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Government Grant

BIRAC

BIRAC (DBT) funds early-stage biotech and life-sciences innovators with non-dilutive and seed support to move ideas from ideation to proof-of-concept and commercialisation.

Ticket size$60K
StagesPre-Seed
Sectors2 focus areas

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Portfolio companies

1 company

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GPS Renewables
Clean-tech

About BIRAC

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BIRAC is the Department of Biotechnology’s public-sector arm that runs India’s flagship biotech startup funding programmes. Its Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) provides grant-in-aid of up to ₹50 lakh for early-stage biotech startups from ideation to proof-of-concept, typically over about 18 months with milestone-based releases. Founders should treat BIRAC as a sector-specific government grant channel—strongest fit for health, biotech, and deep life-science IP—rather than a generalist VC. Apply via BIRAC’s national calls (often twice yearly) through BIG Partners listed in each call. Validate current guidelines on birac.nic.in before pitching.

Its Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) provides grant-in-aid of up to ₹50 lakh for early-stage biotech startups from ideation to proof-of-concept, typically over about 18 months with milestone-based releases.

Notes

Ticket researched: BIG grant-in-aid up to ₹50 Lakh over ~18 months (BIRAC BIG Scheme Guidelines v9, Oct 2025).

Data confidence: Verified – primary source

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