AIC-CCMB
CSIR-CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, CSIR)
Life-science incubator in Hyderabad, set up under the Atal Innovation Mission and hosted by CSIR-CCMB.
AIC-CCMB at a glance
| Part of | CSIR-CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, CSIR) |
|---|---|
| Address | 3rd Floor, Medical Biotechnology Complex, CCMB Annex 2, Genpact Road, IDA Uppal, Habsiguda, Hyderabad – 500039, Telangana |
| Programmes | 9 standing programmes |
| Stages supported | Idea, Prototype, MVP, Early revenue |
| Official website | aic.ccmb.res.in |
| aic.ccmb@csir.res.in |
Programs by AIC-CCMB
1 past program · Filter all programs
What's next?
This closed recently. Tap Notify me and we'll email you if it reopens.
Which AIC-CCMB programme fits you
9 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
By stage
- Idea
- Incubation at AIC-CCMB, NIDHI PRAYAS, TIDE 2.0, BFI-BIOME Fellowship and Kickstarter, SPARSH Social Innovation Immersion Fellowship
- Prototype
- Incubation at AIC-CCMB, NIDHI PRAYAS, NIDHI-SSP seed support, Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at AIC-CCMB, TIDE 2.0, BFI-BIOME Fellowship and Kickstarter, SPARSH Social Innovation Immersion Fellowship
- MVP
- Incubation at AIC-CCMB, NIDHI-SSP seed support, Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at AIC-CCMB, TIDE 2.0
- Early revenue
- Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at AIC-CCMB
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incubation at AIC-CCMB | Life-science startups and founders with an unvalidated idea | Idea – MVP | — | In person | — |
| NIDHI PRAYAS | Individual Indian innovators with a science or technology idea | Idea – Prototype | — | — | — |
| NIDHI-SSP seed support | Registered Indian startups incubated at AIC-CCMB | Prototype – MVP | — | — | — |
| Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at AIC-CCMB | DPIIT-recognised life-science and healthcare startups incorporated in the last two years | Prototype – Early revenue | — | — | — |
| TIDE 2.0With Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) | Individuals and startups building technology solutions for life sciences | Idea – MVP | — | — | — |
| BFI-BIOME Fellowship and Kickstarter | Young life-science and health-tech innovators and startups | Idea – Prototype | — | — | — |
| SPARSH Social Innovation Immersion FellowshipWith Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) | Indian students and early researchers under 35 in life sciences, agriculture, engineering or medicine | Idea – Prototype | — | — | — |
| Student Innovators Program | School student teams from the Atal Innovation Mission Innovation Marathon | — | — | — | — |
| CoviTeD Acceleration Programme | Registered Indian startups with Covid-19 technologies | — | — | — | — |
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at AIC-CCMB, separate from the funding calls above.
Several programmes listed here are closed. Each entry shows the status or closing date given on the site.
Incubation at AIC-CCMB
IncubationPhysical, pre- and virtual incubation for life-science startups, from idea validation to product and clinical validation.
Best for: Life-science startups and founders with an unvalidated idea
- Idea – MVP
- In person
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
AIC-CCMB offers three incubation models for life-science startups. Physical incubation gives a startup space, equipment and access to investors and mentors, and the site says it makes startups eligible for seed funding. Pre-incubation helps an unvalidated idea reach a validation point within three months. Virtual incubation supports product validation, clinical validation, patents and regulatory approvals.
What you get: dedicated space and equipment, mentor and investor pool access, and support with validation and regulatory steps.
Who can apply: the incubation pages describe an ecosystem for life-science startups in India. Eligibility criteria are not published.
How to apply: use the Apply here links on the incubation page for physical and virtual incubation, or write to incubation@aic-ccmb.in.
NIDHI PRAYAS
Grant schemeGrant support to turn a science or technology idea into a prototype, for individual Indian innovators.
Best for: Individual Indian innovators with a science or technology idea
- Idea – Prototype
- Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
NIDHI PRAYAS is a grant programme of the Department of Science and Technology's NIDHI initiative, run from AIC-CCMB as a designated PRAYAS centre. The grant supports product prototyping, and selected innovators also get lab infrastructure, working space and mentorship at the centre.
