Status: New
| Name & address of the Laboratory/Organization | CSIR- Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTech) | |
| Website address | www.imtech.res.in | |
| Affiliated to which Department/Ministry | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) | |
| CSR Registration Number | CSR00017422 | |
| Registration under 12A | ||
| Registration under 80G | ||
| Name of the CSR Nodal | Mr. Manuj tripathi | |
| Contact information of CSR Nodal | 9820084490, manuj.tripathi@imtech.res.in | |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. Vemuluri Venkata Ramana , venkat@imtech.res.in | |
| Co- Principal Investigator (Co-PI) | Dr. Suresh Korpole , suresh@imtech.res.in | |
| Objective on the basis of need | 1. Characterize the microbial strains for bioactive compounds, industrial enzymes, antibiotics, biofertilizers, probiotics, and wastewater treatment capabilities. 2. Establish a high-quality microbial database. 3. Develop collaborations with industries for commercialization. 4. Foster innovation in agriculture, healthcare, and environmental sectors. |
| Executive summary of the proposed project (In 250 words) | Microorganisms are the foundation of numerous scientific and industrial advancements. However, in India, the potential of microbial resources remains largely untapped due to inadequate characterization. The Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank (MTCC) is a premier microbial repository hosting diverse microbial strains with the potential to revolutionize industries and address environmental challenges and houses approximately 15,000 microbial strains, including bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. Despite their immense potential, these strains are currently identified but not characterized for specific applications. Microbial characterization is crucial for discovering bioactive compounds, novel enzymes, and sustainable solutions for agriculture, healthcare, and environmental remediation. This project proposes a systematic approach to identify the potential of these microbial strains, creating a robust database for their commercial and scientific exploitation. Recognizing this gap, MTCC is proposing a strategic initiative to characterize its microbial treasure trove, ensuring its utilization for societal and industrial benefit. This proposal aligns with global trends in sustainable development and corporate social responsibility (CSR), offering a significant opportunity for corporate sponsors to support innovation that directly impacts public welfare and industrial progress. This project aims to systematically characterize these microbial resources for their bioactive compounds, industrially important enzymes, antibiotics, biofertilizers, probiotics, and wastewater treatment potential. The three-year project will bridge the gap between microbial identification and functional characterization, enabling commercialization and industrial applications. This initiative will contribute to the advancement of science, support industries, and foster economic growth while addressing critical societal challenges in health, agriculture, and the environment. |
| Technology Readiness Level (If not a new project but an advancement of existing know how) | 1. Unutilized Potential: Although identified, the functional attributes of the MTCC microbial strains remain unexplored. 2. Industry Demand: Industries require ready-to-use microbial solutions, but the absence of characterized strains creates a bottleneck. 3. Limited Data: There is no consolidated resource on the application-specific potential of these strains, delaying scientific progress and commercialization. |
| Outomes or Deliverables | 1. Prioritize strains based on industrial and societal needs. 2. Screening of potential strains for different applications. 3. Genomic and proteomic profiling for promising strains. 4. Optimization of fermentation processes for large-scale applications. 5. Developing a searchable database documenting each strain's attributes. 6. Partnership with industries to translate findings into viable products. |
| Project aligned with which most relevant UN SDGs | Goal 3 - Good Health & Well-Being Goal 9 - Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure Goal 14 - Life Below Water Goal 15 - Life on Land |
| Duration (In years) | 3 yrs |
| Expected Impact | This project will impact and benefit various stakeholders across different sectors: 1. Farmers: Access to biofertilizers and biopesticides for sustainable agriculture, improving soil fertility and crop yields. 2. Healthcare Providers and Patients: Availability of new antibiotics and probiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance and improve gut health. 3. Industries: Pharmaceutical and biotech industries will gain access to microbial solutions for drug discovery and bioproduction & Food industries can utilize probiotics and enzymes for functional foods. 4. Environmental Managers: Wastewater treatment and bioremediation solutions for cleaner environments. 5. Animals: Probiotics and bioactive compounds for veterinary applications, improving livestock health and productivity. 6. Scientific Community: Access to a rich, characterized microbial database for research and development. |
| Implementation model (self- implemented/ outsourced partnership) | Self-implemented |
| Total Budget (Recurring +Non-Recurring Expenses) | 96 lacs (INR) |