BIRAC

BioNEST (Bio-Incubators Nurturing Entrepreneurial Spiritt) supports the establishment and strengthening of Bio-Incubation and Pre-Incubation Centers. These centers are partners for programs like SEED Fund and LEAP Fund, providing capital assistance to post PoC Startups. It also provides instrumentation and common access facilities through its network.

BIG is an 'Ideation to Early Stage' program listed under Incubation. It is a grant scheme for innovators and entrepreneurs in the biotechnology sector.

SITARE (Students Innovations for Translation & Advanced Research Explorations) E-YUVA (Encouraging Youth for Upgradation & Advancement) is an 'Ideation to Early Stage' program aimed at fostering innovation among youth and students.

BIPP offers support for 'Ideation to Late Stage' and 'Translation Research' in biotechnology, including specific components like i4 and SBIRI.

PACE supports 'Translation Research' aiming to convert academic research into viable enterprise, with a 'PACE(New)' component also available.

SPARSH is a 'Social Innovation' program designed to support the development of products that are affordable and relevant for societal health.

SEED Fund is the first equity exposure of up to INR 30 lakhs providing Capital assistance to post PoC Startups with new and meritorious ideas, innovations and technologies. SEED support is positioned to act as a bridge between promoter’s investment and Angel/Venture investment. The scheme is implemented through selected BioNEST Incubators who as BIRAC’s SEED Fund partners receive grant–in-aid support of INR 200 lakhs/ cycle for deployment in Biotech Startups. Eligibility for partner incubators: supported through BIRAC’s BioNEST programme, operational for last three years, in-house capacity in incubating & mentoring early stage Biotech / Life Sciences Startups, established IP&TT facilitation services, prior experience in management of early-stage funding schemes or other grants.

LEAP Fund support is positioned to act as a catalyst to raise follow on private funding enabling potential startups to pilot/commercialize their products and technologies. LEAP support is positioned for Statups to attract Angel/Venture investments. The scheme is implemented through selected BioNEST Incubators who as BIRAC’s LEAP Fund partners receive grant–in-aid support of INR 500 lakhs/ cycle for deployment in Biotech Startups. Eligibility for partner incubators: BIRAC’s SEED fund partner, operational for last 5 years, in-house capacity in incubating & mentoring early stage Biotech / Life Sciences Startups, established IP&TT facilitation services, prior experience of 4 years in management of early stage funding schemes or other grants.

BioAngels platform - A unique example of public private partnership association of BIRAC and Indian Angel Network (IAN). This is expected to be India’s single largest horizontal platform for seed and early-stage investing. This platform will lead to the creation of a consortium of Angels, HNIs, early-stage VCs. It focuses on supporting Biotech startups including Medtech, Healthtech, Pharma, Agritech & Cleantech startups — to raise angel round and engage with Investors who also bring deep domain expertise. Aim is to fuel the ecosystem through interactions with high-quality investors and industry leaders.

“Fund of Funds - AcE” fosters R&D and innovation in Biotechnology domains by plugging the funding gap encountered by the biotech startups during their ‘product development cycle’ and ‘growth phase’. AcE Fund invests and partners with SEBI- registered Category I and II AIFs, which are professionally managed and keen to invest in biotech sector. The Daughter Funds commit to invest in the Biotech startups & SMEs 2x of BIRAC’s committed investment in the Funds. Biotech sub–sectors include Healthcare, Life Sciences, Pharma, Biopharma, Med-tech, Diagnostics, Industrial-Biotech, Agri-tech, Bio-IT/Services and allied areas. Eligibility for AIFs: SEBI registered category I and II Alternative Investment Funds, keen to invest in Healthcare, Life Sciences, Pharma, Biopharma, Med-tech, Diagnostics, Industrial- Biotech, Agri-tech, Bio-IT/Services and allied areas, support Startups and SMEs, first close achieved, commitment from an Institutional investor, past experience of investment in biotech startups.