International call for crop improvement projects launched

26 March 2013

BBSRC and India's Department of Biotechnology (DBT) have announced a joint call for collaborative research proposals that underpin the use of genomics and associated bioinformatics approaches to address crop improvement.

The call focuses on crops of interest to both the UK and India: wheat, brassicas and Solanaceae, which includes tomato, potato and aubergine.

Projects will build on the combined strengths of academic research groups in both countries to work together on projects involving sequencing, genomics and bioinformatics for crop improvement.

BBSRC and DBT have each pledged up to £5M to fund projects of a maximum duration of three years and envisage funding multiple projects under the call.

Indian-based components of projects will be funded by DBT and the UK-based components will be funded by BBSRC.

Applications will be ranked by an international panel of experts at the end of 2013 and a decision for funding will be made early in 2014. It is expected that all awarded grants will commence soon after March 2014.

The deadline for receipt of full proposals is: 16:00 UK time and 24:00 IST on 19 June 2013.

Applicants will have to complete an 'Intention to Submit' form, returning it to BBSRC by 16:00 UK time on Thursday 18 April 2013.

For full information about the call please visit: www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/opportunities/2013/crop-genomics.aspx.

ENDS

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