NEW DELHI, Aug 10 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh has called for enhancing private sector participation in India’s Biotechnology ecosystem, strengthening the industry outreach to promote indigenous products and technologies in biotechnology and life sciences, and to encourage greater private investment.
Dr Jitendra Singh stressed the need to build stronger linkages between India’s indigenous biotechnology capabilities, industry and investors so that promising innovations can move from research and development to commercialisation at a faster pace.
The Minister’s emphasis came during a meeting with senior officials of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) in New Delhi, where a range of measures to expand investment, industry participation and market opportunities for India’s biotechnology ecosystem were discussed.
The meeting focused on the implementation of the BIRAC Research, Development and Innovation Fund (BIRAC-RDIF), strengthening industry engagement in biotechnology, integrating Life Sciences Global Capability Centres (GCCs) with the domestic biotech ecosystem, leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for biotechnology-led initiatives, enhancing BIRAC’s outreach and international visibility, and creating stronger investor linkages for biotechnology startups and enterprises. Dr. Dhananjay Tiwary, Managing Director, BIRAC and Senior Adviser/Scientist ‘H’, DBT; Dr. Manish Diwan, Group General Manager and Head, BIRAC-RDIF; CS Kavita Anandani, General Manager and Head, Corporate & Legal Affairs along with senior officials were present.
The BIRAC-RDIF is a key component of the Government of India’s ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund aimed at advancing deep-tech innovations and high-impact indigenous manufacturing under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on November 3, 2025, the RDI Fund is managed by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), with BIRAC designated as a Second Level Fund Manager for the biotechnology sector.
BIRAC-RDIF is designed to support the development and commercialisation of indigenous biotechnology innovations, particularly high-risk and technology-intensive projects spanning Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 to 9. Eligible technology entities, including startups and industry, can receive assistance ranging from ₹5 crore to ₹200 crore, covering up to 50 per cent of the total project cost. The Fund provides support through collateral-free long-term loans, equity and hybrid instruments, with a strategic co-investment framework aimed at catalysing greater private-sector participation in biotechnology.
