Gci Guidelines

7/29/2019 Gci Guidelines

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BiotechnologyIndustryResearchAssistanceCouncil(BIRAC)

AGovernmentofIndiaEnterprise

AnnouncesaGrandChallengeIndiaFundingOpportunity

AchievingHealthyGrowththroughAgricultureandNutrition

WithFundingSupportFromDepartmentofBiotechnology(DBT),MinistryofScienceand

Technology,GovernmentofIndia&

Bill&MelindaGatesFoundation(BMGF)


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Tableof

Contents

1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................3

2 ProgramGoal............................................ ................................................ ............................................... ..........5

3 Background........................................................................................................................................................6

4 ProgramScope..................................................................................................................................................7

4.1 Fieldsofinnovation...............................................................................................................................7

4.2 Characteristicsofsuccessfulproposal..........................................................................................9

4.3 SolutionsdevelopedthroughthisprogramImpactingIndiaandbeyonditsborder9

4.4 Examplesofwhatwearenotlookingfor........................................... .......................................10

5 ProgramStructure.......................................................................................................................................10

5.1 Granttypesandfundinglevels......................................................................................................10

5.2 Collaboration.........................................................................................................................................11

6 RulesandGuidelines...................................................................................................................................12

6.1 Applicationinstructionsandschedule.......................................................................................12

6.2 Evaluationcriteria...............................................................................................................................136.3 Eligibilitycriteria.................................................................................................................................14

6.4 AllowableCosts....................................................................................................................................14

6.5 Warranty.................................................................................................................................................14

6.6 IntellectualProperty........................................................................................................................144

6.7Confidentiality.15

7 RESEARCHASSURANCES..........................................................................................................................15

7.1 DataAccessPrinciples.......................................................................................................................167.2 Indemnification....................................................................................................................................16

7.3 ResearchEthicsandRegulatoryApproval16

8.Contacts16


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1.INTRODUCTIONOn June 2012, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the Department of

Biotechnology (DBT) signed an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to

collaborateonmissiondirectedresearchandbuildaGrandChallengesIndiatosupport

health research and innovation. The MOU aims to support initiatives that could

dramatically change thehealth anddevelopment landscape in India andothercountries

facingsimilarchallenges.Specifically,itidentifiesthefollowingprioritiesforcooperation:

(1)Reductionofmaternalandchildmortalityandmorbidity;

(2)Scientificandtechnicalsolutionsforinfectiousdiseases;

(3)StrengtheningIndiasscientifictranslationcapacity;

(4)Scientificandtechnicaladvancesrelatedtoagriculture,

(5)Scientificadvancementinfoodandnutrition;

(6)Otherjointintereststhatmayarise.

Grand Challenges initiatives would follow these core principles, which partners have

agreedtoattheannualGrandChallengesmeetinginDelhiin2011:

1. Strategicandwellarticulatedgrandchallengesservebothtofocusresearcheffortsandtocapturetheimaginationandengagetheworldsbestresearchers.

2. Projectsareselectedbasedonnationalandsocietalneedandtransparentcallsforproposalsseekingthebestideas.

3. Funders, investigators and other stakeholders actively collaborate to accelerateprogressand integrate advances to ensure these advanced technologies reach todevelopingcountriesmasses

4. Projectsareselectednotonlyforscientificexcellence,butalsofortheirlikelihoodtoachievethedesiredimpact,andtheyaremilestonedrivenandactivelymanagedtothatend.

5. Projectsandinvestigatorswillhavetofollowglobalaccesscommitmentstoensurethefruitsoftheirresearchareavailabletothosemostinneed.

