India BIRAC
BIRAC India
Description
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is India's premier biotechnology funding agency, established by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. BIRAC supports biotech innovation through comprehensive programs spanning ideation to commercialization. The Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) provides ₹50 lakhs (~$60K USD) for proof-of-concept development. SBIRI and BIPP offer larger grants for established startups. BioNEST operates 94 incubation centers across India with 1,034,470 sq ft of lab space. BIRAC's equity programs (SEED Fund, LEAP Fund, AcE Fund of Funds) have deployed ₹174.5 crores through 16 daughter funds supporting 102+ biotech startups.
In 2025/2026, BIRAC launched extensive BioE3 Policy initiatives with focused calls on Bio-AI, precision biotherapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, carbon capture, smart proteins, enzymes, functional foods, biomanufacturing, and more. The Product Commercialization Program (PCP) Fund operates year-round for late-stage products. Grand Challenges India (GCI) partnerships address specific health and sanitation challenges.
For ZHC builders, BIRAC offers:
- Non-dilutive grants: BIG (₹50L), SBIRI, BIPP, PACE programs
- Equity funding: SEED, LEAP, and AcE Fund access
- Incubation infrastructure: 94 BioNEST centers nationwide
- Strategic focus areas: Bio-AI, digital health, precision medicine, sustainable biotech
- International partnerships: Indo-Australian Fund, IndCEPI, CEFIPRA, BMGF collaborations
- Total ecosystem: ₹7,000 crores investment, 5,000+ startups supported, ₹8,000+ crores follow-on funding raised
BIRAC's scope extends beyond traditional biotech to include bioinformatics, computational biology, AI/ML for healthcare, digital health platforms, and medtech innovation.
Eligibility
Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) - Call 25 & Ongoing
BIG Call 25: Closed November 30, 2025. Next call expected mid-2026.
Eligibility:
- Indian citizens or Indian-registered companies
- Individuals, startups, or small companies
- Early-stage biotech innovation (proof-of-concept stage)
- Age limit: Typically under 35 years for individual applicants
- Can be pre-company formation
Project Requirements:
- Novel biotechnology innovation
- Clear proof-of-concept objectives
- 18-month project timeline
- Focus areas: healthcare, agriculture, industrial biotech, environment
Not Eligible:
- Well-funded companies (post-Series A)
- Pure research without commercialization path
- Non-biotech projects
Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) - 2025/2026
Recent Call: April 1 - May 30, 2025
Eligibility:
- Indian companies with DSIR-recognized in-house R&D
- Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
- Startups with established operations
- Focus on high-risk, innovative research
- Biotech/life sciences domain
Company Requirements:
- Registered under Indian Companies Act
- 51%+ Indian ownership
- In-house R&D capability
- Track record of innovation
Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP) - 2025/2026
Recent Call: April 1 - May 30, 2025
Eligibility:
- Indian companies (small, medium, large) with DSIR-recognized R&D
- Single company or consortia
- Can include partnerships with universities/research institutions
- Focus on viability gap funding and R&D capacity enhancement
Project Types:
- Novel and high-risk futuristic technologies
- National importance and public good focus
- Scale-up, biosimilars, vaccines, therapeutics
- Infrastructure/facility setup (if leads to R&D capacity)
Pace (Promoting Academia-Industry Collaborative Efforts) - 2025/2026
Recent Call: April 1 - May 30, 2025
Eligibility:
- University-industry collaborative R&D projects
- Academic institutions partnering with companies
- Translation research focus
- Technology transfer potential
BioNEST (Biotech Incubation) - 2025/2026
National Call Result: APEX Committee meeting Nov 29, 2025
Eligibility for Incubation:
- Early to mid-stage biotech startups
- Life sciences innovation
- Product development stage
- Team with scientific/technical expertise
Benefits:
- Access to 94 incubation centers across India
- Lab infrastructure and equipment
- Mentorship and networking
- Subsidized workspace
E-YUVA (Young Innovators) - 2025/2026
Call 3: October 15 - December 15, 2025 (for existing fellows)
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate students
- University innovation clusters
- Early-stage ideation
- Biotech/life sciences projects
Product Commercialization Program (PCP) Fund - Open Year-Round 2025/2026
Status: Open throughout the year
Eligibility:
- Late-stage biotech products
- Ready for commercialization
- Regulatory approvals in progress or obtained
- Market entry strategy defined
- Indian companies with proven products
Equity Funding Programs - 2025/2026
SEED Fund:
- Early-stage startups
- Equity investment for product development
