Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Monday launched multi-disciplinary post-doctoral courses in Bio-Sciences to address global health challenges.

Delivering the key-note address at the launch of “i3c BRIC-RCB PhD programme” in Biosciences in New Delhi, the minister announced that 1000 Ph.D. students will be enrolled in the next five years to drive innovation in the critical healthcare sector.

He said this Ph.D. programme is designed on the four pillars of ideation, immersion, innovation and collaboration.

“This program will enable Indian students to embark on world-class research in fascinating and diverse fields of biotechnology and is aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of enhancing and implementing transformative power of Science and Technology for the benefit of all,” Singh said.

He informed that along with a unique course curriculum, hands-on training on high-end facilities would be provided to all the research scholars.

“A special on-field ‘immersion fellowship’ supported by Grand Challenges India would be provided to first-hand experience challenges and problems and derive motivation to address them through collaborative research in the DBT institutions. Additionally, the program will also induct and provide opportunities for non-biologists to undertake this Ph.D. program through special fellowships,” the minister said.

Informing that the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has created a new autonomous body, Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) by subsuming the 14 autonomous research institutions, Singh said, “The BRIC will integrate multi-disciplinary research and innovation programs, capacity-building across the institutions synergistically and maximize biotech impact in the country.”

The minister said the “Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), an Institution of National Importance under the DBT, along with iBRIC (institutions of BRIC) has rolled out a globally competitive interdisciplinary Ph.D. program- “The i3c BRIC-RCB PhD Programme in Biosciences”.

Singh also launched the DBT handbook on Bio-design for Med-Tech Innovations and licensed medical technologies developed by DBT-Bio-design fellows to the startups incorporated by them in the ceremony.