The scheme “Empowering Youth for Undertaking Value Added Innovative Translational Research (E-YUVA)” was started by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) to promote a culture of applied research and need-oriented (societal or industry) entrepreneurial innovation among young students and researchers. The scheme provides funding support (through fellowship and research grant), technical and business mentoring, exposure to bio incubation model, orientation to an entrepreneurial culture, etc. to students at various levels including undergraduates, post-graduates, and post-doctoral.

E-Yuva Centers are housed within the University/Institute set-up. It acts as an anchor and extends requisite support and mentoring to students. Each EYC has a BIRAC-supported pre-incubation space which offers infrastructure and equipment for basic research and experimentation by selected students.

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

The “BIRAC’s E-YUVA Fellowship” is the scheme a category under E-YUVA Scheme. Under the scheme, a team of students who are pursuing under graduation in any domain can apply to pursue their research work at their College/University labs and will also be allowed access to facilities at EYC and EYC Knowledge Partners as and when required. It will be mandatory for all the fellows to spend 3-4 weeks at EYC/EYC Knowledge Partner during their fellowship period.

BIRAC encourages interdisciplinary proposals from any stream that can help conversion of innovative ideas into biotech products and technologies in any of the above fields.

• Proposal should be original. • Proposal should apply interdisciplinary knowledge. • The Proposal should aim at the development of innovative Biotech products/technologies with societal/commercial potential.

Each EYC will support up to 5 teams with upto 5 students each every year.

Fellowship is provided for a period of 12 months.

Indian students from Indian Institutes/colleges who are pursuing under graduation in any domain should apply as a team.

A team should comprise a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 Indian students from Indian Institutes/colleges pursuing under graduation in any domain.

BIRAC’s E-YUVA Fellows will receive a quarterly stipend and annual research grant as mentioned below: • Quarterly Stipend: INR 7,500/- per quarter per student of the team • Annual research grant: INR 2,50,000/- per team

No, the stipend is released quarterly to the student’s account, subject to the Mentor’s approval.

The annual research grant is released in two installments (1st installment: 75%; 2nd installment: 25%) to the Institute’s account and is managed by the mentor/guide.

Any one team member can create a user account on BIRAC’s website on behalf of the team followed by filling up of online application form. (https://birac.nic.in/)