For Academic Innovators

Call for Academic Innovators

Call Open Now

The Research Translation Accelerator programme by the Discovery to Innovation Accelerator (DIA) at C-CAMP, is a unique research translation programme where DIA encourages scientific innovators to transform societally relevant innovations in the Health Care, Agriculture, and Environment sectors into scalable industry solutions. The programme aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry by harnessing the current scientific developments in academia, by transforming them into sustainable, societally impactful and commercially viable technologies.

• C-CAMP has obtained 15 Industry Problem Statements from the various mid and large-scale companies. (List of Industry Problem Statement is provided below).  

• C-CAMP is currently inviting innovative solutions from Indian academia for the listed industry problem statements in the outlined Translation Challenge and beyond through its Open Call.   

Click here to apply: http://www.ccamp.res.in/translation-challenge

Submission due date: 9th June, 2025 (11:59pm IST)

For more details: dia_applications@ccamp.res.in; Phone: +91-080-6718 5106

About the call: The call consists of two modules namely:

Module 1. Translation Challenge: The proposals submitted under this module must address at least one of the listed industry problem statements. The list of the industry problem statements is provided below;

List of Industry Problem Statements:

Healthcare:

1. Novel molecules (biological/chemical) for treatment of inflammation, metabolic disorders, and cancer. 

Brief Overview: The limitations of current biological and chemical-based therapies, include non-specificity, drug resistance, gaps in disease understanding, etc. highlighting the need for effective, safe, and affordable drug molecules. Novel biological or chemical molecules targeting inflammation, metabolic disorders, and cancer should offer consistent outcomes with strong clinical potential.

2. Innovative adjuvants that enhance efficacy, safety, and durability of vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancer. 

Brief Overview: Innovative adjuvants are needed to boost the efficacy of vaccines and immunotherapies by enhancing targeted immune responses, improving immune memory, and ensuring safety. They should be stable, scalable, and suitable for preventive and therapeutic use.

3. Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) targeting difficult-to-treat cancers, auto-immune diseases, etc. 

Brief Overview: The demand for next-generation Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) is increasing, driven by the need for precise therapies that minimize off-target effects while enhancing efficacy. Novel ADCs must offer stability, scalability, and strong commercial potential.

4. New linkers including peptide-based options, to create novel Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) targeting difficult-to-treat cancers, auto-immune diseases, etc. 

Brief Overview: Peptide-based linkers are essential in targeted drug delivery, playing a key role in maintaining systemic stability, enabling efficient drug release, and minimizing off-target toxicity.

5. Cost-effective, high-efficiency, thermostable biologics through novel bioprocess or formulation technologies. 

Brief Overview: High-yielding thermostable biologics developed through innovative bioprocessing or formulation technologies offer enhanced stability, eliminating cold-chain dependence. This improves shelf life, reduces logistical costs, and enables broader commercial use.

6. Solutions specifically targeting virulent acne-causing microorganisms without causing side effects. 

Brief overview: Strain level selectivity is crucial for enhancing beneficial, non-pathogenic skin microbiota, as it supports microbial diversity and helps maintain skin homeostasis. This targeted approach fosters a balanced skin environment while minimizing disruption to the native microbiome.

7. Novel naturally derived ingredients to modulate chronic skin inflammation and skin-microbiota. 

Brief overview: Harmful cosmetic ingredients (eg., formaldehyde, phthalates, SLS etc.) can cause allergic reactions and are carcinogenic. This highlights the need for safe, effective nature-derived ingredients that maintain skin microbiota balance and offer therapeutic benefits for conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

8. Real-time, accurate, and scalable technologies for detecting or eliminating endotoxins during various stages of bioprocessing. 

Brief Overview: Reliable endotoxin detection and removal are vital in bioprocessing to ensure biological safety and quality. Scalable, sensitive, cost-effective solutions are commercially needed to meet regulations and prevent contamination.

9. Point-of-care devices for screening, detection, and diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB), cancer, blood disorders, metabolic diseases, and more. 

Brief Overview: Point-of-care devices offer high sensitivity, accuracy, and rapid results for screening, detection, and diagnosis of TB, blood disorders, cancer, metabolic disorders, and other conditions.  

Agriculture and Allied:

10. Nature derived herbicides (bioherbicides) targeting invasive weeds (e.g., Lantana Camara, Sorghum halepense). 

Brief Overview: Bioherbicides, derived from plants or microbes, provide an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic herbicides by disrupting weed growth through natural mechanisms. They are safe for the environment, crops, and organisms, avoiding soil pollution and health risks associated with synthetic chemicals.

11. Nature derived pesticides (biopesticides) targeting pathogens, particularly viruses, by stimulating systemic immune responses in plants. 

Brief Overview: Natural biopesticides from plants, microbes, or minerals offer an eco-friendly alternative to chemicals, targeting pathogens and viruses by boosting plant immune responses, enhancing defence mechanisms, and improving crop health and yield.

12. Accurate and rapid detection methods for mycotoxins, especially aflatoxins, in food and high-value agricultural products. 

Brief Overview: There is a growing need for rapid, cost-effective, and reliable mycotoxin detection in agricultural products to ensure quality, prevent contamination, and comply with food safety regulations for global trade.

13. Efficient post-harvest technologies for rapid, real-time detection and/or prevention of spoilage in high-value agricultural produce, especially cereals and fruits. 

Brief overview: There is a commercial need for rapid, accurate, and cost-effective preservation methods to minimize spoilage from microbes, pests, and environmental factors. Technologies like natural preservatives, coatings, and storage solutions are key to maintaining product quality.

14. Bacteriophage based alternatives for disease management in agriculture and animal husbandry. 

Brief Overview: Bacteriophage-based solutions offer a natural, targeted method to combat bacterial infections in crops and livestock, promoting animal health, reducing antibiotic use, and providing an eco-friendly alternative to chemical bactericides preventing AMR.

15. Technologies for large-scale production of Germacrene D, Menthofuran and Sabinene Hydrate and Viridiflorol. 

Brief Overview: The synthesis of key chemicals like Germacrene D, Menthofuran, Sabinene Hydrate and Viridiflorol faces challenges such as complex multi-step protocols and harsh conditions, leading to low yields and unscalable for large-scale production. Improved, scalable methods are needed for efficient large-scale production.

Module 2. Open Call: The proposals across the thematic areas of Life Sciences that do not align with any of the above-mentioned industry problem statements can be submitted through the second module: Open Call.

• Solution/proposals submitted under the Translation Challenge module must address the outlined problem statements failing which the submitted proposals will not be reviewed under this call.
• The submitted proposals will be assessed by the Expert Review Committee consisting of the relevant field experts, Industry leaders, and IP specialists. The decision of the Expert Review Committee will be final on the selection of the proposals for research translation under this programme.

• Online webinars/information sessions will be held to provide details of the programme and the ongoing Translation Challenge. Meeting details for the webinars/information sessions will be provided on the website and social media handles of C-CAMP.
• If you would like to attend the information session, please email with your contact details to email id: dia_applications@ccamp.res.in. The meeting details for the next webinars/information session will be shared to you via email.

Application Process:

• This programme only accepts online applications. Any other mode of application submission will not be considered.
• The Application form will have word limits. Please adhere to the specified word limit.
• Any data that might be required during the review process will be requested from the shortlisted applicants via the email. The shortlisted applicant to share the required data for the proposal-review within the time limit provided.  
• For any more details, please write to us at; dia_applications@ccamp.res.in or call +91 080 67175106.