Status: the Cohort 2 call for 2024-25 was extended to 30 November 2024 and is now closed.
Who can apply: individual Indian citizens with government-approved proof of nationality, aged 18 or over on the date of application. The PRAYAS page says it takes applications from a broad range of science and technology areas, while the incubation programme is aimed at life-science startups.
How to apply: check the PRAYAS guidelines and write to aic.ccmb@csir.res.in for the next call.
NIDHI-SSP seed support
Grant schemeDST NIDHI seed support for registered companies incubated at AIC-CCMB.
Best for: Registered Indian startups incubated at AIC-CCMB
- Prototype – MVP
- Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The NIDHI Seed Support Programme gives financial assistance to promising startups so they can develop products, run trials and test the market. The aim is to help startups reach a point where they can raise investment or take loans.
Status: the application window closed on 25 June 2025.
Who can apply: an Indian start-up, not an Indian subsidiary of a foreign company. It must be a registered Indian company with at least three months of residency at AIC-CCMB, and Indian promoters must hold at least 51 per cent of the shares.
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at AIC-CCMB
Grant schemeSeed grant for proof-of-concept and prototype work, with a later investment route through convertible debentures or debt-linked instruments.
Best for: DPIIT-recognised life-science and healthcare startups incorporated in the last two years
- Prototype – Early revenue
- Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
AIC-CCMB was awarded the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme to provide seed capital to life-science startups. The grant route funds proof of concept, prototype development and product trials. The investment route funds market entry, commercialisation or scaling up.
Status: the page says the call is open throughout the year.
Who can apply: a DPIIT-recognised startup incorporated no more than two years before application, with a business idea, technology in its core product or model, and Indian promoters holding at least 51 per cent. A startup that has already received more than the set limit of support under another central or state scheme is not eligible.
How to apply: apply on the Startup India seed fund portal and select AIC-CCMB as the incubator.
TIDE 2.0
Grant schemeA MeitY-supported programme for startups using emerging technologies in life-science problems: an Entrepreneur in Residence seed fund, a grant for MVP development and an investment route.
Best for: Individuals and startups building technology solutions for life sciences
- Idea – MVP
- Grant support for selected startups
With Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
TIDE 2.0 is supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. AIC-CCMB runs it for individuals and startups innovating in life sciences with IoT, robotics, rapid prototyping, data analytics, and AI and ML.
What you get: an Entrepreneur in Residence seed fund for an idea, a grant for MVP development for startups with a proof of concept, incubation and wet lab access, mentorship, IPR and regulatory workshops, and access to CCMB analytical services.
Status: the page shows a current cohort but does not give dates.
How to apply: the page does not describe the steps. Contact portfolio@aic-ccmb.in.
BFI-BIOME Fellowship and Kickstarter
FellowshipA six-month fellowship to take a life-science idea to proof of concept, and a prototype grant for young biotech and health-tech startups, run with the BFI BIOME network.
Best for: Young life-science and health-tech innovators and startups
- Idea – Prototype
- Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
BFI-BIOME is run with Blockchain For Impact's BFI BIOME virtual network to support health-tech ideas and startups. The fellowship is a six-month programme that takes an idea to a proof of concept, with a monthly stipend, lab access and mentorship. The Kickstarter initiative supports prototype development for young startups over nine months, with incubation space, lab consumables and prototype services.
Status: the last date for the fellowship was 25 June 2025, so the call is closed.
Who can apply: individual innovators under 35 with an MBBS, MD or PhD in life sciences or biomedical fields, who can commit full time. Kickstarter applicants must be legally registered Indian startups under one year old in biotech, life sciences or health-tech.
How to apply: contact fellowships@aic-ccmb.in.
A BIRAC fellowship for social innovators in healthcare, with clinical or rural immersion, a stipend and a mini kick-start grant.
