Discovery To Innovation Accelerator (DIA)
Application form: Submission of Proposal for Research Translation
Terms and Conditions for submitting the proposals under this call:
I.Important Dates:
Announcement date: 08-05-2025
Submission Deadline: 09-06-2025
Note: This call offers collaborative support towards research translation and technology transfer for the selected proposal and not project funding.
II.Eligibility Criteria:
1.This call accepts proposals from Indian research institutions and universities.
2.The proposals submitted here must address at least one of the stated industry problem statements.
3.This call is only for the proposals that are at the Proof of Concept (PoC) that have been demonstrated or established (Technology Readiness Level - 3).
4.Proposals co-developed in collaboration with industry or foreign universities will not be accepted under this call.
5.Any regular member of the faculty or scientific team in a government or privately funded organisation is eligible to apply.
6.Students and post-doctoral researchers can apply for this call only if the application includes a faculty member or head of a research lab within an organization as the primary applicant.
III.Two Modules Under This Call:
This call consists of two modules namely, Module 1: Translation Challenge and Module 2: Open Call. Applicant must choose the appropriate module while completing the application form. Details for both modules are provided below;
Module 1: Translation Challenge
1.Proposals addressing industry problem statements outlined under this call (list provided below) must be submitted under Module 1: Translation Challenge.
2.Upon choosing the Module 1: Translation Challenge in the application form, the list of Industry Problem Statements will appear in the drop-down menu.
3.Applicants can select the appropriate industry problem statement that their proposal aims to address from the list.
4.Complete list of industry problem statements with brief overview is provided below.
Industry Problem Statements:
Theme: 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.
Theme: Agriculture & 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
Those proposals not aligning with or not addressing any of the specified industry problem statements listed under Module 1: Translation Challenge, can be submitted under the Module 2, “Proposals Across Life Sciences”.
Proposals submitted under this module should be within the thematic areas of HealthCare, Agriculture and Environment.
IV.Application Process:
1.Applications can only be submitted online. Offline submissions will not be considered for evaluation.
2.Each applicant may submit multiple proposals but each of the proposals needs to be submitted through separate forms.
3.It is mandatory to stick to the limit of 1000 characters to describe each section in the application form.
4.Those proposals addressing any of the mentioned 15 industry problem statements should be submitted under Module 1: Translation Challenge.
5.Those proposals not aligning with any of the listed industry problem statements can be submitted under Module 2: Proposals Across Life Sciences.
V.Proposal Selection for Research Translation:
1.A multi-level review will be conducted for the proposals submitted under both modules. The review committee will involve technical experts from the relevant fields, industries and the intellectual property rights.
2.Proposals will be shortlisted based on the following criteria:
a.Alignment with the listed industry problem statement in case of proposals submitted under Module 1: Translation Challenge.
b.The Technology Readiness Level (PoC demonstrated and/or established).
c.All proposals submitted under both modules must have strong industry relevance and scalability.
d.Potential for being adopted by the industry within the stipulated timelines upon successful research translation.
3.The shortlisted applicants will be notified via email and requested for additional data needed for further review. The required data may include, but is not limited to the following;
a.In vitro and/or in vivo data supporting the PoC
b.Competitive Landscape with the existing gold standard in the market (companies with relevant products already in the market and strength of the proposed solution) (if any).
4.The shortlisted applicants will be required to submit the above data via email within the given timeframe.
For any inquiries about the Research Translation Accelerator Program or the submission of proposals under this call; please write to ‘dia_applications@ccamp.res.in’ or call us at +91 80 6718 5106 / 5105.