ThisprogramjoinsotherswithintheGrandChallengesfamilyofgrantprogramssupported

by the Gates Foundation and its partners that target healthy birth, growth, and

development, and agricultural productivity. Thus, it will expand a global network of

scientists working on similar issues, increasing opportunities for exchanging ideas and

lessonslearned.TworelatedGrandChallengesprogramsthathavebeenawardinggrants

include Preventing Preterm Birth, which seeks to explore the underlying mechanismsleadingtopretermbirthorstillbirth,emphasizingtheroleof infection,inflammation,and

poornutrition;andDiscoverNewWaystoAchieveHealthyGrowth,whichseekstoexplore


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molecular pathways that will directly inform the development of interventions for the

preventionofstuntingandwastingofyoungchildreninthedevelopingworld.Onerelated

Grand Challenge program is ongoing: SavingLives

at

Birth

A

Grand

Challenge

for

Development, which seeks to address obstacles to healthy pregnancies and births by

fostering innovationinmedical technology, indeliveryofqualityhealth services,and in

stimulating demand for these services. In addition, two Grand Challenges Explorations

topics: Protect Crop Plantsfrom Biotic Stressesfrom Field toMarket, and Labor SavingStrategiesand InnovationsforWomen SmallholderFarmers, aim toaddress barriers thatsmallholderfarmersface inagriculturalproductivitythroughinnovativesolutionsraising

yieldandreducinglabor.Thisgoalofcapturingdiversetypesofinnovationtoimprove

womens and childrens health, nutritional status and agricultural productivity is

sharedbytheGrandChallengesIndiaprogram.

BIRACannouncesAchievingHealthyGrowththroughAgricultureandNutritionasthefirstGrandChallengesgrantprogramtobelaunchedinIndia(herebystatedasGCI)asa

resultof collaborationbetween DBT,BIRAC, and the BMGF. ThisRequest for Proposals

(RFP) is specific to Indiaand open toanyone who is interested inapplying including

academics, researchinstitutions,medicalresearchinstitutions,forprofit companies,not

forprofitorganizations,andfoundations.Grantswillbetoresearchersandinnovatorswho

areIndianindividualorIndianentities *,butweencouragepartnershipswithresearchers

in other countries, especially where the opportunity exists to build on established

collaborations. The research agenda will support a comprehensive set of approachesspanningmultiple fields of innovation to reduce the high incidence of low birthweight

(LBW),earlystuntingandwastinginIndianchildrenlessthan2yearsofage,andprevent

undernutritioninwomenofreproductiveageandinchildrenfrom02yearsofage.

*AnIndividualshouldbeaCitizenofIndia*Indianentitiesaredefinedasthoseestablishedunderanyrelevantstatute,agreement,ruleorregulationinIndia.


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2. PROGRAMGOAL

ThegoaloftheAchieving

Healthy

Growth

through

Agriculture

and

Nutrition

GrandChallengesProgramistofundaportfolioofIndianledpilotprojectsthatseektotarget

therelationshipbetweenagriculture,nutrition,andhealthtoreducethehighincidence

oflowbirthweightandearlystuntingandwastingamongIndianinfantsandthrough

interventionsitaimsatempoweringwomenintheirmultiplefamilyroles.Whilethere

are increasing numbers of initiatives linking agriculture and nutrition, this program

seeksspecificallytoharnessinnovationinIndiaandtotargetwomenandchildrenin

resourcepoorsettings.Theprimarymeasuresofsuccesswillbeanimprovementinthe

survival,health,development,andqualityoflifeofIndianchildrenfrom02yearsofage

andinwomenofreproductiveage.Toachievethedesiredimpact,weseekproposals

whicharestrongininnovationandspanmultiplefieldsfocusingoninnovativeresearch

onNutritionScience,AgriculturalPractice,interventionwhichtargetimprovedhealth,

behavioral changesorservicesdeliverymechanism.Thesewouldbe inthe following

3areas:

A.Nutritioninnovation UnderstandingthecausesandconsequencesofLBW,includingtheroleLBWplays

instuntingandwastinginchildren


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C.SocialInnovation

Identifyingandovercomingculturalandsocialbarrierstoimprovingmaternalandchild nutrition, with a focusonbarriers that contribute toLBW and early infant

stuntingandwasting.

