NEW DELHI: To strengthen its research base in the biomedical field in the countries' laboratories, the government has decided to offer lucrative packages to attract the best Indian-origin talent across the globe.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, The Cabinet decided to offer salaries up to Rs 100,000 per month to researchers to work in Indian research laboratories. It approved setting up of a Special Purpose Vehicle to manage Rs 12.96 billion, to be equally contributed between the Department of Bio-Technology and Wellcome Trust of UK for the next 10 years.

The SPV will have two trustees, an Indian and a representative of Wellcome Trust. "The aim is to attract top class professionals of Indian origin to work in institutes for high-end biomedical research to make a global impact," said a senior official of the department. The Prime Minister is to launch India's first such program.

Modeled on China's success in getting back researchers, the government believes that the program will help India improve its global record on producing Ph.D scholars. About 6,000 Ph.Ds are awarded in India every year as compared to 25,000 in China and 15,000 in Brazil.

Under the programme, the early career fellow would get up to Rs 716,000 per annum, intermediate fellows up to Rs 965,000 and senior fellows up to Rs 1.28 million per annum. Besides the salary package, they will also get high-end medical facilities for themselves and their families.

But only those who have proven global record on biomedical research can apply. Every year 70 fellowships will be awarded under the programme in different areas of bioresearch.

The selected candidates would be attached with different institutes to prove leadership in biomedical research, an area of international importance.

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