Policy Update
Tanmyi Anthwal
Background
As biotechnology reshapes sectors ranging from public health to sustainable agriculture, the need for structured scientific dialogue and public engagement has never been greater. To bridge this gap, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) operates the CTEP (Conference, Travel, Exhibition, and Popular Lectures) scheme.
It is an initiative designed to popularize biotechnology activities in India through financial assistance for organizing Conferences, Seminars, Symposia, and Workshops. Additionally, it provides travel assistance to researchers for presenting their papers at international seminars. The DBT helps set up booths at both domestic and international exhibitions. Funding is also provided for organizing popular lectures. These four activities are grouped as CTEP (Conference, Travel, Exhibition, and Popular Lectures).
The CTEP program was developed as part of India’s goal to become a global hub for biotechnology. The Department of Biotechnology, part of the Ministry of Science and Technology, set up this broad outreach program to meet the important need for sharing biotechnology knowledge, building capacity, and raising public awareness.
Program Objectives
- Encourage innovative research and help in planning high-quality scientific conferences, seminars, symposia, and workshops.
- Offer travel assistance for international conferences so Indian researchers can participate in the global scientific discussion.
- Organize popular lectures to bridge the gap between the public and scientific research.
- Promote exhibitions to showcase biotechnology advancements and strengthen connections between industry and academia.
Implemention
- The Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL) acts as the implementing agency for DBT. They ensure good project management and streamlined implementation processes.
- BCIL has developed a web portal called OSMoSys (Online Submission and Monitoring System) for submitting, processing, and settling grant applications under CTEP. This is a single window system to handle these processes. This portal provides timely deliverables and streamlines the assistance process.
Online Submission and Monitoring System (OSMoSys)
Target Beneficiaries
- Academicians, researchers, and scientists from public and private organizations.
- Research scholars and post-doctoral fellows.
- Universities and educational institutions.
- Biotechnology companies and industry experts.
- Students and the public through awareness-raising initiatives.
Functioning
Four interrelated components make up the CTEP program. Each component is designed to address a specific aspect of biotechnology outreach and capacity building:
1. Conference Component:
It provides funding for planning workshops, symposia, conferences, and seminars in biotechnology and related fields at both national and international levels.
The support structure provides funding for various events based on their scope and participation. National events can receive funding up to Rs. 10-15 lakhs, depending on their size and level of participation. For global events, increased funding is available, taking into account their global impact and participation. Additionally, virtual conferences, introduced post-COVID, incur a cost of Rs. 8,000 per day.
To be eligible for support, organizations must be recognized academic or research institutions, professional scientific societies, or government organizations involved in biotechnology research.
2. Travel Support Component:
Provides travel grants for Indian scientists presenting papers abroad.
The support structure includes full reimbursement of economy class airfare via Air India from the nearest airport. Preference is given to events sponsored by foreign governments, international organizations, or multilateral arrangements, with a focus on conferences relevant to DBT’s priority areas.
Eligibility criteria for support are based on the quality and relevance of the research paper, the reputation of the conference, and the potential for knowledge transfer and collaboration.
3. Exhibition Component:
Support for organizing DBT pavilions or stalls at national and international exhibitions.
The support structure provides direct funding for exhibition infrastructure, development of promotional materials, technical support for display setup, and coordination with event organizers. The strategic focus is on showcasing Indian biotechnology capabilities, facilitating business-to-business connections, and promoting opportunities for technology transfer.
4. Popular Lectures Component:
Financial support for organizing popular lectures by biotechnology experts for students and the general public.
The target audience includes school and college students, university researchers, the general public, as well as science communicators and educators. The virtual expansion involves a webinar series priced at Rs. 8,000 per webinar, typically organized as a series of three lectures. It also includes popular online lectures aimed at reaching a wider audience and the use of digital platforms to ensure better accessibility.
Enrollment Process
DBT has implemented a comprehensive digital platform that serves as a single window. It evaluates based on:
- Technical Review: Expert committees assess proposals based on scientific merit, relevance, and potential impact.
- Financial Assessment: Budget scrutiny and cost-effectiveness analysis.
- Approval Mechanism: A multi-tier approval system ensures transparency and accountability.
Quality Assurance: It involves periodic review of supported events, impact assessment, and outcome evaluation, as well as feedback collection from participants and stakeholders. This process enables continuous improvement based on performance metrics.
Performance
DBT’s budget decreased from Rs. 2,683.86 crore to Rs. 2,275.7 crore, a 16% cut for 2024-25. This change is primarily due to the inefficient utilization of Rs. 1,607.32 crore out of the Rs. 2,683.86 crore allocated for 2023-24, resulting in over Rs. 1,000 crore remaining unspent. (Biotech Express)
CTEP funding is part of this category, and utilization was limited to just 33% use, with Rs. 550 crore spent from Rs. 1,645 crore allocated. The current allocation of Rs. 1,174 crore is allocated for 2024-25, reduced due to underuse. Budget limits may affect support for conferences, travel grants, and exhibition activities.
Impact
The CTEP program has made significant progress in key areas. It has improved efficiency through OSMoSys, which streamlined application processes and fund disbursement. After 2020, it successfully moved to digital formats, making it easier for researchers from tier-2 and tier-3 institutions to access resources. This shift promoted broader participation and encouraged international collaboration. CTEP has increased the global visibility of Indian biotechnology, allowed for knowledge exchange, and strengthened India’s role in global research. Its capacity-building initiatives have provided young researchers with international experience. The popular lectures have helped create pathways for students to pursue biotech education and research careers, helping to build a skilled and informed future workforce.
Emerging Issues
- Complex procedures and limited post-event monitoring discourage participation. They also hinder effective impact evaluation.
- Inadequate internet connections, poor platform design, and uneven digital skills restrict inclusive participation. This is especially true for remote and smaller institutions.
- The lack of standard review criteria and weak tracking systems for long-term outcomes reduces the program’s ability to measure research impact and knowledge transfer.
- Growing demand, rising costs, and currency fluctuations challenge the support for international travel and event participation.
- The absence of structured follow-up makes it hard to capture downstream outcomes. This includes collaborations, publications, and innovations that arise from supported activities.
Way Forward
As India moves toward global leadership in biotechnology, the CTEP program needs to become a more flexible, inclusive, and technology-based platform. To tackle administrative problems and accessibility issues, we can use AI for proposal evaluations, machine learning to match researchers with opportunities, and mobile-first platforms to make participation easier and cut down on documentation. Having permanent virtual and hybrid event setups, together with digital literacy support and better user interfaces, will help bridge connectivity gaps and include more tier-2 and tier-3 institutions. Blockchain systems can also make fund distribution and compliance more transparent and accountable.
To fill gaps in evaluation and impact assessment, CTEP should create standardized review metrics and strong tracking systems for outcomes after events, such as publications, collaborations, and technology transfers. We need to expand support for new biotech areas like synthetic biology, digital health, and climate-related innovations. Targeted outreach will help ensure fair research development. Strengthening international partnerships and engaging the Indian diaspora will improve global visibility and knowledge sharing. Structured follow-ups and innovation connections will help maintain research and economic impact, especially in settings with limited resources.
References
About the contributor: Tanmyi Anthwal is a Research Intern with IMPRI.
Acknowledgment: The author sincerely thanks the IMPRI team for their valuable support.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organization.
Read more at IMPRI:
Transforming Education and Research: The Impact of India’s National Knowledge Network 2010
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), 2000: Boosting India-Central Asia Trade Relations
