraduate science education. various programmes. These efforts are furthered both at PG Programs: 72 Postgraduate Teaching Courses national and international level, through high quality research supported in various disciplines across the country in and translational activities of the 16 Autonomous Institutes universities/institutions to impart quality education. each having a specific mandate. Support was imparted for BITP : Department of Biotechnology is supporting carrying research & development in dedicated mandated Biotech Industrial Training Programme (BITTP) for areas in these institutes which are spread across the country. providing hands-on training for six months to fresh Focus has also been on supporting and nurturing start up graduate and post graduate Biotechnology students. ecosystem and entrepreneurship in multidisciplinary areas This year the Department has adopted apprenticeship of Biotechnology through its various schemes and modal for implementation of this programme. Linkages programmes across the country. have been developed with Life Science Sector Skill The major achievement in terms of project Developemnet Council (LSSSDC), New Delhi for supported, publications, patents and technologies selection of partnering industries for providing generated in 2019-20 apprenticeship in Biotechnology sectors. Based on the specific training imparted to students it helps Biotech Publications 2568 Industry to select students for specific job roles. Patents Granted 44 Skill Vigyan Program: Department initiated skill Patents Filed 68 vigyan program with an objective to provide hands-on- training in tools and techniques in Biotechnology and Technologies Developed 59 allied areas to generate skilled manpower. This program Technologies Transferred 13 has been designed for providing skill training under Products/Technologies Commercialized 27 four categories in partnership with State Science and Technology Councils of respective states. Efforts are Projects Supported under various schemes 3260 being made to partner with all states and UTs to and Programs implement the Skill Vigyan programme across the Building Capacities: Human Resource country. Department is also supporting the Development, Training and Workshops, Biotechnology Finishing School Programme. Infrastructure & Biotechnology Science National Fellowships and Awards: To nurture the Clusters talent, various fellowships and awards were given to deserving candidates for doctoral and post-doctoral In order to build and nurture a strong research ecosystem, research in frontier areas of biotechnology and life 6 DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW sciences; 960 Fellows supported under DBT-JRF Indo-US Genome Engineering/ Editing Program for Doctoral Research, 185 Post-Doctoral Technologies Initiative (GETin) Program: This Fellows supported under DBT-RA Programme; Career ‘Indo-U.S. Genome Engineering/Editing Technologies advancement and reorientation for women scientists Initiative (GETin) overseas fellowship provides (BioCare); Under DBT BRITE Awards, 15 young scientists opportunity to Indian students and scientists to get were selected for Har Gobind Khorana Innovative Young trained at leading US institutions, in the frontline area Biotechnologist Award (IYBA) awards, 10 mid-career of Genome Engineering/Editing. So far under the scientists for S Ramachandran National Bioscience program 10 PhD student interns, 9 postdoctoral Fellows Award for Career Development, 5 senior scientists for & 2 visiting Fellows have been selected for being Tata Innovation Awards etc. 3 women scientists were fostered and trained in U.S. labs. awarded, one in senior category and two in junior Revesrse Brain Drain (Brain Gain): category. Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship Programme Awards for recognizing the contribution of continued to bring best Indian scientists working Researchers in Biotechnology in 2019-20 abroad to pursue their research interests in life sciences, biotechnology and other related areas in Har Gobind Khorana-Innovative Young 15 India; 63 fellows were selected. DBT-Wellcome Trust Biotechnologist Award Fellowship was provided to 35 talented scientists in various cutting edge research areas under biomedical S. Ramachandran-National Bioscience 10 research. Award for Career Development Researchers and scientists/Faculty was also supported Janaki Ammal-National Women Bioscientist for organizing conference/symposium/seminar, travel Award, Senior : 1, Junior : 2. 3 support to the young researchers for presenting their Biotech Product, Process Development 5 research work outside the country. 5 foldscope and Commercialization Award workshops covering 53 aspirational districts in 12 states were supported about, 300 teachers and B-ACER 11 > 2000 students were trained. International Fellowships and Awards: Department lays strong impetus on giving wider exposure to young students and scientists at international platform, Khorana internship program supported 49 students for summer internship in various institutions across US. Under Newton-Bhabha Placement Programme for short term training of PhD students outside the country, 34 students were selected to work at different institutions in UK, under the Bharat Boston Bioscience Beginning (B4), Department is generating critical mass of trained and skilled manpower required for overall development and growth of Biotechnology in the country. Under DBT- TWAS Fellowship, 47 students and postdocs were supported from third world countries to carry out their PhD and postdoctoral research at Indian institutions across the country. DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 7 ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20 Human Resource Development Programmes supported during the year 72 Postgraduate Teaching Courses supported 159 Colleges supported under Star College Scheme for strengthening of Undergraduate science education 7 new infrastructure facilities for R&D and capacity building created Six State S&T Councils supported under Skill Vigyan DBT-State Partnership 960 Fellows supported under DBT-JRF Program for Doctoral Research 185 Post-Doctoral Fellows supported under DBT-RA Programme 35 Fellows awarded DBT-Wellcome Trust Fellowship 47 fellowship awarded under DBT-TWAS Fellowship Programme 49 UG & PG Students supported under Khorana Programme for Scholars Glimpses of Foldscope workshops organized for aspirational districts by DBT 34 PhD Students selected for short term training in UK under Newton Bhabha PhD placement Programme. 3rd Nobel Prize Series India, 2019 was organized at Mohali in September, 2019 and 2500 students and Supported 5 Foldscope workshops covering 53 research scholars as well as 900 odd teachers and