Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology

What Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology does

The Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) is a government autonomous academic and research institution established in 2001 by the Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T of the Government of Karnataka. Headquartered at Biotech Park in Electronics City Phase I, Bengaluru, IBAB offers a two-year MSc in Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, an MSc in Big Data Biology, a PhD programme in interdisciplinary life sciences, and a Syngene-IBAB Certificate Programme in AI in Life Sciences. The institute recruits students nationally through online entrance examinations and in-person interviews, producing postgraduate and doctoral talent for the Indian biotechnology sector, with alumni placed at Eli Lilly, Novartis, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Strand Life Sciences.

IBAB's core technology stack combines state-of-the-art computational infrastructure (GPU servers, high-end workstations, high-capacity network and storage) with well-equipped bioscience laboratories, supporting research across disease genomics, epigenomics, multi-omics, single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, structural biology, X-ray crystallography, molecular dynamics, computer-aided drug design, synthetic biology, molecular parasitology (with CRISPR/Cas platforms for malaria research), and AI/ML applications in life sciences. A government-approved Centre of Excellence for AI in Biotechnology, established in 2026 with a Rs 20 crore outlay over four years in partnership with C-CAMP, formalises AI/ML as a strategic pillar. Faculty-led research has produced over 200 peer-reviewed publications from senior professors alone and at least one US patent (US8645075, organ toxicity prediction).

IBAB's business model is a hybrid of government funding, academic programme fees, and industry partnership revenue. As an autonomous state institution, it receives grants from the Government of Karnataka and supplements these through tuition (MSc and PhD programmes), industry collaborations (Syngene International, Indegene, Biocon Foundation), startup incubation, and the new AI in Life Sciences certificate programme. Strategic alliances with the BeST Cluster, IISc, and NCBS anchor its position within Karnataka's broader biotech and academic ecosystem, while dedicated programmes like BioWISE extend its reach into workforce development for women in STEM. The institute operates on a not-for-profit academic charter and does not publicly disclose revenue.

Name

Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology

Legal name

Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology

Website

https://ibab.ac.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) is a Karnataka government autonomous institution in Bengaluru offering MSc and PhD programmes and conducting interdisciplinary research in biotechnology, bioinformatics, AI/ML, genomics, structural biology, and drug discovery for postgraduate students, doctoral scholars, and industry partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bengaluru

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Academic Programme Fees: Revenue generated from MSc and PhD academic programmes charged to enrolled students.
2. Government Grants and Funding: IBAB is an autonomous institution set up by the Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T of the Government of Karnataka and receives government funding and grants for research activities.
3. Industry Partnerships and Collaborations: Strategic collaborations with industry partners such as Syngene International, Indegene, and Biocon Foundation generate revenue through certificate programmes, research projects, and incubation activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IBAB is a government autonomous academic and research institute that delivers postgraduate MSc programmes in Biotechnology & Bioinformatics and Big Data Biology, a PhD programme in Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, and a Syngene-IBAB Certificate Programme in AI in Life Sciences. It conducts frontier research in disease genomics, multi-omics, synthetic biology, structural biology, drug discovery, and AI/ML for life sciences, and operates a Karnataka government-approved Centre of Excellence for AI in Biotechnology (AI-CoE) along with a startup incubation facility at its Bengaluru campus.

Product overview

The Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) is an educational and research institution offering academic programs and research services. Its core offerings include PhD and MSc programs in Biotechnology & Bioinformatics and Big Data Biology, a Syngene-IBAB Certificate Program in AI in Life Sciences, and niche research programs in Synthetic Biology and Genomics. IBAB operates a Centre of Excellence for AI in Biotechnology (AI-CoE) and provides research facilities including GPU servers, bioscience laboratories, and incubation services for startups. The institution focuses on interdisciplinary life sciences research spanning disease biology, structural biology, drug discovery, and AI/ML applications in biotechnology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PhD Programme in Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Doctoral programme offering research opportunities in frontier areas of interdisciplinary life sciences, intended for postgraduate candidates pursuing careers in disease genomics, epigenomics, synthetic biology, structural bioinformatics, and AI/ML applications.
• MSc Programme in Biotechnology & Bioinformatics

