The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, through the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a not-for-profit, Section 8 Public Sector Enterprise has established 94biotechnology incubation and pre-incubation centres across 25 States & Union Territorie s (UTs) under the BioNEST (Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies) and E-YUVA (Encouraging Youth for Undertaking Innovative Research Activities) schemes.
Five Incubators have been supported by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology which has biotechnology and related sectors as one of their focus areas.
Biotechnology incubation and pre-incubation centers in India, particularly those supported by BIRAC’s BioNEST scheme, aim to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the biotechnology sector. These centers provide vital support to startups, helping them translate innovative ideas into commercially viable products and services. This includes offering access to infrastructure, mentorship, funding opportunities, and networking platforms, ultimately contributing to the growth of a knowledge-based bioeconomy.
To establish new biotechnology incubators BIRAC announces nation-wide call for proposals every year. Every year around 20-30 crores are earmarked for setting up of 10-15 new incubators.
The total funds allocated for the operation, development, and management of these bio-incubators amount to Rs. 48,942.37 Lakhs over the last 13 years (from 2012-2025).
Statewise, Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of 13 such biotechnology incubators followed by Karnataka (11), Telangana (9), Delhi (7), Gujarat (6), Uttar Pradesh (5), Jammu & Kashmir (4), Assam (4), Punjab (4), besides three each in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Meghalaya and Kerala, two each in Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. One biotechnology incubator has been setup in Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Haryana, Mizoram,
West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh (Tirupati).
Five Incubators supported by Department of Science & Technology (DST) having biotechnology and related sectors as one of their focus areas are in Karnataka, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Telangana.
