BIRAC E-YUVA 2026
By BIRAC
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Quick Answer
BIRAC fellowship and research grant for undergraduate teams (₹2.5 lakh + ₹7,500/quarter/student) and PG/PhD Innovation Fellows (up to ₹50,000/month + ₹5 lakh/year) building commercialisable biotech innovations. Deadline 31 Oct 2026.
- Funding amount
- ₹2.5 Lakhs – ₹5 Lakhs
- Funding type
- Fellowship
- Provider
- BIRAC
- Application deadline
- 24d — 31 Oct 2026
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
About this grant
E-YUVA (Empowering Youth for Undertaking Value Added Innovative Translational Research) is BIRAC’s scheme to promote applied, need-oriented entrepreneurial innovation among young students and researchers, under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
Two categories
- BIRAC’s E-YUVA Fellows — undergraduate teams (3–5 Indian students) with a mentor/guide. Work mainly at college/university labs, with access to E-YUVA Centre (EYC) facilities; must spend 3–4 weeks at EYC/Knowledge Partner. Duration 12 months.
- BIRAC’s Innovation Fellows — individuals with a completed Masters or PhD. Work full-time at an EYC; expected to initiate biotech startups. Duration 18 months (6-month extension in deserving cases).
This 4th call is anchored at nine recently established EYCs (Solapur, Kashmir, Bathinda, Satna, Ajmer, Kannur, Solan, Pasighat, SKUAST-K Srinagar), with mentoring via BioNEST bioincubators.
Domains: Healthcare & life sciences, diagnostics, medical devices, drugs & vaccines, agri-biotech, industrial biotechnology, bioinformatics, waste management, sanitation, clean energy, and AI/IoT/automation applied to these areas.
IP generated during the fellowship rests with the innovators.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Section 8 company and a Schedule B public sector enterprise, set up by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. It describes itself as an interface…
Learn moreThe Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is a department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, established in 1986. It is the nodal agency for planning, promoting, and coordinating biotechnology-related programs and activities across the country.…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Amount
- ₹2.5 Lakhs – ₹5 Lakhs
- Monthly stipend
- ₹50,000/month
- Fund type
- Fellowship
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
- E-YUVA Fellows (UG teams, 12 months): Annual research grant INR 2,50,000 per team (75% + 25% to the institute); quarterly stipend INR 7,500 per student.
- Innovation Fellows (18 months): PG — INR 30,000/month fellowship + INR 3,00,000/year research grant. Post-doc — INR 50,000/month + INR 5,00,000/year research grant.
- Incubation at E-YUVA Centres, mentoring by BioNEST (technical, IP, legal, business, fundraising), entrepreneurial training, industry exposure.
- Innovators retain IP.
- Disbursement
- Monthly Stipend
- Duration
- 18 months
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
National online applications are shared centre-wise for eligibility and technical review. Shortlisted teams/individuals present before a Technical Expert Committee (with BIRAC nominee) at the EYC. Selected fellows receive an award letter via the EYC.
Application Process
- 1
Create BIRAC account
Register on the BIRAC portal.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Program templates & documents
Files the program publishes for applicants — download these and apply in the prescribed format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is E-YUVA?
BIRAC’s scheme to fund and mentor undergraduate teams and PG/PhD Innovation Fellows working on translational biotech innovations with commercial potential.
What funding do undergraduate teams get?
₹2.5 lakh annual research grant per team and ₹7,500 quarterly stipend per student for 12 months.
What do Innovation Fellows get?
PG fellows: ₹30,000/month + ₹3 lakh/year research grant. Post-doctoral fellows: ₹50,000/month + ₹5 lakh/year. Duration 18 months, with possible 6-month extension.
Must Innovation Fellows start a company?
They are expected to initiate biotech startups; only proposals with potential to commercialise innovative products and technologies are considered.
Which centres are open in this call?
Nine recently established EYCs: PAH Solapur University; University of Kashmir; Central University of Punjab; AKS University Satna; Central University of Rajasthan; Kannur University; Shoolini University; College of Horticulture and Forestry CAU Pasighat; SKUAST-K Srinagar.
When is the deadline?
31 October 2026, 5:30 PM IST. Announced 1 October 2026.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
