BioVoice News December 2016-January 2017 Issue 8 Volume 1 | Page 14

special report

The project aims to demonstrate a novel holistic ( waste- ) water management approach , that will produce clean water that can be reused for various proposes ( e . g . industry , agriculture , construction etc .), while simultaneously recovering nutrients and energy from the urban waste water , thus converting drain into profitable mines .
HUMAN RESOURCE AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Teaching & training in biotech : Under , Star College Program , 92 colleges supported and 10 colleges accorded star status . 1600 personnel trained under UG , PG training courses . 2000 candidates provided training in biotech industries under BITP
The Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship was conceived with the idea of encouraging Indian scientists working outside the country ( Indian Nationals ), and who would like to come back home and pursue their research interests in life sciences and biotechnology and other related areas . During the last six years 247 overseas scientists were selected and 173 have already returned and joined various research institutes / universities 27 scientists are likely to join in next six months . 50 scientists are selected every year . This has enriched the scientific pool of the country .
Skill Development in NER :
Twinning Programme : The goal of this programme is to strengthen R & D activity in the North East India through joint collaborations . Financial assistance is provided to competitive R & D projects from scientists in the North Eastern States in collaboration with scientists from national institutions from other parts of the country .
The programme has supported nearly 400 R & D projects , leading to more than 200 papers published in peer
reviewed journals , and more than 450 young scientists of NER trained in advanced biotechnology . Every year approximately 70-80 projects under this flagship programme are being supported to NER .
• Setting up of “ DBT-NER Centre for Advanced Animal Diagnostics and Services on Animal Health and Diseases ( ADSAHD )” involving stake holders from all NER States including national laboratories from Bhopal , Bangalore and Hissar .
• Establishment of Unit of Excellence in Biotechnology ( U-Excel ) with a view to recognize promising mid-career scientists in NER , this has been initiated to enable them to
pursue their innovative research in frontier areas of biotechnology . So far , 12 units of excellence have been established during the year .
• Overseas Associateship for NER Scientists : This scheme aims to promote capacity building in cutting edge areas of biotechnology and life sciences . As of now more than 110 scientists have availed this associate ship .
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Under the DBT , for a well-defined Innovation Ecosystem for product development - a Public Sector undertaking , Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council ( BIRAC )
14
BioVoiceNews | December 2016 - January 2017