Design strategic tools and process for communication, incomegeneratingmechanisms, community mobilization, and social network analysis to encourage

production of healthy foods by women smallholder farmers and develop better

consumption patterns by households, particularly pregnant mothers, women of

reproductiveage,andchildren624months.

Allproposalsmustbedesignedtotesttheproofofconceptforaspecificactionableand measurable intervention or delivery of an innovation. Solutions developed

throughthisprogramcouldhaveabroadimpactbothwithinIndiaandbeyondits

borders.Thedeliverablesofsuchproposalshouldbeassessedbystudyingdietary

diversity&behaviorchange,establishingsocioeconomicstatusofwomenthrough

improved laborsaving agriculture practices, improving health status of children,

adolescentgirlsandwomenatreproductiveagealongwithcommunitymobilization

&socialnetworkapproachesinagricultureandnutrition.

3.BACKGROUNDImpaired child growth and development, as manifested in early stunting and wasting,

remainsastubbornproblemgloballywithasignificantburdenofdiseasetobefoundin

India.DespiteIndiaseconomicgrowthwithagricultureaccountingforasignificantpart

of that growthand advances in science, medicine, food security and information

technologyoverthepastdecade,malnutritionremainsunacceptablyhighasIndiaishome

to about onethird of the worlds malnourished children. Many of these malnourished

babiesareborntoadolescentmothersinIndia;75%oftheseadolescentmothersinIndia

are anemic and put onanaverageof5kgofweight during pregnancy compared tothe

worldwideaverageofcloseto10kg.Moreover,oneinthreewomen1549yearsofagehas a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 18.5, indicating severe nutritional deficiency and

undernutrition. Malnourished women are less likely to deliver healthy babies, thereby

perpetuatingtheintergenerationalcycleofundernutrition.

Comparedtotherestoftheworld,youngchildreninIndiasufferfromsomeofthehighest

levelsofstuntingandwastingduetoundernutritioninthefirsttwoyearsoflife.Ratesof

malnutritionamongIndiaschildrenarealmostfivetimesmorethaninChina,andtwice

those inSubSaharan Africa. The prevalence of childwasting (low weightforheight) in


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India(20percent)istwiceashighastheaverageinsubSaharanAfrica(ninepercent)and

tentimeshigherthaninLatinAmerica(twopercent).Indiaaccountsformorethan3outof

10stuntedchildrenintheworldandnearlyhalfofallIndiaschildrenapproximately60million are underweight, about 45% are stunted, 20% are wasted (too thin for their

height, indicating acute malnutrition), 75% are anemic, and 57% are Vitamin A

deficient.(Source: World Bank News dated May 13, 2013

http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/05/13/helpingindiacombat

persistentlyhighratesofmalnutrition).

Poverty, nutritional deficiencies, inadequate feeding practices, and low socioeconomic

statusofwomenareamongmanyimportantfactorscontributingtothisalarminghealth

crisis.Therefore,itisofupmostimportancetofundIndianinvestigatorsproposingtotest

innovationsthatempowerwomenandspanmultiplefieldsincludingnutritionalscience,agriculturalpractices,businessandsocialpractices.Itishopedthatsolutionsdeveloped

underthisinitiativewillnotonlycontributenewsolutionsinIndia,butalsobeapplicable

assolutionsforothercounties.

4.PROGRAMSCOPE4.1Fieldsofinnovation:

Therearenumerouskeyquestionswhoseanswerscouldhelpreducethehighincidenceof

low birth weight and early stunting and wasting among Indian infants through

interventionsthattargettherelationshipbetweenagriculture,nutrition,andhealth,aimed

atempoweringwomenintheirmultiplefamilyroles.Theseare:

What are the causesof low birth weight and early stunting and wasting amongIndianinfants?

Whicharethemostrelevantinterventionstodesigningpreventativemeasures? Which prevention or treatment interventions are the most effective for any

particularpopulationorsetting?