- Typically ₹50 lakhs - ₹3 crores
LEAP Fund:
- Growth-stage biotech companies
- Scaling and commercialization
- Larger equity investments
AcE Fund of Funds:
- Indirect investment through 16 daughter funds
- ₹174.5 crores committed
- 102+ biotech startups supported
- Total ₹1,560 crores invested by daughter funds
BioE3 Policy Focused Calls - 2025/2026
Multiple Thematic Calls Active:
Bio-AI Call (Extended to June 30, 2026):
- AI for high-performance biomanufacturing
- Establishing bioenablers and hubs
- Machine learning for bioprocessing
- Data science in biotechnology
Precision Biotherapeutics:
- mRNA therapeutics (closed May 2025)
- Monoclonal antibodies (closed May 2025)
- Cell and gene therapy (closed March 2025)
Sustainable Biotech:
- Climate-resilient agriculture (closed May 2025)
- Carbon capture and utilization (closed April 2025)
- Smart proteins (closed April 2025)
- Functional foods (closed July 2025)
- Enzymes (closed May 2025)
Biomanufacturing:
- Bio-based chemicals, biopolymers, APIs (closed August 2025)
- Futuristic marine research (closed August 2025)
- Biofoundries and biomanufacturing hubs
Green Hydrogen Mission:
- Call open: December 26, 2025 - January 27, 2026
- Biotechnology applications for hydrogen production
Grand Challenges India (GCI) - Partnership Calls
Women's Leadership in STEM Entrepreneurship:
- Open: December 18, 2025 - January 23, 2026
- Focus on women entrepreneurs in biotech
Enhanced TB Diagnostics (closed May 2025) Transformative Sanitation Technologies (closed November 2025) Vaginal Formulations for Women's Health (closed December 2025)
ZHC-Specific Fit Assessment
✅ Excellent fit for:
- Indian biotech/healthtech startups
- AI/ML applications in healthcare and life sciences
- Digital health platforms with biotech component
- Bioinformatics and computational biology
- Medical devices and diagnostics
- Precision medicine and personalized healthcare
- Sustainable biotech (climate, agriculture, environment)
- Early-stage proof-of-concept projects (BIG)
- Late-stage products ready for commercialization (PCP)
- University spinouts with biotech focus
- Bio-AI and biomanufacturing innovations
❌ Poor fit if:
- No biotechnology or healthcare component
- Outside India (no Indian entity)
- Pure software with no biotech application
- Already heavily funded (post-Series B)
- No Indian team or operations
- Consumer apps without health/bio focus
- Projects not aligned with BIRAC's life sciences mandate
Application Process
BIG Application Process (For Future Calls)
Call Frequency: Typically 2 calls per year (BIG Call 25 closed Nov 30, 2025; Call 26 expected mid-2026)
Step 1: Online Registration (Ongoing)
- Create account on BIRAC portal (birac.nic.in)
- Complete user profile
- Verify email and mobile
Step 2: Application Preparation (1-2 months before call)
- Develop detailed project proposal
- Define 18-month milestones
- Prepare budget (up to ₹50 lakhs)
- Identify innovation and impact
- Create commercialization roadmap
Step 3: Online Submission (During call window)
- Submit through BIRAC online portal
- Upload all required documents
- Technical proposal
- Budget breakdown
- Team CVs
- Prior art analysis
- Market assessment
Step 4: Screening (1-2 months)
- BIRAC secretariat initial review
- Completeness check
- Eligibility verification
- Domain relevance assessment
- Shortlisting for expert review
Step 5: Expert Review (2-3 months)
- Domain expert evaluation
- Scientific merit assessment
- Innovation evaluation
- Feasibility analysis
- Impact potential review
- May request clarifications
Step 6: Presentation/Interview (1 month)
- Shortlisted applicants invited
- Pitch to BIRAC expert committee
- Technical Q&A session
- Commercialization discussion
- Team capability assessment
Step 7: Final Approval (1 month)
- Committee recommendation
- BIRAC board approval
- Offer letter issued
- Terms and conditions
Step 8: Agreement & Fund Release (1 month)
- Sign grant agreement
- Submit bank details
- First tranche release (typically 40-50%)
- Project kickoff
Step 9: Project Execution (18 months)
- Quarterly progress reports
- Milestone-based fund releases
- Site visits by BIRAC team
- Technical reviews
- Mentorship sessions
Step 10: Project Closure (3-6 months)
- Final technical report
- Financial audit
- Outcome assessment
- IP generation documentation
- Commercialization status
Total Timeline: 6-8 months from application to funding; 18 months execution
SBIRI/BIPP/PACE Application Process
Call Windows: Typically April-May and September-November
Step 1: DSIR Recognition
- Ensure company has DSIR-recognized in-house R&D
- Or apply for DSIR recognition simultaneously
- Proof of application accepted
Step 2: Proposal Development (2-3 months)
- Define R&D project scope
- High-risk innovation focus
- National importance angle
- Technology readiness level (TRL) advancement
- Detailed budget (varies by program)
- Cost-sharing model (for BIPP)
