The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), Phase-III, with a total outlay of Rs 1500 crore, Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
Briefing newspersons on the decisions of the Cabinet, he said the programme, implemented in partnership between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Wellcome Trust, UK, aims to nurture scientific talent, promote interdisciplinary research, and strengthen research capacity in India.
Key objectives of the initiative include:
– Foster cutting-edge biomedical research and innovation.
– Strengthen systems supporting high-quality research.
– Reduce regional disparities in scientific capacity.
– Create world-class biomedical research capacity with global impact.
Programme components include:
– Early Career and Intermediate Research Fellowships.
– Collaborative Grants Programme, including Career Development Grants and Catalytic Collaborative Grants.
– Research Management Programme to strengthen core research endeavors.
Expected outcomes would be to train over 2,000 students and postdoctoral fellows, generate high-impact publications, enable patentable discoveries and peer recognition, increase support to women researchers and collaborative programs, and expand the footprint of activities in Tier-2/3 settings.
The BRCP, launched in 2008-2009, has positioned India as an emerging hub for biomedical science. Phase III aims to build on earlier gains and invest in talent, capacity, and translation aligned with national priorities and global benchmarks.