Towhatextentcanwomenslowstatuswithinthehouseholdtheircommunitiesandinsocietybeamelioratedtoimprovehealthoutcomesforherselfandforheryoungchildren?

Howcanwomeninlowresourcesettingsbeempoweredandtargetedforneworexistinginterventions?

Foranyparticularintervention,isthereawindowofopportunityduringwhichwehave the best chances for success such as in interveningwith adolescentgirls in

ordertohalttheintergenerationaltransferofpovertyandundernutrition?

What are the most strategic and catalytic system level levers for achieving largescalechangesthatwouldleadtoreductionsinundernutrition?


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What are the best ways togeneratedemand for new interventions for achievinglargescale changes that would lead to reductions in undernutrition and health

servicesamongwomen,families,andhealthcareproviders? What can be done to ensure the broad uptake of interventions proven to be

effective?Whatarethebestwaystoreachthemostvulnerable,distant,orsocially

neglectedpopulation?

Toprovidedatatohelpanswertheseandotherkeyquestions,thisprogramiscallingfor

proposals from diverse researchers, innovators and implementers. In addition, we

encouragepartnerships thatbring together researchersand implementers fromdiverse

organizations, including academics, research institutions, medical institutions, forprofit

companies,notforprofitorganizationsandfoundations.Specifically,weseektoestablisha

portfolioofscalableprojectsthatencompassesinnovationinfollowingareas:

A)NUTRITIONINNOVATIONHealthy Growth of woman and Child To explore and develop special

intervention thatwilldirectly impact thedevelopment of innovative nutrition

forthepreventionofstuntingandwastingofyoungchildren(including


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4.2 CharacteristicsofsuccessfulproposalWeseektofundresearchthatwillleadtonewsolutionstoreducethehighincidenceoflow

birthweight(LBW)andearlystuntingandwastingamongIndianchildrenfrom02yearsofage,andtopreventundernutritioninwomenofreproductiveage.Successfulproposals

shouldexplainhowtheywillleadtosolutionsthatare:

Aclearpathtoapractical,affordable,andscalableinterventionthatisaccessibletothepopulationsmostinneedandlikelytohavesubstantialandsustainedimpactonLBWandstunting.

Allproposalsmustbedesignedtotesttheproofofconceptforaspecificactionableandmeasurableintervention.

Daringsolutionsthatareclearlydifferentiatedfromstandardpractice.4.3 SolutionsdevelopedthroughthisprogramImpactingIndiaandbeyonditsborders.

o Scalableinterventionsthatcombinewaystoimprovehouseholddietdiversityandavailabilitythrough local sources of foodwith education to prevent LBW and

promotehealthygrowthofinfantsandchildren

o Behaviorchangeinterventionsindemandgenerationforhealthyfoodchoicesandcontent; delivery of nutrition messages to household members through various

platforms

o Innovationstoimprovewomensdecisionmakingabilitywithinthehouseholdwithrespect to child feeding, child education, health careseeking, householdexpenditures, womens time allocation, and household food distribution; these

innovations wouldneed to take into account existingsocial and culturalbarriers

andtherespectivedecisionmakingauthorityofotherhouseholdmembers

o Evaluatetheimpactofnewlaborsavingtechnologiesandpracticespreandpostharvestonwomensincome,womenstimeconstraints,andthehealthoutcomesof

womenandchildren

o Innovationstoamendtheagriculturalresponsibilitiesofadolescentgirlstoimprovefuture birth outcomes andprevent the intergenerational transferof povertyand

poornutrition

o Evaluate the impact of current laborpractices ofadolescent girlson theirhealthoutcomesandexploreincentivestohouseholdstoreduceheavylaborburdenson

adolescentsgirlsandincreasetheireducationalopportunities

o Innovationsinincentives,communitymobilization,andsocialnetworkapproachestopromotepositivesocial and economicpractices and behaviors with respect to

food production and storage, food consumption, food purchases, childfeeding

practices,healthseekingbehaviors,andeducation


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4.4 ExamplesofwhatwearenotlookingforExamplesofthetypesofprojectswewillnotconsiderforfundingarelistedbelow:

Implementationof established interventions such as homegardens, small animalhusbandry,etc.

