Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced the first national call for the BIRAC–RDI Fund, a ₹2,000 crore financing window under the government’s ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) initiative. The fund aims to scale high-impact biotechnology innovations and bridge the gap between laboratory research and industry.
The announcement marks a significant shift in India’s science and innovation strategy, signalling that the country is positioning itself as an early mover in emerging technologies rather than a late entrant.
Over the past decade, India’s biotechnology sector has transitioned from policy hesitation to policy acceleration. The number of biotech startups has grown from around 50 in 2014 to more than 11,000 today. During the same period, India’s bioeconomy—valued at about $8 billion in 2014—has expanded rapidly, placing the country among leading global players in biotechnology.
The Minister highlighted that biotechnology is set to drive India’s next phase of industrial growth, much like information technology did in earlier decades. Future advancements are expected to be shaped by biotech innovation, advanced manufacturing, and new-age entrepreneurship. The initiative aims not only to generate scientific ideas but also to industrialise them effectively.
India has already made strides in emerging domains such as space biotechnology and is preparing for future areas including space medicine. Biotechnology experiments are being conducted in space using indigenously developed kits for plant and life sciences research, strengthening India’s capacity to contribute globally relevant scientific knowledge and applications.
The BIRAC–RDI Fund is part of the broader national RDI initiative approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2025 and formally launched in November 2025 under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, anchored by the Department of Science and Technology.
The fund will support technologies across Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 to 9 through a mix of equity, convertible instruments, and long-term debt financing.
A national call for applications has now been opened. Eligible startups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and industry partners can submit proposals through the official portal. Phase-1 submissions will close on March 31, 2026.