Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council(BIRAC)

Name

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council(BIRAC)

Legal name

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council

Website

https://birac.nic.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grant Funding: BIRAC operates as a not-for-profit government enterprise that provides grant-in-aid funding to biotech startups, SMEs, and research institutions. The organization channels government appropriations into strategic research programs, incubation infrastructure, and equity investments to nurture India's biotech innovation ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BIRAC is a not-for-profit Section 8 Public Sector Enterprise under India's Department of Biotechnology that funds and supports the country's biotech innovation ecosystem. Its core offerings include grant-in-aid funding (BIG, SBIRI, BIPP, PACE), equity funding (SEED Fund, LEAP Fund, BioAngels, AcE Fund), incubation through the BioNEST network of 73+ bio-incubators, and thematic missions such as the National Biopharma Mission, Grand Challenges India, and the BioE3 biomanufacturing initiative.

Product overview

BIRAC operates as a not-for-profit Interface Agency under India's Department of Biotechnology, implementing a comprehensive platform of funding programs, incubation support, and ecosystem building initiatives. The portfolio spans ideation-to-late-stage funding through programs like BIG, SBIRI, and BIPP; equity funding via SEED Fund, LEAP Fund, BioAngels, and AcE Fund; social innovation through SPARSH; and thematic support including National Biopharma Mission, Grand Challenges India, and BioE3 Policy initiatives. The ecosystem is anchored by the BioNEST network of 73 bio-incubators, complemented by regional centers (BRIC, BREC, BRBC, BRTC) and strategic partnerships with global organizations. Recent launches include SUJVIKA (AI-driven data portal) and High Performance Biomanufacturing Platforms under BioE3 Policy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BioNEST (Bio-incubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies) Incubation program providing space, mentorship, IP management, and resource mobilization support to biotech startups through a network of 73 bio-incubators creating 1,045,470 sq. ft. of incubation space for 2,515 incubatees across India.
• BIG (Biotechnology Ignition Grant Scheme) Flagship early-stage funding program providing up to INR 50 lakhs grant-in-aid for 18 months to young startups for translating innovative ideas into Proof of Concept, managed through 8 BIG Partners across the country.
• SITARE (Students Innovations for Advancement of Research Explorations) Student innovation program supporting postgraduate and doctoral students with SITARE-GYTI awards up to INR 15 lakhs and appreciation grants through Biotech Innovation Ignition Schools (BIIS).
• E-YUVA (Empowering Youth for Undertaking Value Added Innovative Translational Research) Program promoting applied research culture among young students and researchers through innovation fellows and pre-incubation centers.
• SBIRI (Small Business Innovation Research Initiative) Early-stage PPP initiative supporting development and initial validation of new biotech products and technologies with TRL 6 and below, with 100% grant up to Rs. 50 lakhs.
• BIPP (Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme) Advanced technology scheme supporting validation, demonstration, and pre-commercialization of breakthrough biotech products at TRL 7 or above through cost-sharing partnership.
• PACE (Promoting Academic Research Conversion to Enterprise) Translation research program with two components: Academic Innovation Research (AIR) for PoC development and Contract Research Scheme (CRS) for industry validation.
• SPARSH (Social Innovation Initiative) Social innovation program nurturing biotech social innovators through clinical and rural immersions, fellowships, and mini kick-start grants for affordable product development.
• SEED Fund First equity exposure program providing up to INR 30 lakhs to post-PoC startups to bridge the valley of death and enable angel investment readiness.
• LEAP Fund (Launching Entrepreneurial Driven Affordable Products) Catalyst fund helping potential biotech startups pilot and commercialize products and technologies to raise venture capital investment, operating through BioNEST incubators with INR 500 Lakhs per cycle.
• BioAngels Program Public-private partnership with Indian Angel Network providing seed and early-stage investing platform for biotech startups including Medtech, Healthtech, Pharma, Agritech, and Cleantech.
• AcE Fund (Accelerating Entrepreneurs Fund of Funds) Fund of funds fostering R&D innovation by partnering with SEBI-registered AIFs to invest in biotech startups and SMEs with 2x commitment matching.
• Grand Challenges India (GCI) Collaborative initiative with DBT and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation managing 37 programs across maternal health, nutrition, sanitation, infectious diseases, and agriculture.
• SUJVIKA AI-driven biotech data portal designed to promote India's bioeconomy by providing trade statistics and import dependency insights, supporting India's goal of building a $1 trillion bioeconomy by 2047.
• PCP Fund (Product Commercialization Program Fund) Funding program supporting market launch and large-scale commercialization for technologies successfully validated at TRL 7 or above.
• High Performance Biomanufacturing Platforms (BioE3) Network of advanced biomanufacturing hubs integrating synthetic biology, AI, and other technologies across 21 bio-enabler facilities to support startups, SMEs, industries, and academia.
• Establishing Preclinical Models for Drug Discovery Focused call establishing preclinical disease models for screening drugs, NCEs, natural compounds, and vaccines as service-based platforms for researchers and industries.
• DBT-BIRAC AMR Mission Mission addressing antimicrobial resistance through development of new antibiotics and alternatives including therapeutic antibodies, phage therapy, and anti-biofilm products.