Basic research that does not provide a clearpath todevelopment and testing ofinterventions.

Studieslackinganalyticmethodstosubstantiatecausallinks. Projectsthatdonotdisplayclearpotentialforadvancingresearchfindingsintopre

clinical,earlystageclinical,fieldorimplementationevaluation

Projectsthatarenotscalableeitherbytheirnatureorbecausetheyapplytosmallsubsetsofthepopulation.

Studiesthatproposeinterventionsthatdetractsfromfavorablefamilypractices.

Projects without appropriate metrics to determine success or failure that wouldallowdecisionsabouttheappropriatenessoffollowonfunding.

Solutionsthatareonlyslightimprovementsoverexistingapproaches. Mobilehealthapproacheswithoutthepotentialforgreatlyexpandedusecompared

withcurrentpracticesorforintegrationofmultipleinformationsystemsintoone

solution.

Replicationofanapproachinanewgeographyintheabsenceofaddedinnovation.

5 PROGRAMSTRUCTURE5.1Granttypesandfundinglevels

ThisinitiativewillbeapublicGrandChallengeIndiaRFPexclusivetoIndianinvestigators

seekinginnovations innutrition,particularlyaround lowbirthweightandstunting,

innovations in agriculture around labor saving technologies and improved

nutritionalqualityofproductsandinnovationsindemandgeneration,businessand

social innovationwith a particular focus onwomen. There are two categories of

grants:

Seed grants: Fundedat up to INR 125 Lakhs [$250,000 USD] per project, theseawardsdonotrequirepreliminarydataandaremeanttoprovideanopportunityto

testparticularlyboldideas.

Transitiontoscalegrants:Fundedatupto INR5CrTO10Cr[$1millionto$2millionUSD]perproject,theseawardsrequirepreliminarydataandaremeantto

provideanopportunitytodevelop,refine,andrigorouslytestapproachesthathave

previouslyshownpromiseincontrolledorlimitedsettings.


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BIRACanticipatesthatthepartnerstogetherwillinvestinitiallyuptoatotalof30CrINR

[$6MUSD] in this program.The committedamount could increasedepending upon the

interest shown by the Funding partners both National and International. The call forproposals,invitesbothSeedawards(uptoINR125Lakhs)[$250KUSD]andTransitionto

Scaleawards(uptoINR5Cr10Cr)[$1Mto$2M]todevelop,refine,andrigorouslytest

theimpactofintegratedsolutionsthatshowpromise.Thecallwillberunfortworounds

dependingontheresponseandqualityofideas.Forpilotawards,proposalreviewcriteria

will include a requirement to show a pathway towards generation of evidence for an

actionable and scalable intervention. For transitiontoscale awards, proposal review

criteriawillincludeanewevidencedbasedinterventionthatincludesastrategyforscaling

up,includingservicedeliveryanddemandgeneration.

Nevertheless,weanticipatethattherewillbetwowavesoffunding.Thesecondwaveof

funding would be timed so that investigators funded in the first wave could use their

projectresultstoapplyforasecondtwoyearaward.Winnersofseedgrantscouldapply

forasecondseedgranttostrengthentheirpreliminarydatasetortheycouldapplyfora

transitiontoscalegrant.Winnersoftransitiontoscalegrantscouldapplyforasecondfull

grant to extend their results and establish proofofconcept at a larger scale. Whether

additionalfundingopportunitiesareavailablethroughtheprogramafterthesecondwave

offundingforseedgrantwinners,forinstancewillbeestablishedatalaterdateafter

theinitialresultsoftheprogramhavebeenevaluated.

