Call for Proposals: ‘Bio-AI’ for fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing (India)

Bio-AI is one of the enablers for building data-driven, cutting-edge, programmatic research support for the Biomanufacturing initiative.

The Bio-AI call invites problem statements and research solutions in Biomolecular Design, Sustainable Agriculture, Synthetic Biology, Ayurveda and Genomics Diagnostics to be addressed bymulti-disciplinary teams with research expertise across synthetic biology, AI/ML, computation.

Categories

• Biomolecular Design
  • Engineering novel proteins, enzymes, and RNA-based molecules for advanced biomedical and biotechnological applications.
  • Designing next-generation protein, and RNA-based antibodies for targeted therapeutics and immune modulation.
  • Developing advanced enzyme inhibitors, RNA aptamers, and de novo enzyme designs for precision disease intervention and metabolic engineering.
  • Constructing bio-nanomachines and catalytic biomolecules with programmable molecular functions for diagnostics, therapeutics, and synthetic biology applications.
• Sustainable Agriculture
  • Engineering drought-resistant cereal crops for enhanced climate resilience
  • Developing AI-powered, non-invasive sensing technologies (e.g., drone imaging, infrared spectroscopy) for early disease detection
  • Predictive modeling of milk production and health parameters in dairy cattle using AI and genomics
• Synthetic Biology
  • AI optimized metabolic pathways for biofuel and biomaterial production.
  • Predicting enzyme functions for more efficient bioprocessing.
  • Improve strain engineering for microbial factories.
  • Synthetic/engineered organisms as environmental biosensors
• Ayurveda
  • AI-driven Ayurvedic Pharmacogenomics: Developing predictive models to personalize Ayurvedic treatments based on genetic, metabolic, and microbiome profiles.
  • AI-enabled Herb-Drug Interaction Analysis: Identifying potential interactions between Ayurvedic formulations and modern pharmaceuticals using AI and molecular modelling.
  • Standardization & Authentication of Ayurvedic Formulations: Leveraging AI and analytical chemistry to validate and authenticate medicinal plant extracts.
  • AI-assisted Plant-Based Drug Discovery: Mining Ayurvedic texts and databases to identify bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential.
  • Gut Microbiome Modulation through Ayurveda: Understanding how Ayurvedic diets and herbs influence gut microbiota for managing metabolic and autoimmune disorders.
• Genome Diagnostics
  • AI-powered risk prediction models for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders
  • Biomarkers for early cancer detection, disease progression tracking, and treatment response prediction.
  • Single-cell and spatial genomics: Utilizing AI to analyze single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics for tumor microenvironment profiling and rare disease diagnosis.
  • Genetic risk stratification for neurodegenerative disorders: Identifying genomic and RNA-based signatures associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to enable early diagnosis and intervention.

Funding Information  

• The problem statements should be addressed in a two-year period. A maximum of Rs 25 crore grant will be considered based on merit and actual requirements of the proposal.

Eligibility Criteria 

• Researchers/Scientists working in the Government Organizations/Universities/Academic Institutions/National Laboratories/DSIR recognized Non-Profit Organizations/start-ups/industries with sound scientific & technical backgrounds and relevant publications in the proposed areas can submit the research proposals addressing various problem statements. Partnership of academia with industry and start-ups is encouraged.
• Academic Organisations
  • Proposals may be submitted by interested applicants engaged in research activities at various Institutions/Universities/Societies/Trusts/NGOs/ Foundations/Voluntary Organizations, recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO).
  • The Principal investigator must have at least four years of the employment remaining in the institution at the time of proposal submission.
• Industry
  • Eligibility criteria for the industries will be as per“Implementation Plan for the Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry Initiative”.
  • Pre-requisite documents required to be submitted by the industry as per the BIRAC norms are as follows:
    • Companies/Startups
      • Incorporation certificate
      • CA/CS certified shareholding pattern as per BIRAC format (Companies having a minimum of 51% Indian shareholding/individuals holding Indian passports are only eligible) mentioning UDIN number.
      • Details regarding in-house R&D facility, if any; or Incubation Agreement with recognized Incubator.
      • Audited financial details of latest last three financial years.
      • Copy of passports of the shareholders if required.
    • Limited Liability Partnership
      • Incorporation/Registration Certificate
      • Partnership deed; CA/CS certified certificate which states that minimum half of the partners are Indian citizens mentioning UDIN number.
      • Copy of passports of Indian partners/subscribers
      • Research mandate/ details regarding in-house R&D facility, if any incubation agreement.
      • Audited financial details of the last three financial years;
      • Companies/LLP if recommended have to provide a declaration stating that Companies/LLP is not in default of BIRAC OR any other organization. Further there are no Legal Proceedings going against the applicant.

For more information, visit BIRAC.