Best for: Indian students and early researchers under 35 in life sciences, agriculture, engineering or medicine
- Idea – Prototype
- Grant support for selected startups
With Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Social Innovation Immersion Programme is a component of the BIRAC SPARSH scheme. It builds a cohort of healthcare social innovators who identify community needs and close the gaps with products or services. Fellows get clinical or rural immersion, mentoring from a knowledge partner and SPARSH centres, and access to BIRAC's network of mentors and investors. The fellowship lasts 18 months and cannot be extended.
Status: the page says applications are not being accepted at present.
Who can apply: Indian citizens who are undergraduates, postgraduates or PhD students under 35 in life sciences, agriculture, engineering or medicine.
How to apply: contact fellowships@aic-ccmb.in when the call reopens.
Student Innovators Program
ProgrammeMentoring for school student teams from the Atal Innovation Mission Innovation Marathon, with a bootcamp on product development, IP and business modelling.
Best for: School student teams from the Atal Innovation Mission Innovation Marathon
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Student Innovators Program adopts school student teams from the Atal Innovation Mission Innovation Marathon. The centre supports them with prototyping to raise technology readiness, connects them to industry and academic networks, and helps them build a business plan, a product pitch and a presentation. The bootcamp covers product development, market research, intellectual property rights, business modelling and design thinking.
CoviTeD Acceleration Programme
AcceleratorA Covid-19 acceleration programme for health technologies, run as a CSR initiative. Its last call closed in January 2021.
Best for: Registered Indian startups with Covid-19 technologies
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
CoviTeD supported development and validation of Covid-19 innovations, with mentoring, financial, regulatory and marketing help to take products to market. Focus areas included medical devices for Covid-19 patients, rapid diagnostics, drugs and therapeutics, sterilisation and hygiene, and logistics for biologicals.
Status: closed. The last call was open until 31 January 2021.
Who can apply: a startup or company registered in India with at least 51 per cent Indian shareholding and a competent team.
Incubation tracks
AIC-CCMB runs a virtual track, so you can join without relocating.
Eligibility for physical, pre-incubation and virtual incubation is not published on the site. Ask the centre before applying.
| Track | Type | Space | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical incubationThe site says it makes startups eligible for seed funding. Eligibility criteria are not published. | Resident incubation | 300 sq ft | equipment, investor and mentor pool access |
| Pre-incubationHelps an idea that is not validated reach a validation point within three months. | Pre-incubation | — | — |
| Virtual incubationSupports product and clinical validation, patents and regulatory approvals. | Virtual incubation | — | — |
Labs & facilities
Equipment and space on campus.
Analytical services are CCMB's own facilities, reached through the centre.
Dedicated space for startups
More than 10,000 square feet of dedicated space for startups in healthcare, biopharma, industrial biotechnology, agriculture and medtech.
Customisable wet lab space
Plug-and-play wet lab space that startups can customise.
Coworking desks and meeting rooms
Desk space, shared office utilities, conference rooms and video-conference facilities.
Analytical services at CCMB
Access via CCMB
Access to specialised analytical services at CCMB at research rates.
Support services
Help offered alongside funding and space.
The services listed are those the site names. The site does not publish a full service list.
Business advisory
Mentors from science, business, regulatory and finance backgrounds.
IP & patents
Workshops on intellectual property rights.
Regulatory support
Support with regulatory approvals through the virtual incubation model.
Recognitions & empanelments
Official approvals this incubator holds.
Credentials are designations the site states the centre holds. The schemes it delivers appear under programmes.
Atal Incubation Centre, Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog)
CSIR-CCMB is one of the first 10 institutes to establish an Atal Incubation Centre under the Atal Innovation Mission.
NIDHI PRAYAS Centre (DST)
Designated to support young innovators in turning their ideas into proof of concept.
How to apply to AIC-CCMB
Choose the programme that matches your stage
- Still validating an idea: start with pre-incubation, which the centre says can validate an idea within three months.
- Life-science or health-tech product: physical incubation gives dedicated space, equipment and access to investors and mentors.
