Dignitaries including Australian minister for trade, Mr Andrew Robb at the 'Australia India Business Week in India' at New Delhi.
"BIRAC has been able to provide platform to the scientists for entreprenuership and translation work,"stated Dr Renu Swarup while speaking at the Australia Business Week in India 2015 event at New Delhi.
Talking in partcular about the collaboration with Australian counterparts, Dr Swarup remarked further, "Since the iniatition of Indo-Australian Strategic Research Fund in 2006, much has been achieved so far. As we completed five years of partnership on various projects, there have been many accomplishments. So far eight rounds of funding have been completed and fifty projects supported These projects includes the ones on stem cells, neutraceuticals and bioremediation among other areas."
Dr Swarup who is also senior advisor at department of biotechnology (DBT), revealed that the first Indo-Australian technology transfer was achieved on banana fortification technology. "Would like to move this into another direction now. Having discussions with colleagues in Austrlian government to take this forward. Our meeting in Sydney would reveal the projects moving into Phase 2." she added.
The managing director at BIRAC, Dr Swarup mentioned that her organization has now got extensive experience in helping the entreprenuers to do product development. She emphasized on the need to focus on translational research. "We are trying to help build early translational capacity and skilled human resources for industry. The DBT has collaborated with European countries in both academic as well as industrial projects. Now is the time for next phase of collaboration," added Dr Swarup.