Step 3: Online Submission
- Through BIRAC portal during call window
- Company registration documents
- DSIR recognition certificate
- Detailed technical proposal
- Budget and financial projections
- Team qualifications
- Letters of support/collaboration
Step 4: Evaluation (3-4 months)
- Initial screening
- Expert panel review
- Technical assessment
- Commercial viability evaluation
- May involve site visits
- Presentation to evaluation committee
Step 5: Approval & Contracting (2-3 months)
- Approval notification
- Negotiate grant/loan terms
- Sign agreement (can be complex for BIPP)
- Define milestones and deliverables
Step 6: Fund Disbursement
- Milestone-based releases
- Regular monitoring
- Quarterly/annual reports
- Financial audits
- Duration: 2-5 years depending on project
Total Timeline: 5-7 months to approval; multi-year execution
BioNEST Incubation Application
Step 1: Identify Target BioNEST Center
- 94 centers across India
- Choose by location, specialization, facilities
- Research center focus areas
Step 2: Apply to Specific Center
- Each center has own application process
- Submit startup profile
- Technology description
- Team details
- Resource requirements
Step 3: Center-Level Evaluation
- Local screening committee
- Pitch presentation
- Fit assessment
- Resource availability check
Step 4: National APEX Committee (for BIRAC funding)
- Selected startups go to national review
- APEX Committee meetings (e.g., Nov 29, 2025)
- Final approval for BIRAC support
Step 5: Onboarding (1-2 months)
- Sign incubation agreement
- Workspace allocation
- Lab access setup
- Mentor assignment
- Networking integration
Incubation Duration: Typically 1-3 years
Product Commercialization Program (PCP) Process
Open Year-Round - Rolling applications
Step 1: Eligibility Self-Assessment
- Late-stage product (TRL 7-9)
- Regulatory pathway defined
- Market validation complete
- Scaling strategy ready
Step 2: Application Submission
- Online portal anytime
- Product dossier
- Regulatory status
- Market entry plan
- Funding requirements
- Commercialization timeline
Step 3: Review Process
- Continuous evaluation
- Expert assessment
- Commercial viability focus
- Regulatory compliance check
- Market potential analysis
Step 4: Funding Decision
- Approval for market entry support
- Scaling assistance
- Regulatory support
- Market linkages
Timeline: 2-4 months rolling review
BioE3 Focused Calls Process
Example: Bio-AI Call (Open until June 30, 2026)
Step 1: Review Call Guidelines
- Specific thematic focus
- Eligibility criteria
- Funding limits
- Evaluation criteria
Step 2: Concept Note (Sometimes required)
- Brief project summary
- Preliminary screening
- Invitation for full proposal
Step 3: Full Proposal Submission
- Detailed technical proposal
- Alignment with BioE3 policy
- High-performance biomanufacturing focus
- Budget justification
- Expected outcomes
Step 4: Expert Evaluation
- Thematic relevance
- Scientific merit
- Innovation quotient
- Policy alignment
- National impact
Step 5: Approval & Execution
- Joint DBT-BIRAC approval
- Multi-year funding possible
- Milestone-based implementation
Timeline: 4-6 months evaluation; multi-year projects
Equity Funding Application Process
SEED & LEAP Funds:
Step 1: Initial Screening
- Submit startup profile to BIRAC
- Technology assessment
- Market potential evaluation
- Team capability review
Step 2: Due Diligence
- Detailed business review
- Technology validation
- IP assessment
- Financial analysis
- Legal review
Step 3: Investment Committee
- Pitch to investment committee
- Term sheet negotiation
- Valuation discussion
- Equity percentage determination
Step 4: Investment & Support
- Legal documentation
- Share transfer
- Board representation (typically observer)
- Ongoing mentorship
- Follow-on funding potential
AcE Fund of Funds:
- Apply to one of 16 daughter funds
- Each fund has own process
- BIRAC backing provides credibility
- Access to ₹174.5 crores deployment
Key Process Tips
For BIG:
- Apply in next call (mid-2026 expected)
- Strong focus on proof-of-concept clarity
- 18-month realistic timeline crucial
- Non-dilutive, so emphasize innovation over business model
For SBIRI/BIPP:
- DSIR recognition essential - start early
- High-risk innovation is requirement, not deterrent
- Cost-sharing model (BIPP) needs company financial capacity
For BioE3 Calls:
- Align explicitly with BioE3 policy objectives
- Biomanufacturing and sustainability angles
- National relevance and scalability
For PCP:
- Year-round is advantage - apply when product ready
- Regulatory clarity required
- Market validation evidence essential
General:
- Mentorship available through BIRAC Ignite program
- Regional centers (BRIC, BREC, BRBC, BRTC) provide local support
- IP & Technology Management Cell helps with patents
- Multiple parallel applications allowed (BIG + BioNEST + equity)
Contact
Contact information will be added after review.