- Needing grant money for a prototype or proof of concept: look at the seed and prototype calls, but check their status first.
Check whether a call is open
- Several calls are closed. Each programme entry shows the closing date or status given on the site.
- The SPARSH fellowship says it is not accepting applications at present.
- The Startup India Seed Fund call is listed as open throughout the year. Applicants apply on the government seed fund portal and select AIC-CCMB.
Get in touch
- For incubation, write to incubation@aic-ccmb.in.
- For fellowships, write to fellowships@aic-ccmb.in.
- For general enquiries, write to aic.ccmb@csir.res.in or call +91 40-27195630.
What the site does not say
The site does not publish selection criteria for physical, pre-incubation or virtual incubation. Ask the centre for them before you prepare an application.
About AIC-CCMB
AIC-CCMB is the Atal Incubation Centre at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad, hosted by CSIR-CCMB. It supports startups working in life sciences, including healthcare, biopharma, industrial biotechnology, agriculture and medtech. The centre was set up under the Atal Innovation Mission, which NITI Aayog runs.
The centre's support includes sophisticated testing facilities, business mentorship, technical support from CSIR laboratories, funding through nodal agencies, a life-sciences talent pool, and access to information technology and data science capabilities. It fosters industry and academic interaction and aims to help startups with the problems they meet in translational research, which is moving lab research towards products.
How the programmes work
The centre offers incubation in three forms. Physical incubation gives a startup dedicated space, equipment and access to investors and mentors. Pre-incubation helps an idea that is not yet validated reach a validation point within three months. Virtual incubation supports product and clinical validation, patents and regulatory approvals.
Alongside incubation, the centre runs funding and fellowship calls, several of them national schemes it delivers. These include NIDHI PRAYAS, a grant to turn a science or technology idea into a prototype, and NIDHI-SSP seed support for incubated companies. The centre also delivers the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme for life-science startups, and runs TIDE 2.0, a programme supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for startups using emerging technologies. A BIRAC fellowship for social innovators in healthcare, and a fellowship and prototype grant run with the BFI BIOME network, complete the list. Several of these calls are closed, and each entry below shows its status.
The centre also runs a Student Innovators Program that mentors school student teams from the Atal Innovation Mission's Innovation Marathon. CoviTeD, a Covid-19 acceleration programme, has a last call that closed in January 2021.
Who can apply
Who may apply depends on the programme. The incubation pages describe an ecosystem for life-science startups in India but do not publish eligibility criteria, so ask the centre before applying. Funding calls set their own rules. NIDHI PRAYAS is open to individual Indian citizens aged 18 or over. NIDHI-SSP and the Startup India Seed Fund call require a company with at least 51 per cent Indian promoter shareholding, and the seed fund call also requires DPIIT recognition and incorporation within the previous two years. The SPARSH fellowship is open only to Indian citizens under 35 in life sciences, agriculture, engineering or medicine.
Facilities
The centre provides more than 10,000 square feet of dedicated space for startups, including customisable plug-and-play wet lab space and shared equipment managed by an instrumentation team. Coworking desks, conference rooms and video-conference facilities are also available. Startups can use specialised analytical services at CCMB.
Who runs it
Dr. N. Madhusudhana Rao is listed as Chief Executive Officer. The centre has a mentor network drawn from science, business, regulatory and finance backgrounds, and runs the Dagar workshop series and Café Mandala sessions for founders.
Where it is
The centre is on the third floor of the Medical Biotechnology Complex, CCMB Annex 2, Genpact Road, IDA Uppal, Habsiguda, Hyderabad 500039, Telangana.
Track record
The centre's headline counters for startups incubated, funds raised and patents filed show no values in the copy of the site we read, so this page gives no totals. Founders at different stages can enter at different points, from incubation for an unvalidated idea to the seed and prototype calls once a product exists. The site names several startups it has supported, including Briota Technologies, NyQuest Innovation Labs, Althion Tech Innovations, Zedblox Logitech and Neuranics Lab.
Get in touch
Send a message to AIC-CCMB — we'll forward it on your behalf.
