BIRAC
The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India envisioned the need of entrepreneurial programs through the first National Biotechnology Development Strategy way back in 2007 and has mandated that 30% of its budget will go to Public-Private Partnership (PPP). Eventually, in 2012 the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a not-for-profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector Enterprise, was established to exclusively work on PPP programs in biotechnology aiming to bridge the existing gaps in the industry-academia innovation research and facilitate novel, high quality affordable products development through cutting edge technologies. The goal is to grow from present 4300+ startups to 10,000 biotech start-ups by 2024 and be a $150 billion BioEconomy by 2025.
Link to BIRAC website: https://birac.nic.in/index.php
BioNEST
Bio-incubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies (BioNEST) Scheme was launched by BIRAC to address the specific needs of Biotech Startups, which are quite different from their Information Technology counterparts. Biotech startups need a landing space to test their ideas, run their operations, have access to high-end instrumentations and locate in a place where they can be connected with other startups and mentors. In the course, 60 Bio-incubators along with 04 Regional Innovation Centers have been established all over India providing 6,50,000+ sq.ft. space and 1,32,465 beneficiaries. So far BIRAC�s BioNEST network has supported more than 1500+ incubatees, launched 700+ products, filed 1100+Ips, organized 2500+ skill development training programs and created 25,000+ high skilled jobs.
Link to BioNEST website: https://birac.nic.in/bionest.php
