DBT-ILS Bioincubator
Institute of Life Sciences (ILS)
Life-science incubator in Bhubaneswar, run inside the Institute of Life Sciences, with shared lab space, mentoring and tech transfer, and no equity taken.
DBT-ILS Bioincubator at a glance
| Part of | Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) |
|---|---|
| Established | 2019 |
| Address | Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), NALCO Square, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023 |
| Programmes | 1 standing programme |
| Stages supported | Idea, Prototype, MVP |
| Official website | bioincubator.ils.res.in |
| incubation@ils.res.in |
Track record
What DBT-ILS Bioincubator reports about its portfolio.
The figures on the homepage are the bioincubator's own counters. They are undated and self-reported. The homepage gives 43 startups incubated and 22 graduated, but the ILS startups page names 28 companies and lists eight as graduated. The two sets of figures do not reconcile, so none is treated as audited.
All figures self-reported — bioincubator.ils.res.in, as of Oct 2026.
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at DBT-ILS Bioincubator, separate from the funding calls above.
The bioincubator runs one standing route in, resident incubation. Its events page lists training and capacity building by heading only, with no dates, so those are not written up here. Its ongoing programmes page shows a skill development training with a last date of 31st Jan, 2021, which is out of date.
Lab and office space, mentoring and tech transfer for early stage life-science startups, with no equity taken.
Best for: Early stage life-science founders and companies that need shared lab space
- Idea – MVP
- In person
- No equity
With Science and Technology Department, Government of Odisha, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Resident incubation at the DBT-ILS Bioincubator gives early stage companies shared lab and office space at the Institute of Life Sciences, with mentoring and help to commercialise technology. The bioincubator says it is actively evaluating potential new resident companies to join its portfolio.
What you get
- Office suites and wet lab space on a shared basis at preferential rates.
- Wi-Fi, 24 h security, a backup power generator and conference rooms.
- Business mentoring, technical mentoring and tailor-made consulting.
- Tech transfer and commercialisation support, and capacity building.
- No equity, according to the bioincubator's resources page.
Who can apply
- Innovators and individuals with ideas that have commercial potential, who want to start a company or already have a registered startup.
- Spin-offs from academic and research faculty.
- Biotechnological process and product companies that need laboratory space.
How selection works: shortlisted applicants are called for a presentation. Once a proposal is accepted, the startup signs an agreement with the bioincubator.
How to apply: use the application form linked from the bioincubator's website. Questions go to incubation@ils.res.in.
Incubation tracks
The routes into DBT-ILS Bioincubator, and what each one includes.
Resident companies take shared lab and office space on site. The bioincubator also describes pre-incubation for spin-offs from academic faculty, but it gives no separate terms for that route.
| Track | Type | Space | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident companiesThe incubation page says the bioincubator is evaluating potential new resident companies. No term length or fee is stated. | Resident incubation | — | Shared office suites and wet lab space, Wi-Fi, 24 h security, Backup power generator, Conference rooms, Business and technical mentoring |
Labs & facilities
Equipment and space on campus.
Lab, office and shared building services are the bioincubator's own resources, as its resources page states. The institute's research platforms listed on the same page are left out, because the page does not say how incubating companies get access to them.
Shared wet lab and office suites
Office suites and wet lab space are available on a shared basis at preferential rates. The resources page gives 10000 sq feet of lab and office space.
Shared building services
Wi-Fi, 24 h security, a backup power generator and conference rooms.
Support services
Help offered alongside funding and space.
Mentoring, IP and tech transfer, and capacity building are listed on the incubation and resources pages. No fees for them are stated.
IP & patents
Tech transfer and commercialisation support, as listed on the incubation page.
Technology transfer
The incubation page lists tech transfer and commercialisation together with IP support.
Business advisory
Business mentoring and technical mentoring on the resources page, plus tailor-made consulting.
Recognitions & empanelments
Official approvals this incubator holds.
The bioincubator says it was set up on 12 April 2019 with the support of the Science and Technology Department, Government of Odisha, followed by support from BIRAC. Its pages give no current funding period, so none is stated here.
Set up with support from the Science and Technology Department, Government of Odisha· 2019
The bioincubator's About page states this. It does not give a current funding period.
How to apply to DBT-ILS Bioincubator
Pick the right route in
- You have an idea: ask for the free feedback the bioincubator offers on an idea. Shortlisted applicants can be included in its incubator programmes.
- You need lab space: the bioincubator rents shared office suites and wet lab space. Say in your application what lab space you need.
- You want staff training: the bioincubator says companies can take part in its training programmes.
How applications work
- Apply in the format the bioincubator asks for, using the application form linked from its Apply button.
- For questions before you apply, write to incubation@ils.res.in.
How selection works
- Shortlisted applicants are called for a presentation.
- Accepted proposals are followed by an agreement with the bioincubator.
Before you apply
- Check that your work fits one of its focus areas: biotechnology, agriculture, environmental and industrial biotechnology, AI and bioinformatics, or indigenised products.
- The bioincubator does not state an incorporation requirement on its incubation page. Check with it before you apply if you are not yet registered.
About DBT-ILS Bioincubator
DBT-ILS Bioincubator is a life-science incubator in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It is run from inside the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), an autonomous institute that the Department of Biotechnology took over in 2002. It is for early stage biotech, agriculture, healthcare and related startups that need lab and office space, mentoring and help to commercialise their technology.