Quantifiable outcome

• Karnataka government approved Rs 20 crore investment over four years for an AI Centre of Excellence at IBAB in partnership with C-CAMP
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026IBAB signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the BeST Cluster (located in the Innovation Centre Building, Indian Institute of Science campus, Bengaluru) on April 23, 2026. The MoU establishes a programme for academic cooperation including exchange of academic information, joint programmes and seminars, research initiatives, funding opportunities, and faculty and student exchanges.
• Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026C-CAMP is partnering with IBAB and the Karnataka government to establish a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Biotechnology (AI-CoE) at IBAB's campus. The Karnataka cabinet approved a total outlay of Rs 20 crore over four years for this centre, aiming to strengthen Karnataka's research ecosystem in deep tech and biotechnology. C-CAMP brings its expertise in bio-incubation and technology translation to this partnership.
• Biocon FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2026Biocon Foundation, in partnership with BeST Cluster and National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), launched the BioWISE women in STEM programme at Biocon Park in Bengaluru, with IBAB as one of the placement partners. The programme selected 15 women postgraduate students from over 350 applicants for a 6-month internship with scholarships and mentorship. IBAB serves as a placement site where students work on R&D projects under scientist mentorship.
• IndegenecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026IBAB announced a strategic collaboration with Indegene, a digital-first, technology-led healthcare solutions provider that helps pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies develop, commercialize, and market products. The partnership supports interdisciplinary education, translational and basic research, and entrepreneurship, connecting academic depth with industry perspective for co-innovation.
• National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026NCBS is a key academic partner in the BioWISE women in STEM programme alongside IBAB and Biocon Foundation. IBAB students and researchers collaborate with NCBS faculty on research projects. NCBS is also part of the broader BeST Cluster ecosystem with which IBAB has signed an MoU.
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026IISc is a major academic partner for IBAB in research collaborations, faculty exchanges, and the BeST Cluster MoU. IISc faculty collaborate with IBAB researchers, and IISc's campus houses the Innovation Centre where the BeST Cluster is located. Several IBAB alumni and faculty have IISc backgrounds.
• Syngene InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026IBAB launched an 'AI in Life Sciences' Certificate Programme in collaboration with Syngene International and Biocon Academy. This programme provides professional training in AI applications for life sciences, leveraging Syngene's industry expertise and IBAB's academic and research capabilities. Syngene also supports the IBAB-SynRISE PhD Fellowship.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Syngene International: Bengaluru-headquartered contract research organization and core IBAB industry partner. Comparable as a regional life-sciences organization engaged in joint training programmes, PhD fellowships, and translational research collaboration with IBAB.

Emerging players

• Strand Life Sciences: Bangalore-based bioinformatics and clinical genomics company where IBAB faculty (e.g., Prof. R Srivatsan) previously worked. Strand is a natural industry-side peer translating similar computational biology capabilities into commercial products.
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education: Indian private deemed university with established biotechnology and bioinformatics postgraduate programmes. Comparable as an India-based academic institution offering industry-adjacent life sciences education and research, though not state-funded.
• International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Bangalore: Bangalore-based institute with strengths in data science, computational research, and bioinformatics-adjacent programmes. Comparable as a regional academic peer combining computational training with biology applications in the same Bengaluru ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP): Bangalore-based bio-incubator and technology translation platform. C-CAMP is IBAB's co-partner in the Karnataka-approved AI Centre of Excellence for Biotechnology, making it a direct operational peer in the same biotech innovation ecosystem.
• National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS): Tata Institute of Fundamental Research biology research centre in Bengaluru. NCBS is a BioWISE programme partner with IBAB and a frequent research collaborator, with overlapping focus on disease biology, genomics, and interdisciplinary life sciences.
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER): Network of government-funded institutions offering integrated BS-MS and PhD programmes with strong biology and interdisciplinary research. Comparable as a public research-education hybrid model with emphasis on basic sciences, including computational biology.
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc): Premier Indian research university in Bengaluru with deep strength in biological sciences and computational biology. Multiple IBAB faculty are IISc alumni/former faculty, and the BeST Cluster (with which IBAB has an MoU) is housed on the IISc campus — making IISc the most direct comparable academic peer.
• IIT Bombay Department of Biotechnology: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay's biotechnology department combines graduate education and research in bioinformatics, computational biology, and bioengineering. Comparable as a top-tier Indian institute offering research-focused postgraduate programmes in interdisciplinary life sciences.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR): Bengaluru-based multidisciplinary research university with strong life sciences and materials research. Comparable as a government-supported, research-intensive institution with graduate education programmes in frontier science areas.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/official_ibab
• Facebookfacebook.com/Institute-of-Bioinformatics-and-Applied-Biotechnology-IBAB-204342906335322
• LinkedInin.linkedin.com/school/ibab
• Instagraminstagram.com/_ibab_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology