Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) logo
Funder · Federal agency

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

Funds biotechnology innovation in India through public programmes for start-ups and translational research.

Indiabirac.nic.in
Key stats
Annual funding₹5B
Programs8
Active grants2
Total grants7
About

BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) is India's flagship biotech industry R&D and start-up funding agency. It is a Public Sector Enterprise set up by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

BIRAC operates a portfolio of grant schemes targeting biotech start-ups, SMEs, and industry-academia partnerships at differen…

Programs & grants under this funder
BIRAC Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG)

Helps BIRAC's flagship early-stage biotech startup grant Lakhs as grant-in-aid for proof-of-concept through the BIRAC Biotechnology Ignition Grant.

1 grant
BIG Grant (Biotechnology Ignition Grant)
Open
₹1.5B pool
DBT-BIRAC BioE3 Calls

Funds BioE3 biomanufacturing projects through DBT-BIRAC calls.

1 grant
DBT-BIRAC Bio-AI Call under BioE3 Policy
Closed
— pool
BIRAC Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP)

Funds India biotechnology industry partnerships between industry and research organizations for frontier commercialization.

1 grant
BIPP Grant (Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme)
Open
₹2B pool·Rolling submission
Grand Challenges India

Funds Indian health innovation partnerships through Grand Challenges India calls.

1 grant
Grand Challenges India Screening and Diagnosis Innovations
Closed
— pool
Promoting Academic Research Conversion to Enterprise

Funds industry validation of academic biotechnology proof-of-concept work through PACE.

1 grant
Contract Research Scheme
Between cycles
— pool
Product Commercialization Program Fund

Funds Indian biotech startups commercializing validated products through PCP Fund support.

1 grant
Product Commercialization Program Fund
Closed
— pool
BIRAC Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI)

Supports India's first PPP biotech innovation scheme early-stage pre-proof of through the BIRAC Small Business Innovation Research Initiative.

1 grant
SBIRI Grant
Between cycles
₹1.5B pool
India RDI Fund (planned onwards)

Funds trillion innovation Innovation fund BIRAC TDB split cr each through the India RDI Fund.

Parent entityDepartment of Biotechnology, Government of India
Last verified: 13 May 2026Source: birac.nic.in