Biotech startups need more time and money than most. In India, one of the main public routes for support is BIRAC. This guide lists the schemes shown on the BIRAC portal, the figures the portal gives and what the page does not say, so you know where to check eligibility.
Quick facts
- What BIRAC is: a Public Sector Enterprise set up by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, according to its portal
- Incubation: BioNEST
- Ideation to early stage: BIG, SITARE and E-YUVA
- Ideation to late stage: BIPP, SBIRI and the i4 programme
- Equity funding: SEED Fund, LEAP Fund, BioAngels Program and Fund of Funds (AcE)
- Not on the page: eligibility criteria, per-scheme funding amounts and durations
- Last checked: 5 November 2026 against the BIRAC portal; confirm each scheme on birac.nic.in
What is BIRAC?
The BIRAC portal describes it as a Public Sector Enterprise, set up by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. If you want to see how BIRAC fits into the wider incubator network, read our guide to government incubator schemes, where BioNest is one of the schemes.
The schemes listed
| Stage or type | Schemes named on the portal |
|---|---|
| — | — |
| Incubation | BioNEST |
| Ideation to early stage | BIG, SITARE, E-YUVA |
| Ideation to late stage | BIPP, SBIRI, i4 programme |
| Translation research | PACE |
| Social innovation | SPARSH |
| Equity funding | SEED Fund, LEAP Fund, BioAngels Program, Fund of Funds (AcE) |
| Thematic support | Quest for Assistive Technologies, SoCH, JanCARE, Banana Fortification |
| Product commercialisation | PCP Fund (the page says its call for proposals is currently closed) |
| Focused calls | Preclinical models for drug discovery, DBT-BIRAC AMR Mission |
The figures on the portal
- AcE Fund: INR 174.50 crore, with 16 daughter funds; investment commitment for biotech startups is INR 349 crore, across 102 supported startups; actual investment is INR 1,560 crore (last updated August 2025)
- Equity schemes: equity support to startups is INR 60 crore across 159 startups (figures last updated February 2023)
What the page does not tell you
The page lists scheme names but does not describe eligibility, per-scheme funding amounts or durations. Those details are on the linked scheme pages, and calls for proposals open and close, so always check the scheme page before you plan around it.
How to use this list
1. Work out your stage: incubation, ideation, product development or commercialisation
2. Find the scheme or equity fund named for that stage
3. Open its page on the BIRAC portal and check eligibility, amounts and current calls
4. Make sure your company is registered and, if relevant, DPIIT-recognised; see our DPIIT recognition guide
For grants and funds that are not sector-specific, see our guide to the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs BIRAC?
BIRAC is a Public Sector Enterprise set up by the Department of Biotechnology, according to its portal.
Which BIRAC schemes support early-stage ideas?
The portal lists BIG, SITARE and E-YUVA under ideation to early stage.
Does the portal list funding amounts?
Not on the page we checked. It gives figures for the AcE Fund and equity schemes, but not per-scheme grant amounts.
Is the PCP Fund open?
The page says its call for proposals is currently closed.
