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India Launches Rs 2,000 Crore Biotech Fund to Power Next Industrial Revolution

The Indian government has approved the first national call for the Rs 2,000 crore BIRAC-RDI Fund to boost the biotechnology sector. The fund is part of the larger Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation initiative, aiming to support high-risk research and bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and industrial-scale manufacturing. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh stated the launch marks India's shift to being an early mover in emerging technologies, with the biotech startup ecosystem exploding from about 50 startups in 2014 to over 11,000 today. The fund will provide patient capital through equity and debt to advance technologies from the development stage to commercial readiness.

Key Points: Rs 2,000 Crore BIRAC-RDI Fund Launched to Boost Biotech Sector

  • First national call for Rs 2,000 crore fund
  • Part of Rs 1 lakh crore RDI initiative
  • Aims to bridge lab research to industrial manufacturing
  • Supports high-risk, long-gestation research
2 min read

Centre announces 1st national call for Rs 2,000 crore BIRAC-RDI Fund to boost biotech sector

Govt launches first national call for Rs 2,000 cr BIRAC-RDI Fund to bridge lab-to-industry gap and fuel biotech-driven industrial growth.

"The coming industrial revolution will be powered by biotech innovation, advanced manufacturing, and new-age entrepreneurship. - Dr Jitendra Singh"

New Delhi, Feb 13

The government on Friday approved the first national call for the Rs 2,000 crore BIRAC-RDI Fund, under the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation initiative to boost biotech sector.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra said the launch reflects a decisive shift in India's approach to science-led growth and signals that the country is no longer a late entrant but an early mover in emerging technologies.

He said the transformation is visible in the expansion of the startup ecosystem -- from around 50 biotech startups in 2014 to more than 11,000 today, reflecting what he described as a quantum jump in scale and ambition.

The bioeconomy, which stood at about $8 billion in 2014, has expanded rapidly, placing India among leading global players.

The minister further added that biotechnology will drive the next phase of industrial growth, much like information technology shaped India's earlier transformation.

"The coming industrial revolution will be powered by biotech innovation, advanced manufacturing, and new-age entrepreneurship," he added.

"The RDI Fund has been structured to support long-gestation, high-risk research that requires patient capital and advanced infrastructure," said Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology and Director General, BRIC.

"The initiative complements the BioE3 Policy and provides a framework to build next-generation products across biopharma, bio-industrial manufacturing, bioenergy, blue economy and biocomputation," said Gokhale, also Chairman of BIRAC.

The objective, he said, is to move from research outputs to scalable industrial outcomes.

The BIRAC-RDI Fund is part of the national RDI initiative approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2025 and launched in November 2025 under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

The fund aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale manufacturing by supporting technologies from TRL-4 to TRL-9 through a mix of equity, convertible instruments, and long-term debt.

BIRAC has built a nationwide innovation ecosystem over the past decade, including more than 100 bio-incubation centres, over 10 lakh square feet of incubation space, and engagement with more than 15 lakh startup entrepreneurs.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Hoping this fund truly reaches the grassroots innovators and not just the established institutes in metros. We have brilliant minds in tier-2 and tier-3 cities who need this support. The focus on moving from research to scalable outcomes is key.
R
Rohit P
Biotechnology as the next IT wave? Ambitious, but possible. We have the talent pool. The challenge will be creating a sustainable ecosystem with clear commercial pathways. Let's hope the fund management is transparent and merit-based.
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Sarah B
As someone working in the bio-industrial space, this news is very encouraging. The gap between TRL-4 and TRL-9 is where most Indian projects fail due to lack of funding. This structured support for long-gestation research could be a game-changer.
V
Vikram M
Good initiative, but execution is everything. We've seen funds announced before with great fanfare, but the actual disbursement and support to entrepreneurs is often slow and bureaucratic. Hope BIRAC has a streamlined process for this.
K
Kavya N
Bioeconomy from $8 billion to a leading global player is a massive achievement. This fund can help us develop indigenous solutions for healthcare, agriculture, and clean energy. Jai Vigyan! 🙏

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