Distinguished Biotechnology Research Professorship Award Scheme 2008-09

Policy Update
Urvashi Singhal

Background

The biotechnology industry has become a pillar of contemporary science and technology, providing solutions for critical problems in medicine, agriculture, energy, and environmental stewardship. Governments and educational establishments worldwide have implemented specific programs to promote and reward exceptional biotechnologists in order to enhance research capabilities and stimulate innovation.

One such scheme is the Distinguished Biotechnology Research Professorship Award Scheme (DBRPAS), an eminent award identifying and assisting renowned researchers making valuable contributions to frontline research in the field.

Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, initiated the scheme “Distinguished Biotechnology Research Professorship Scheme” in 2008-09 to recognize scientists who have made outstanding contributions in Biological Sciences.

The Scheme is to honour those eminent scientists who have recognition of the highest kind and who are still contributing scientifically and remain active in the country’s forum. The Biotechnology Research Professorship Award Scheme facilitates these scientists to continue to make outstanding contributions to Science. It was launched as part of broader science and technology policy frameworks, often under national biotech missions or strategic innovation programs. The DBRPAS aims to nurture high-impact research and attract global talent.

Functioning

The DBRPAS normally has a competitive and merit-based selection process. The nominees, usually senior scholars or researchers from reputable institutions, are selected based on their scientific achievements, patents, publications, overseas collaborations, and the impact of their research on society. The candidate must be a fellow of one of the National Academies recognised by the Government of India. Preference will be given to applicant who has fellowships of at least one of the following National Academies:

Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore
National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad
Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi

Total number of fellowships shall not exceed five at any given time. Fresh selection will be made only against vacancies.

Each Distinguished Biotechnology Professor will receive fellowship money of Rs. 60,000/- per month. In addition, a contingency grant of Rs. 50,000 per annum would be provided for meeting the expenditure of the fellow on secretarial assistance, telephone, domestic travel, stationery, etc. The scientist would also be given a grant (not exceeding Rs. 20 lakh) for implementing a research project proposed by him/her for 5 years. The project may be for bench-level research, policy research relating to biotechnology, education, innovation within relevant areas, or providing mentorship/leadership to a young group working in the area of biotechnology.

Once selected, awardees are provided with:

A fixed honorarium or salary support for the duration of the professorship (often 3–5 years).
Research grant to assist current or new research projects, such as laboratory equipment, salaries for staff, and fieldwork.
Utilisation of national research facilities, such as state-of-the-art laboratories, biosafety level facilities, and genomic resources.
Chances to mentor new researchers, influence research direction, and participate in national policy on biotechnology.
Host institutions, which are usually research centres or universities, should undertake administrative and logistical support, as well as provide infrastructural facilities to the awardees.

Performance

The DBRPAS has contributed significantly since its launch in raising the standards of research and luring international expertise. Some of the awardees have proceeded to chair national consortia, create new therapeutic products, or advance pandemic response programs.

Performance metrics include:

Publication Output: Recipients usually publish in top-ranked journals (Nature Biotechnology, Cell, etc.), enhancing national ranking in international biotech indexes.
Technology Transfer: Research under this program has resulted in patented products, process development, and commercialisation via biotech startups or licensing arrangements.
Human Resource Development: Professorships as centres of training for doctoral and postdoctoral scientists have a ripple effect on institutional capabilities.
International Collaboration: Recipients tend to establish networks with foreign labs and take advantage of joint financing schemes such as Horizon Europe, Indo-US S&T Forum, or ASEAN biotech programs.

Impact

DBRPAS has a multi-level effect with positive impacts at the scientific, economic, and social levels.

Scientific Impact: It facilitates high-tech research that conventional grants cannot fund because of high risk or interdisciplinarity.
Economic Impact: The innovations that have come out of these professorships have led to employment generation, biotech exports, and the development of biotech clusters. For instance, biofertilizer and drought-tolerant crop innovations have helped in sustainable agriculture.
Policy Impact: Award winners tend to consult national panels or committees, shaping policy for GMOs, health biotech regulation, and pandemic readiness.
Societal Gains: These projects under this scheme have had a direct bearing on public health impacts (e.g., affordable vaccines), environmental robustness (e.g., microbial bioremediation), and food security (e.g., molecular breeding for climate-resilient crops).

Emerging Issues

Though it is a very successful scheme, there are still areas where the DBRPAS is lacking. These are:

Administrative Bottlenecks: Processing delays in disbursement of funds, procurement, and bureaucratic red tape commonly hinder the implementation of time-critical research.
There is also a geographical disparity with large institutions in metros dominating the awardee lists.
Sustainability of Impact: After ten years, most awardees experience funding cliffs, resulting in disruption to research programs and loss of trained staff.
Brain Drain vs Brain Circulation: Though the scheme competes internationally for the best brains, the absence of long-term institutional backing often causes awardees to go back overseas after completing tenure, constraining domestic capacity development.

Way Forward

To leverage the success of the DBRPAS and meet new challenges, the following strategic steps are proposed:

Flexible Funding Models: Introduce rolling grants, milestone-based funding, and quick disbursal mechanisms to enhance responsiveness and minimise delays.
Broader Evaluation Frameworks: Add qualitative evaluations of public outreach, mentorship, and policy impact in addition to traditional academic measures.
Inclusive Selection Processes: Adopt affirmative action policies, create outreach to underrepresented institutions, and monitor diversity statistics among awardees.
Strengthening Institutional Ecosystems: Support institutions to create Research Chairs with co-funding from industry or alumni groups, maintaining continuity after national support is withdrawn.
Global Partnerships: Extend the scheme with bilateral and multilateral partnerships, facilitating joint appointments, cross-border labs, and access to global facilities.
Public Communication of Science: Support awardees to become science communicators, enhancing public confidence in biotechnology and promoting science-society dialogue.

Conclusion

The Distinguished Biotechnology Research Professorship Award Scheme is a testament to the potential of strategic investment in human capital. It empowers visionary researchers and, in turn, catalyses innovation ecosystems, high-impact research, and national capacity in biotechnology. Nonetheless, it needs to change with the evolving scientific and societal environment, incorporating inclusivity, agility, and interdisciplinary thinking in its DNA to sustain and scale its impact.

References

Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology. (2020). National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2020–25. Government of India. https://dbtindia.gov.in/sites/default/files/uploadfiles/Guidelines%20%28Distinguished%20Biotechnology%20Research%20Proffessor%20Fellowship%29.pdf

Kumar, S., & Sharma, R. (2021). Strengthening India’s biotechnology sector: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Biosciences, 46(2), 35–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-021-00145-0

National Academy of Sciences. (2019). Promising Practices for Addressing the Underrepresentation of Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine. The National Academies Press.

World Economic Forum. (2023). Biotechnology for a sustainable future: Global landscape and policy roadmap. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/reports/biotechnology-policy-roadmap

Zhang, Y., & Lee, C. (2022). Translational research in biotechnology: From bench to business. Nature Biotechnology, 40(4), 451–460. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01234-7

About the contributor

Urvashi Singhal is a master’s student at DTU, simultaneously pursuing actuarial science. She is currently working as a research intern on an ICSSR project focused on menstrual leave policy.

Acknowledgment: The author sincerely thanks the IMPRI team for their valuable support.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organization.