5.2CollaborationWiththisprogramweseektocreateaconsortiumofindividuallyfundedprojectsthatwill

benefitfromsharinginformationbetweenprojects.Weexpectthatsuchsharingwillhelp

toensurethatthegoalsofthe innovativeapproachesinindividualprojectsareultimately

integratedwitheachother,therebyincreasingthechancesthattheprogramwillbegreater

thanthesumofitsparts.Furthermore,weexpectthatsharingexperimentalmethods,data,

andresourceswillultimatelyimprovetheabilitytocompareandvalidatelocalresearch

findingsandtodevelopinterventionsandproductsthatcanhaveimpactatagreaterscale.

Thespecifictermsofthecollaborativeactivitieswillbenegotiatedpriortothegrantaward.

Collaborativeeffortsinclude:

Clinical Research Harmonization: When collaborating with projects with existingcohortsorestablishingnewcohorts(whichwillnotbefundedunlessexplicitlyagreed

to), investigators will be expected to participate, whenever possible, in cohort

harmonization.Studysiteswillbeexpectedto:

o Developandfollowstandardoperatingproceduresandqualitycontrolprotocolsforspecimencollections;


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o Participate in the establishment of a minimum common set of data andspecimenstobecollectedacrosstheprogram.

DataSharing:AsaprojectjointlyfundedbyDBTandBill&MelindaGatesFoundationthere isanexpectationdatawillbesharedwith the broader scientific community to

accelerateandadvanceinterventionsforthosemostinneed.Adatasharingplanwill

bedevelopedthatisequitable,ethical,andefficient,andwillinclude:

o Adatasharingandpublicationpolicy,o Adatauseagreement,o A protocol for citing the program in published manuscripts, and for

acknowledgingthecoreprograminvestigators.

6.RULESANDGUIDELINES6.1Applicationinstructionsandschedule

ALetterofIntent(LOI)inresponsetothisRFPshouldbesubmittedonlinenolaterthan31

October 2013 using the forms and process described at the following address:

www.birac.nic.in.ReviewpanelsestablishedundertheGrandChallengesIndiapartnership

willevaluatetheLOIs.PostLOIReviewandafullproposalshapingmeetingwillbeheldto

ensure wehavetheopportunity to strengthenproposals andbuild synergieswithother

proposalswithintheconsortium.Applicantswhoqualifyandprojectsoffurtherinteresttothepartnershipwillbeinvitedtosubmitafullproposal.Instructionsonthepreparationof

fullproposalswillbeprovidedtoselectedapplicants,andwewillnotbeabletoprovide

individual feedback to applicants not selected to submit full proposals. Grants will be

awardedtoGCIapplicantswhoareselectedthroughthedueprocess.BIRACwillenterinto

aseparatefundingagreementwithsuccessfulGCIgrantee(s)togoverntheprojectterms

andconditionsandfunddisbursementmodalities.

Atableofimportantdatesisgivenbelow.Alldeadlinesandnotificationdatesaresubject

tochange,andapplicantswillbenotifiedbyemailinatimelymannerofanysuchchanges.

Table1:Applicationschedule

August28,2013: LaunchofRFP

October31,2013: LastdateforsubmissionofLOI

November30,2013:LOIReviewmeetingbyTAGandselectionoffullproposal

December15,2013: MeetingofselectedapplicantwithTAG

January31,2014: Fullproposalssubmissionlastdate

Feb4,2014: Proposalsdistributedtoreviewers

Feb26,2014: ReviewoffullproposalcompleteandmeetingwithTAG.


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March5,2014: ECMeetingforAwardSelection

March20,2014: AwardAnnouncement

April30,2014: AgreementSigning

6.2EvaluationCriteria Novelty and InnovationLandscape [15]: How theproposal capture the unique

innovationtoaddressthebarriers.

SocialImpact[15]:Howwillthisproposedinterventionleadtoabehaviorchangein the target population? Do the assays, technologies, and systems for analysis

proposedhavebroadapplicability?

Future Deliverable/ Translational Feasibility [15]: Is there potential foradvancingresearchfindingsintopreclinicaldevelopment?Investigatorsproposingto test innovations that empower women and span multiple fields including

nutritionalscience,agriculturalpractices,businessandsocialpractices.

