Who is eligible to apply for the DBT-BIRAC Bio AI call?

Indian entities only — companies registered under the Companies Act 2013, startups, LLPs under the LLP Act 2008, academic institutions, universities, societies, trusts, NGOs, and DSIR-recognized research organizations. Startups and SMEs participate as spokes within a hub model.

What are the five thematic areas covered?

Biomolecular Design (novel proteins, enzymes, next-gen antibodies), Sustainable Agriculture (drought-resistant crops, AI-powered disease sensing, dairy genomics), Synthetic Biology (metabolic pathway optimization, strain engineering), Ayurveda (AI-driven pharmacogenomics, plant-based drug discovery), and Genome Diagnostics (cancer biomarkers, neurodegenerative disorder stratification).

How much funding is available?

The call does not specify a fixed per-project grant amount. Funding quantum depends on the scope of the proposed Bio-AI Hub or spoke participation and is evaluated by DBT-BIRAC based on scientific merit and feasibility.

Is equity taken, and is this repayable?

No equity is taken, and the grant is non-repayable. This is a government R&D grant under India's BioE3 policy framework.

Can a startup participate without being the lead hub organization?

Yes. Startups and SMEs are explicitly encouraged to participate as spoke organizations, contributing specialized capabilities while benefiting from the hub's shared infrastructure, mentorship, and advanced computational and biomanufacturing tools.

What is the application deadline and how should proposals be submitted?

The deadline for submission is June 30, 2026 (midnight). Proposals must be submitted online at www.birac.nic.in only. No hard copies are accepted under any circumstances.

DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

About this grant

The DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI aims to integrate artificial intelligence with biotechnology to foster high-performance biomanufacturing under India's BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy. Bio-AI is positioned as a critical enabler for data-driven, programmatic research expected to deliver novel research leads with significant impact across Health, Agriculture, and Environment. The initiative seeks to establish Bio-AI Hubs as interdisciplinary, interinstitutional collaborations anchored by organizations with established expertise in AI/ML, supported by robust computational infrastructure. These hubs operate in a Public-Private Partnership mode as shared DBTL (Design-Build-Test-Learn) facilities, with startups and SMEs participating as spokes contributing to each hub's research and innovation ecosystem.

Bio-AI Hubs will develop AI-guided closed-loop platforms integrating predictions, experiments, and analyses in a continuous positive feedback loop to accelerate scientific discoveries, optimize bioprocesses, and improve decision-making at scale. The call covers five thematic categories: Biomolecular Design covering novel proteins, enzymes, bio-nanomachines, and next-generation antibodies; Sustainable Agriculture covering drought-resistant crops, AI-powered disease sensing, and dairy genomics; Synthetic Biology covering metabolic pathway optimization, strain engineering, and environmental biosensors; Ayurveda covering AI-driven pharmacogenomics, herb-drug interaction analysis, and plant-based drug discovery; and Genome Diagnostics covering AI risk prediction for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, cancer biomarkers, single-cell genomics, and neurodegenerative disorder stratification. Proposals are evaluated on a rolling basis. Selected organizations gain access to state-of-art biomanufacturing facilities and the broader DBT-BIRAC network, enabling high-impact collaboration across leading institutions and industry partners throughout India.

DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

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