Prof. Brahmachari’s Contribution to S & T Leadership 

Institution Transformation and Development of novel PPP models
Relatively unknown the ‘Centre for Biochemical Technology (CBT)’ of CSIR underwent major transformation under the Directorship of Prof. Brahmachari to emerge as a leading institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in the country. Its scientific productivity has grown several folds both in quality and quantity be it knowledge generation and development or knowledge extension. Today, it has acquired an impressive portfolio of 148 foreign and national patents, leading to value realization, IP asset creations, and now also attracting foreign and national collaborations, and global project funding. Prof. Brahmachari has created a legacy of young researchers who don’t accept the phrase “things cannot be done in India”.

Under resource limiting conditions, Prof. Brahmachari conceptualized and developed ahead of time novel Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models like 'Genomed' and 'TCGA', bringing together various pharmaceuticals, IT, life science companies and CSIR-IGIB to empower India with Genomic Technology. Using his skill of networking he carried forward the ‘Indian Genome Variation’ project and PAN Asia SNP project, bringing large number of Indian and Asian scientists to work together. OSDD today, is the largest network project ever conceived in the world for drug discovery.

He has also contributed widely in popularizing genomic science and its ethical implications at global forums through several national and international committees. As a member of the Expert Group on Human Rights and Biotechnology Commission of United Nations, he has addressed issues of unethical exploitation of genetic resources of the Third World and has championed the concept of Rights of patients in benefit sharing in the development of genomic medicine to become a global success.

Reinventing CSIR 
As Director General CSIR (37 laboratories, 5 units over 16,000 employees and over 10,000 research fellows and PhD scholars), which is the largest chain of industrial RandD labs, he conceived and is successfully leading the process of CSIR’s transformation with his visionary policies, fast track decisions and attracting highly young talented leadership. He has played pivotal role in reforming India’s S & T policies for betterment of society, and led CSIR to generate new products, services, processes and business models, to boost employment generation and inclusive growth of the economy. 

Propagating that innovation is engine for growth and prosperity, many CSIR flagship programs have unfurled under his visionary leadership to address the concerns associated with the areas of health sector, higher S & T education and technological solutions.

Rendering the much needed, innovation to health and pharma sector, Prof. Brahmachari has piloted the Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD), the motto of which is ‘affordable health care for all’. This CSIR led team India consortium with global partnerships (over 5000 registered participants across 130 countries), provides a platform where the best minds can collaborate and collectively endeavor to solve the complex problems associated with discovering novel therapies for neglected tropical diseases like Tuberculosis, Malaria, Leshmaniasis, and so on. The acclaimed success of this philosophy has culminated into CSIR collaboration with organization like TB alliance (www.tballiance.org/) and Mayoclinic, USA (www.mayoclinic.org/)

Breaking away from the conventional education system, Prof. Brahmachari efforts have been instrumental in leveraging the infrastructure and scientific strengths of CSIR, in the form of a self-sustaining organization- ‘Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research’ (AcSIR). The academy, meant for promoting inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary research that is ordinarily not offered in regular universities, seeks to increase the number of high quality PhD’s in the country who can productively contribute to the growth of the nation.

Fructification of Post-Graduate Research Training Program in Engineering (PGRPE) under his guidance, gave the much needed hand to boost the engineering cluster of laboratories, infusing young and bright minds into research.

Prof. Brahmachari innovatively repositioned CSIR’s physical Institutes to a connected network, to undertake CSIR-800 project for the economic benefit of 800 million Indian at the bottom of the pyramid through S & T interventions.

Prof. Brahmachari sustained effort in this direction led CSIR to foster a major strategic partnership with the National Innovation Council (NInC). The alliance will particularly focus on setting Cluster Innovation Centre to promote innovation at grass root level particularly the Medium, Small enterprises (MSMEs) sector. He also formulated the policy for Scientific Entrepreneurship. This national effort pioneered and led by CSIR/DSIR has helped government to give nod for researchers to have an equity stake in scientific enterprises and spin-offs while still being employed in their organizations. This policy decision is to enable Indian scientists like their peers in all developed counties, to enjoy the commercial benefits of their inventions and patents.

Further, to enhance the innovation capacity of CSIR, and pursue technology commercialization and entrepreneurship of processes, products and services, Prof Brahmachari laid the foundation of CSIR Tech Private Limited (CTPL). This independent company aids in the exploration of newer models of technology transfer to the markets, and leveraging of private investments.

Under his leadership CSIR achieved much recognition for innovation through patented technology, and the efficiency and effectiveness of research. CSIR bagged the much acclaimed Thomson and Reuters Innovation Award 2010 for being most innovative Hi-tech academic institution in the country.