Joint Call for Proposals: Precision Biotherapeutics-mRNA Therapeutics for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy (India)

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, is dedicated to promoting advanced research and innovation in the field of biotechnology. In collaboration with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a not-for-profit public sector enterprise, DBT aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in biotechnology. BIRAC functions as an interface agency that supports startups and small to mid-sized enterprises through funding, mentoring, and strategic partnerships. Their joint efforts are designed to bridge gaps between academia and industry, enabling the translation of research into impactful solutions. Through various funding schemes, capacity-building programs, and public-private partnerships, DBT and BIRAC work to catalyze the development of products and technologies that address national priorities in health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. One of their focus areas under the Bio E3 Policy is “Precision Biotherapeutics – mRNA Therapeutics,” which aligns with India’s mission to achieve self-reliance in advanced biomanufacturing technologies and address challenging medical conditions through innovative therapies.

The Bridging Narratives Grant is an intersectional initiative funded by the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) at Erasmus University Rotterdam. It aims to foster collaborative projects between independent journalists and social scientists, blending academic research and journalism to produce critical, people-centered narratives. The selected projects will address key global themes such as migration, political economy, ecology, and culture, highlighting their local implications through in-depth reporting. The goal is to create high-quality, participatory content that is disseminated through The Contrapuntal’s digital magazine. In addition to financial support, successful applicants will attend a workshop focused on journalism-research collaborations, culminating in an edited volume reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of merging the two fields.