Notable alumni
The team
Dr. N. Madhusudhana Rao
Chief Executive Officer
Frequently asked questions about AIC-CCMB
What is AIC-CCMB?
AIC-CCMB is an incubator based in Hyderabad, Telangana.
What does AIC-CCMB do?
AIC-CCMB is the Atal Incubation Centre at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad, hosted by CSIR-CCMB. It supports startups working in life sciences, including healthcare, biopharma, industrial biotechnology, agriculture and medtech.
Where is AIC-CCMB located?
AIC-CCMB is located at 3rd Floor, Medical Biotechnology Complex, CCMB Annex 2, Genpact Road, IDA Uppal, Habsiguda, Hyderabad – 500039, Telangana.
What programs does AIC-CCMB run?
AIC-CCMB runs Incubation at AIC-CCMB, NIDHI PRAYAS, NIDHI-SSP seed support and Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at AIC-CCMB, among others.
Which AIC-CCMB programme should I apply to?
It depends on how far along your startup is. Idea stage: Incubation at AIC-CCMB, NIDHI PRAYAS, TIDE 2.0 and BFI-BIOME Fellowship and Kickstarter and others. Prototype stage: Incubation at AIC-CCMB, NIDHI PRAYAS, NIDHI-SSP seed support and Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at AIC-CCMB and others. MVP stage: Incubation at AIC-CCMB, NIDHI-SSP seed support, Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at AIC-CCMB and TIDE 2.0. Early revenue stage: Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at AIC-CCMB. Check the programme's own eligibility before applying — several programmes are sector-specific.
Does AIC-CCMB provide funding?
Selected startups in some AIC-CCMB programmes can receive grant support, including NIDHI PRAYAS, NIDHI-SSP seed support, Startup India Seed Fund Scheme at AIC-CCMB, TIDE 2.0 and BFI-BIOME Fellowship and Kickstarter and others. Grant amounts are set per programme and cohort, and selection into a programme does not guarantee a grant — check the programme's own page for current terms.
What facilities does AIC-CCMB offer?
AIC-CCMB offers Dedicated space for startups, Customisable wet lab space and Coworking desks and meeting rooms. Incubatees also get access to Analytical services at CCMB through its host institution.
Is AIC-CCMB government recognised?
AIC-CCMB holds the following recognitions and affiliations: Atal Incubation Centre, Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog) and NIDHI PRAYAS Centre (DST).
How do I apply to AIC-CCMB?
- Still validating an idea: start with pre-incubation, which the centre says can validate an idea within three months. - Life-science or health-tech product: physical incubation gives dedicated space, equipment and access to investors and mentors. - Needing grant money for a prototype or proof of concept: look at the seed and prototype calls, but check their status first.
Who runs AIC-CCMB?
Dr. N. Madhusudhana Rao (Chief Executive Officer).
Who is the CEO of AIC-CCMB?
Dr. N. Madhusudhana Rao is the CEO of AIC-CCMB.
Similar incubators
More organisations supporting startups in this region or sector. All startup incubators in Hyderabad
Kairos CoLabs
Provider of startup support services connecting investors, incubators, and founders
Osmania University
Osmania Technology Business Incubator (OTBI) is the incubator run by Osmania University in Hyderabad, offering pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration for startups.
Impact Hub Hyderabad
Impact-entrepreneurship hub in Madhapur, Hyderabad, part of the global Impact Hub network and the official Social Impact Award licensee in India.
Simandhar Education
Hyderabad exam-coaching institute for US CPA, CMA, EA, ESG and CIA exams. Its courses are for accounting aspirants; it runs no startup support.
Leaders For India Organization
Private investor network for HNIs, NRIs and business leaders, with a pitch route for growth-stage founders
AIC Mahindra e-Hub Foundation
The Atal Incubation Centre established by Mahindra University and supported by the Atal Innovation Mission at NITI Aayog, giving startups mentoring, workspace and access to the university's labs.
Recommended grants & schemes
Other open programmes matching AIC-CCMB's focus areas.