BIRAC SPARSH fellowship (HTIC centre)
A programme by IIT Madras HTIC MedTech Incubator (MTI)
A BIRAC social-innovation fellowship for under-35 graduates, run through HTIC; the first call has closed and the next theme call is not dated.
At a glance
| Best for | Indian graduates and postgraduates below 35 working on affordable health products. |
|---|---|
| Stage | Idea |
| Duration | 18 months |
| Grant support | For selected startups. A place in the programme does not by itself guarantee a grant. |
| Run with | BIRAC |
About BIRAC SPARSH fellowship (HTIC centre)
HTIC MedTech Incubator is one of the SPARSH centres supported by BIRAC. SPARSH backs affordable products for societal health. The first call, on maternal and child health, is closed. The page says a call on ageing and health would follow, with no date.
What you get
- A fully funded fellowship for 18 months, plus a mini kick-start grant
- Clinical or rural immersion
- Access to mentors and investors
- A route to other funding programmes at the host innovation centre once you finish
Who can apply
- Indian citizens below 35 with an undergraduate, postgraduate or PhD degree in life sciences, agriculture, engineering, medicine or human biology
How selection works: applications are submitted online on the BIRAC portal and you choose your preferred SPARSH centre. The centre shortlists applicants, who present to an expert committee that includes a BIRAC representative. HTIC recruits 5 social innovators per thematic area.
How to apply: watch the BIRAC call page for the next announcement.
Where to apply
Other IIT Madras HTIC MedTech Incubator (MTI) programmes
- Incubation Programme (HTIC MedTech Incubator)Resident incubation for healthcare-technology founders at IITM Research Park, with mentors, business support and access to the attached HTIC research lab.
- DST NIDHI Accelerator at HTICA 6-month cohort programme for healthcare startups with an MVP; the last call listed closed on 25 October 2025.
- DST NIDHI PRAYAS at HTICGrant support for innovators and early startups to build a physical prototype; the last dated call on the page closed on 30 June 2023.
- DST NIDHI-EIR at HTICA 12-month fellowship with office space and mentoring for first-time technology founders; the page shows no dated call.
- BIRAC BIG support (Associate Partner)HTIC MTI helps applicants prepare for BIRAC's Biotechnology Ignition Grant; the call window on the page is from 2021.