Quantifiable outcome

• India's bioeconomy grown from $10 billion (2014) to $195+ billion (2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Grand Challenges India - Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCI manages 37 programs in maternal/child health, nutrition, sanitation, infectious disease, data science, and agriculture aligned with Government of India priorities including National Health Mission, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swachh Bharat.
• Wellcome TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative for scouting and supporting innovations in translational medicine, funding translational research projects to deliver safe and effective healthcare products for India at affordable costs.
• CEFIPRA - BPI FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research partnership supporting bilateral research and encouraging Indo-French collaboration between public, private research groups, industry, clinicians and end-users.
• Ind-CEPI MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations aligned mission for epidemic preparedness through rapid vaccine development, approved with total cost of INR 312.92 crore.
• Social Alpha (TATA Trusts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for building innovation ecosystem to nurture and scale innovations, including Quest for Assistive Technologies and SoCH (Solution for Community Health) programs.
• UNHIE (United Nation's Health Innovation Exchange)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndia Accelerator Platform focused on adoption of 100 Indian MedTech and Digital Health innovations, estimated to open market access worth $500 million.
• TiE Delhi-NCRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMoU to strengthen biotech entrepreneurial start-up ecosystem through mentorship, networking, and continuous platform for BIRAC startups to interface with funders and investors.
• TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mentoring social innovators and assessing impact of social innovation initiatives.
• Nesta (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for creating pipeline of innovators for Longitude Prize in Antimicrobial Resistance domain, including BIRAC-Discovery Award Fund with £200,000 allocated to 9 winners.
• Tekes (Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLetter of intent to explore opportunities for improving competitiveness of Indian and Finnish industries through promoting collaboration in knowledge innovation chain.
• IKP Knowledge ParkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the largest SEED and LEAP Fund Partners supporting 7 startups with follow-on funding of Rs 12,480 lakhs. Also runs BRIC regional center.
• C-CAMP (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBIG Partner and SEED Fund Partner supporting 18 startups with Rs 8,280 lakhs follow-on funding. Also hosts BREC regional center and Early Translation Accelerator.
• SINE IIT BombaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSEED Fund Partner supporting 15 startups with Rs 2,098 lakhs follow-on funding. LEAP Fund Partner supporting 9 startups.
• KIIT-TBIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSEED Fund Partner supporting 8 startups with Rs 803 lakhs follow-on funding. LEAP Fund Partner supporting 5 startups with Rs 1,390 lakhs.
• Venture CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSEED Fund Partner hosting BRBC regional center, supporting startups in the biotech ecosystem.
• FITT IIT DelhicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSEED Fund Partner supporting 5 startups with Rs 1,540 lakhs follow-on funding. LEAP Fund Partner supporting 2 startups with Rs 1,630 lakhs.
• UKTI (UK Trade & Investment)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerKnowledge partnership for boosting innovation capabilities of Indian and British biotech/life science industry and fostering cross-country collaborations.
• University of Cambridge - IGNITE ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntensive two-week entrepreneurial boot-camp at Judge Business School for 5 BIG grantees annually since 2013.
• SRISTI (Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSITARE Partner for supporting innovative student projects in biotechnology, conducting Biotech Innovation Ignition School (BIIS) workshops.
• RAPID USAID-TB Diagnostics ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for new diagnostics for TB through IKP with USAID funding, focusing on treatment adherence and sample collection detection methods.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority): U.S. HHS agency that funds advanced development of medical countermeasures and emerging biotech innovations. Closest functional analog to BIRAC as a government-backed agency deploying public capital to de-risk biotech ventures and accelerate commercialization.
• Israel Innovation Authority: Israeli government agency providing grant funding, equity, and incubation support to early-stage technology and life-sciences startups. Operates a comparable model of phased ideation-to-commercialization funding plus incubator network.
• SBIR / STTR (U.S. Small Business Innovation Research): U.S. federal program providing non-dilutive seed/early-stage funding to small businesses for R&D with commercialization potential. BIRAC's BIG, SBIRI, and BIPP programs mirror SBIR's phased funding approach and eligibility model.

Broad incumbents

• Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency funding R&D across multiple sectors including health and life sciences. Comparable in mandate to catalyze commercialization of early-stage research through grants and equity, though broader than biotech-only.
• BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research): Germany's federal ministry funding R&D across life sciences, biotech, and health. Comparable in channeling public capital to biotech innovation at national scale, though with broader cross-sector mandate than BIRAC's biotech focus.

Others

• Wellcome Trust: Global charitable foundation funding biomedical research and translational science, including translational medicine programs in India via BIRAC partnership. Highly comparable as a mission-aligned grant-making body for health biotech with co-funding relationship to BIRAC.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Global Health division): Active BIRAC partner via Grand Challenges India (37 programs). Operates as a major global grant-maker for biotech and health innovation in low-resource settings—comparable as a non-government funding partner and ecosystem convener for translational biotech.

Regional players

• National Research Council Canada: Canadian federal R&D organization supporting industrial research including life sciences with grants, incubation, and technical facilities. Comparable as a government-funded R&D support institution with similar mandate to bridge research and commercialization.
• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation): Australia's national science agency conducting and funding biotech/industrial research with commercialization mandates. Comparable as a publicly-funded R&D entity bridging research and industry.
• Enterprise Ireland: Irish government agency providing funding, equity, and incubation support to innovative startups. Comparable in operating a phased ideation-to-commercialization grant plus equity model supporting domestic tech and biotech entrepreneurs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BIRAC_2012

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments57 records

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Frequently asked questions about Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council(BIRAC)