Scope and Significance [15]: Is the approach likely to add dramatically toknowledge about the causative mechanisms underlying health problems and the

most appropriate treatments for the problems specific to Indian women of

reproductiveageandinIndianchildrenfrom02yearsofage?

Approach [10]: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analysesinnovative,adequately developed,well integrated, andappropriateto theaims of

theproposal?Dotheapproachesormethodsappeartobefeasibleforscalingupinamanner consistent with the overall goalsof this request for proposals?Does the

proposalacknowledgepotentialproblemareasandconsideralternativetactics?Is

thelikelihoodofsuccessfulprojectcompletionhighwithinthefundingperiod?Are

theproposedtimelinesandinterimmilestonesappropriate,feasible,andtechnically

sound?

Organizationalandinvestigatorcapability[10]:Istheresearchanddevelopmentteamappropriatelytrained,experienced,andpositionedtocarryoutthiswork?Is

theworkproposedappropriatetotheexperienceleveloftheprincipalinvestigator

and other proposed researchers? Is there strong evidence of substantive

organizationalcapabilityandcommitment?Isthereexperienceindevelopmentof

partnerships,andinmultiinvestigatorprojects?Arecollaborativearrangementsin

place? Is there evidence of an infrastructure for adoption of standard operating

procedures,datacollection,transfer,andsharing?

Willingnesstocollaborate[10]:Aretheapplicants,includingallsubcontractors,willingtocollaborateandshareexperimentalmethods,data,andresourcesamong

theotherindependentlyfundedmembersoftheprogramconsortium?


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Best value [10]: Is the cost of the proposed effort reasonable relative to thecomplexity of the proposed work and the degree of risk and advancement

proposed?

6.3EligibilitycriteriaThe Grand Challenge India (GCI) application can be made by an Indian Individual

Researcher/EntrepreneuroranIndianentity/consortiumestablishedunderanyrelevant

statute, agreement, rule or regulation in India as the Lead applicant. GCI Applicant

organizations must be nonprofit organizations, forprofit Companies, recognized

institutionssuchasacademia,Nationallaboratories,researchinstitutions,medicalresearch

institutions and foundations that have the required facilities tosuccessfullyexecute the

activities in their technical area. Where the opportunity exists or project requires, we

encourageresearchorganizationsinothercountriestobepartners/collaboratorsinthe

GCIApplication.ThegoalofthisprogramistofundaportfolioofIndianledpilotprojects.

6.4AllowableCosts DirectCosts:Manpower(upto30%),Consumables,travelandcontingency Facilities:Equipmentandaccessories(upto20%) Reimbursement of Facilities: Outsourcing, Operational cost of each Collaborating

Partners/AffiliatedOrganizations

6.5WarrantyTheGCIApplicantsshallwarrantythatthestatementsandparticularscontainedinLOI,full

proposalandsupportingdocumentsarecorrect.Theyhavetofurtherwarrantthattheyare

undernocontractualrestrictionsorlegaldisqualificationsoranyotherobligationswhich

wouldprohibitthemfromundertakingthepresentProject,enteringintoanyAgreementin

thisregardetc.

6.6IntellectualPropertyProjectIPTheinitiativeisguidedbytheMemorandumofUnderstandingonthecollaborationbetweenthe

DepartmentofBiotechnology,Govt.ofIndiaandtheBill&MelindaGatesFoundationsignedonJuly

18,2012andassuchmustconsistentwiththecommitmentthatprojectsandinvestigatorsfunded

under initiatives make global access commitments to ensure the fruits of their research are

available to thosemost in need. This will include, but not limited to, the ability to license any

technologydevelopedunderthisagreementtomanufacturersinIndiasubjecttotheseglobalaccess

commitmentsandtotherelevantprovisionsoftheIndianlawsincludingspecificrequirementson

licensingunderthePatentsAct1970.