How the bioincubator works
The bioincubator says it nurtures early stage innovations and turns promising ideas into technologies and products. Its incubation page offers fully equipped laboratory and office space for rent, tailor-made consulting, tech transfer and commercialisation support, and technical and business capacity building. The resources page says it takes no equity. Companies also get business and technical mentoring, and can show their products through exhibits, press releases, media interviews and demo sessions.
The bioincubator's stated goal is to support life science entrepreneurs and young biotech companies through all stages of early company development, turning promising new ideas into fully formed biotech companies. Its homepage also lists contract R&D services for national and international clients, and it says it helps new scientific enterprises form links with other companies, academia and government.
Founders can ask for free feedback on an idea before committing to the programme. Shortlisted applicants are called for a presentation. Once a proposal is accepted, the startup signs an agreement with the bioincubator.
Who can apply
The incubation page names four groups. The first is researchers, innovators or individuals with ideas that have commercial potential who want to start a company or already have a registered startup. The second is spin-offs from academic and research faculty, which the bioincubator supports through research funding, intellectual property protection and pre-incubation. The third is biotechnological process and product companies that need laboratory space. The fourth is companies that want specialist staff training. The bioincubator says it is actively evaluating potential new resident companies to join its portfolio.
Its focus areas are biotechnology, agriculture, environmental and industrial biotechnology, AI and bioinformatics, and indigenised products. Its portfolio page lists companies in agri and allied fields, biopharma, industrial biotechnology, device and diagnostics, and food and wellness.
The bioincubator's funding page says it partnered for the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, a national scheme run by DPIIT. That scheme is not the bioincubator's own programme, and its eligibility rules are set by the scheme, not by the bioincubator.
Facilities
The resources page describes the bioincubator's own space as 10000 sq feet of lab and office space. Office suites and wet lab space are available on a shared basis at preferential rates. Shared services include Wi-Fi, 24 h security, a backup power generator and conference rooms.
The same page also lists the institute's research platforms, such as its animal house, sequencing and proteomics labs. The page does not say how incubating companies get access to them, so this guide does not count them as the bioincubator's own facilities.
Scale
The homepage shows counters that the bioincubator publishes itself. They are undated. They give 43 startups incubated, 22 graduated, 11 products commercialised, 20 women-led startups, 8 patents granted and 2300+ people benefited. The counters do not reconcile with the company list. The ILS startups page names 28 companies, current and graduated, and lists eight under graduated startups. Treat the counters as the bioincubator's own claims, not audited totals.
Who runs it
Dr. Debasis Dash is listed as Director of DBT-ILS. Dr. Nivedita Jena is Chief Operation Officer. The team page also lists an administrative executive and a technical project professional. The mentors page names eleven mentors without giving their roles.
Locations
The contact page lists the Institute of Life Sciences at NALCO Square, Bhubaneswar, and a second campus at Neeladri Vihar. Enquiries and CVs go to the incubation email address on the contact page.
Get in touch
Send a message to DBT-ILS Bioincubator — we'll forward it on your behalf.
Who they work with
Stage
Sectors
Tags
Notable alumni
The team
Dr. Debasis Dash
Director, DBT-ILS, Bhubaneswar
Dr. Nivedita Jena
Chief Operation Officer
Itishree Jena
Administrative Executive
Monalisa Dash
Technical Project Professional
Frequently asked questions about DBT-ILS Bioincubator
What is DBT-ILS Bioincubator?
DBT-ILS Bioincubator is an incubator based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
What does DBT-ILS Bioincubator do?
DBT-ILS Bioincubator is a life-science incubator in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It is run from inside the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), an autonomous institute that the Department of Biotechnology took over in 2002.
Where is DBT-ILS Bioincubator located?
DBT-ILS Bioincubator is located at Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), NALCO Square, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023.
What programs does DBT-ILS Bioincubator run?
DBT-ILS Bioincubator runs Resident Incubation at DBT-ILS Bioincubator.
Which DBT-ILS Bioincubator programme should I apply to?
It depends on how far along your startup is. Idea stage: Resident Incubation at DBT-ILS Bioincubator. Prototype stage: Resident Incubation at DBT-ILS Bioincubator. MVP stage: Resident Incubation at DBT-ILS Bioincubator. Check the programme's own eligibility before applying — several programmes are sector-specific.
What sectors does DBT-ILS Bioincubator support?
DBT-ILS Bioincubator works with startups in Biotech, Agritech, Healthtech, Pharma, Food Processing and AI/ML.
What stage of startup does DBT-ILS Bioincubator support?
DBT-ILS Bioincubator supports startups at the Ideation, Validation, Prototype and Early Revenue stages.
What facilities does DBT-ILS Bioincubator offer?
DBT-ILS Bioincubator offers Shared wet lab and office suites and Shared building services.
Is DBT-ILS Bioincubator government recognised?
DBT-ILS Bioincubator holds the following recognitions and affiliations: Set up with support from the Science and Technology Department, Government of Odisha.
How do I apply to DBT-ILS Bioincubator?
- You have an idea: ask for the free feedback the bioincubator offers on an idea. Shortlisted applicants can be included in its incubator programmes. - You need lab space: the bioincubator rents shared office suites and wet lab space. Say in your application what lab space you need. - You want staff training: the bioincubator says companies can take part in its training programmes.
Who runs DBT-ILS Bioincubator?
Dr. Debasis Dash (Director, DBT-ILS, Bhubaneswar).
When was DBT-ILS Bioincubator founded?
DBT-ILS Bioincubator was founded in 2019. It is an incubator.
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