IBSD among 14 AIs to be rationalized under BRIC by DBT
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 05 2024:
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology was accorded Cabinet approval for rationalization of its 14 Autonomous Institutions (AIs) by subsuming them under one Apex Autonomous Society viz Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC).
The DBT is reportedly functioning as the nodal agency for promotion of biotechnology in the country.
Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) is one of the 14 institutes and a unique organization set up in North Eastern Region with the mandate of development of bioresources and their sustainable use through biotechnological interventions for the socio-economic growth of the region.
IBSD is located in Imphal, Manipur and has established three centres in NER including Gangtok in Sikkim, Shillong in Meghalaya and at Aizawl in Mizoram.
According to Professor Pulok Kumar Mukherjee, Director, IBSD some of the significant changes that will be driven by BRIC are as follows: i) Each of the 14 subsumed BRIC institutions will maintain their distinct research mandates, governed by one Governing Body, at BRIC ii) The institutes will implement and enhance transformative power of S&T defining bold global actions iii) Institutes would be allowed utilization of institutional lab space, not exceeding one third, for researchers from outside DBT institutes and their collaborators (from industry or other institutes) to carry out R&D for start-ups emerging out of institutional research iv) Institutions to be incentivized for harnessing frontier technologies and for promoting techno-startups, and spin-outs nurturing bioentrepreneurship v) New PhD programs across BRIC institutions with a common course curriculum at Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad and immersion training.
During the Immersion phase (for about 3 months) students will get additional fellowships from "Grand Challenges India" program.