Tothisend,projectIPmeansintellectualpropertygeneratedduringtheconductof

theProjectbytheGCIapplicants,butexcludingtheintellectualpropertygenerated


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beforeinitiationofthisProjectandanyIPgeneratedoutsidethescopeofthisProject

evenduringthetermofthisProject. Theownership andcontrolof the intellectual

propertyshallremainwiththeGCIgrantee(s),orothercollaboratingorganizationsorinstitutionsasagreedwiththegrantee,subjecttoanyapplicablelocalpoliciesandthe

collaborativeprocessdescribedabove,includingarrangementsbetweenthegrantee

andotherindividualsorinstitutions.

GCIgrantee(s)agreetoconductandmanagetheProjectandtheresultingproducts,

services, processes, technologies, materials, software, data or other innovations

(collectively, Funded Developments) and any IP that arises in the manner that

ensuresGlobalAccess.GlobalAccessrequiresthat

1) TheknowledgeandinformationgainedfromtheProjectbepromptlyandbroadlydisseminated

2) TheFundedDevelopmentismadeavailableandaccessibleatanaffordablepricetopeoplemostinneedwithindevelopingcountry.

EstablishingsuitableGlobalAccessagreementsamongtheGCIgranteeswillbea

conditionofreceivingfunding.

6.7Confidentiality:DuringthetenureoftheProject,BIRACwillundertaketomaintainstrictconfidentialityand

refrain from disclosure thereof, of all or any part of the information and data

exchanged/generatedfromtheProjectforanypurposeotherthanpurposesinaccordancethis RFP. Please note that all proposals, documents, communications and associated

materials submitted (collectively, Submission Materials) will become the property of

BIRAC and will be shared with other funding partners or potential funding partners.

Number of applications received and the countries from which they originated will be

published.Theproposalswillbe subject to confidential externalreview by independent

subjectmatterexpertsandpotentialcofunders,inadditiontoinhouseanalysis.

7.RESEARCHASSURANCES7.1DataAccessPrinciples

BIRAChastherighttothetechnicaldatageneratedduringtheprojectforalltheGCIfunded

projects. The fund recipient shall permit BIRAC through its authorized representative

accesstothepremises,duringregularbusinesshours,wheretheProjectisbeing/shallbe

carried out and provide all information and produce or make available the concerned

records for inspection and monitoring of the Project activity, required by BIRAC or the

concernedcommitteeundertheRFP.BIRACwillasneededsharethisdatawithaTechnical

AdvisoryGrouporwiththefundingpartners.


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7.2IndemnificationGCI applicants shall, at all times, indemnify and keep indemnified the Funding Agency/

BIRAC against any claims or suits in respect of any losses, damages or compensationpayableinconsequencesofanyaccident,deathorinjurysustainedbytheemployeesofthe

Companyorbyanyotherthirdpartyresultingfromorbyanyact,omissionoroperation

conductedbyoronitsbehalf.FurtherGCIapplicantsshall,atalltimes,indemnifyandkeep

indemnified PMU or Funding Agency/ BIRAC against all claims/damages etc. by any

infringement of any Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) while carrying out its

responsibilities/workundertheProjectandthisAgreement.

7.3ResearchethicsandregulatoryapprovalsGCI Grantee(s) shall be responsible to obtain all the necessary requisite approvals,

clearancecertificates,permissionsandlicensesfromtheGovernment/localauthoritiesfor

conductingitsactivities/operationsinconnectionwiththeProject.

8.CONTACTBiotechnologyIndustryResearchAssistanceCouncil(BIRAC)

1.Dr.RenuSwarup,AdviserDBT&ManagingDirectorBIRAC,Email:[email protected],ManagerTechnical(Discovery&ProductDevelopment),BIRACEmail:

jshukla.birac@nic.in.BiotechnologyIndustryResearchAssistanceCouncil,(AGovernmentofIndiaEnterprise)A254,3rdFloor,BhishamPitamahMarg,DefenceColony,NewDelhi110024.Web:www.birac.nic.in

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