BIRAC Enabling Development and Growth of Enterprises Centers Program (India)

Categories

• Proposals are invited for BIRAC EDGE Centers under the following categories:
  • Internationalization of Indian biotech Startups, SMEs and companies (Category: EDGE Int):
    • Promoting the growth of Startups, SMEs, and companies in India and overseas through Networking, Market Needs assessment, Technology Partnerships, Knowledge Exchange, etc.
    • Mapping needs and gaps of an international territory and connecting with strengths and solutions to drive innovation deployment
    • Connect and establish a bridge between Innovation Ecosystems and emerging markets, investors, and technology adopters across the globe
    • Offer a one-place solution where innovators can identify partners, investors, mentors and customers across geographic boundaries.
    • Creation of knowledge reports
  • Capacity Building for Bio-Incubation Ecosystem (Category: EDGE-Incubate):
    • Training of Incubator Managers and orientation for Senior Leaders of Host Institutions of Bio-Incubation centres
    • Supporting the Incubation Centre with essential mentorship and resources to build a long-term sustainable plan.
    • Create an interactive and dynamic portal for performance monitoring and data management of BioNEST Bio-incubators
    • Creation of high-value and focused learning content to be used as resource material for bio-incubation professionals
    • Mapping of Incubation Ecosystem and creation of knowledge reports
  • Advancing and Accelerating Entrepreneurship (Category: EDGE-Accelerate):
    • Nurture pipeline of bio-entrepreneurs for Deep-tech life sciences innovations
    •  Providing a structured, high-impact acceleration environment for biotech startups to grow and scale their ventures.
    • Creation of high-value and focused learning content to be used as resource material by aspiring entrepreneurs
    •  Engagement with mentors and advisors to enhance business, finance, statutory compliance, and marketing capabilities.
    •  Handholding for product development, manufacturing and licensing
  • Capacity Building for Facilitating Investments (Category: EDGE-Inv)
    • Conduct webinars/outreach events for domestic and global Limited Partners (LPs), General Partners (GPs), Policymakers, and others to educate and promote India as an investable destination for biotech.
    • Organize knowledge-sharing sessions (Roundtables/meets) engaging global investors, and PE-VC firms to mobilize capital for the biotech sector
    • Conduct capacity-building/training programs covering various aspects of fund management, from Fundraising to Exit and governance policies.
    • Provide biotech investors, incubators, accelerators, etc., with the knowledge and resources to effectively support biotech enterprises
    • Connect with other national and global organizations to boost the biotech startup and investment ecosystem
    • Creation of sectoral reports and knowledge-based reports on funding and investment trends in the biotech sector
  • Field Validation (Category: EDGE-FV):
    •  Support, streamline, and fast-track the field validation process, enabling healthcare startups to bring solutions to the market efficiently and effectively.
    • Provide networking and connect in real-life settings/environments such as hospitals, PHCs, CHCs, etc.
    •  Support startups to design, plan, and execute multi-centre clinical trials and cohort studies
    •  Organize capacity-building programs and awareness sessions
    • Creation of reports and white papers
  • Promoting bio-based strengths of NER to boost local entrepreneurship (Category: EGDE-NER)
    •  Capacity building and training workshops for boosting local entrepreneurship in the NER
    • Providing market access and opportunities to local entrepreneurs outside NER
    • Specialized programs for women and SHGs
    • Promoting the use of technology by local entrepreneurs of NER
    • Creating avenues and opportunities for the creation of tech-based startups in the NER

Funding Information

• BIRAC will consider proposals for financial support of up to INR 5.0 crore per BIRAC EDGE Centre for a period of up to 5 years and shall cover expenses towards operational activities only. The initial funding period will be up to three years, with the possibility of a two-year extension based on performance evaluation and the availability of funds. The BIRAC funding for the BIRAC EDGE Centres will be done in alignment with the Government’s umbrella scheme ‘Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development’ (Bio-RIDE) in the following manner:
  • Funding to Private entities:
    • Up to INR Rs. 50 Lakhs as grant-in-aid
    • For Projects more than 50 Lakhs: Minimum contribution of 30% will be required for the project cost by the applicant or applicant and collaborator, as applicable
  • Funding to Government entities shall be done as per the following categories:
    • Government Academic Institutions (Centre/State-owned): Support shall be provided as Grant-in-aid
    •  Central Government owned Section-8 company (ies): Support shall be provided as Grant-in-aid
    • State Government-Owned Section-8 company(ies): Minimum contribution of 50% from the applicant/applicant and collaborator, as applicable.

Eligibility Criteria

• The proposals can be submitted by one or more Indian legal entities under the following categories:
  • Operating as an incubator:
    • In existence for at least three years
    • Has a full-time lead
    •  Has supported at least 25 startups in the Biotech domain
  • Operating as an independent Innovation Enabling Organization/Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO):
    • In existence for at least three years
    • Has a full-time lead
    • Has demonstrated relevant expertise and experience for providing niche support with regard to the category of EDGE Centre applied for.
• Types of eligible entities:
  • Indian Company/LLP (For Profit and Not for Profit)
  • Academic Institutions (Government/Private) /Not for Profit Organizations (Other than Indian Companies/LLPs)

For more information, visit BIRAC.