BIRAC BioNEST @ SRM MCH, SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Check you fit first

• Sector: the incubator takes health tech, MedTech, BioPharma and biotech startups. A general software startup is outside its focus.
• Stage: it says early to growth-stage startups can apply, so an idea-stage team should explain what has already been validated.

How to apply

• Use the Apply Incubation button on the website. The form is hosted on a separate application portal.
• For questions before applying, write to so.bionest@srmist.edu.in.
• No deadline is stated, so ask the team about the next intake.

Things to ask the team

• Costs: the site does not say what incubation or desk space costs, or whether the incubator takes equity. Ask before you commit.
• Equipment: lab instruments are booked online and charged per hour of use. Check the instrument list against what your work needs.
• Clinical access: the clinical trial units on campus are a draw for MedTech teams. Ask how a startup gets access to them.

BIRAC BioNEST @ SRM MCH is a life sciences incubator at SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu. It describes itself as backed by BIRAC (DBT, Government of India) and sits inside the SRM Medical College Hospital campus. It supports startups in health tech, MedTech, BioPharma and biotech.

Who it is for

The incubator says it welcomes applications from early to growth-stage startups in health tech, MedTech, BioPharma and biotech. It does not state a requirement to be an SRM student or faculty member. Its pitch is that biotech, engineering and medical research sit on one campus, so a device or drug team can find labs, clinicians and engineers close by.

What it offers

The BioNEST lists wet labs, co-working spaces and a fabrication lab, plus access to the campus clinical trial resources, CCTR and CCP. Support covers product validation and regulatory navigation, IP support and patent filing assistance, scientific validation, clinical trial support, business model development, pitch deck and go-to-market strategy, and expert mentorship. It works with SRM's Technology Innovation and Licensing Office on patents, tech transfer and legal advice. The site also says it helps startups reach funding, though it does not name a fund or give terms.

Lab equipment and slot booking

The Facilities page lists shared bench equipment: incubators, a shaking water bath, a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, an ELISA reader, refrigerated centrifuges, a lyophilizer, a probe sonicator, a weighing balance, an imaging system, a deep freezer, a shaker incubator, Class I and II biosafety cabinets, a CO2 incubator, a protein purification system and a cell culture facility. Equipment can be booked online by choosing the instrument, a date and a start and end time, and bookings can run up to 24 hours. The page says charges apply per hour of equipment use.

Track record and events

The site reports 25+ startups incubated across biotech, MedTech and health tech. This is the incubator's own figure. Its events page lists a 3D bioprinter workshop held on 28th March 2025, and the contact page invites organisers who want to host a webinar, seminar or workshop.

How to reach it

Use the Apply Incubation button on the website to start an application. Questions can go to so.bionest@srmist.edu.in. The incubator is at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur.