Startups
The Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) scheme of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology was launched in 2005 to boost Public-Private- Partnership (PPP) efforts in the country. SBIRI was the first of its kind, early stage, innovation focused PPP initiative in the area of Biotechnology. Launching of SBIRI has worked as an enabling platform for the target organizations to realize their potential in terms of product and process development and taking them to the market. It has facilitated innovation, risk taking by small and medium companies and bringing together the private industry, public institutions and the government under one roof to promote the research and innovation in the Indian Biotech Sector. The projects supported under the scheme have resulted in prominent outcomes in the form of some products which have already come to the market and some promising research leads seeing ray of hope for commercialization. As a unique institutional mechanism, SBIRI has consistently prioritized early stage funding for high risk innovative research in small and medium companies led by innovators with science backgrounds to get them involved in development of products and processes which have high societal relevance.
Eligibility: The proposals can be submitted: 1. Solely by a Company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, or 2. Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) incorporated under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, or 3. Joint Ventures either in the form of Company/ LLP by any of the above entities jointly with other private or public partner(s) (Universities or Institutes).
For Industry: a. Minimum 51% of the shares of the Company should be held by Indian Citizens holding Indian passport (Indian Citizens do not include Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) holders)
b. Minimum half of the persons who subscribed their names to the LLP document as its Partners should be Indian citizens.
c. Participating companies should have adequate in-house facility to address the project implementation aspects (which shall be evaluated during the site visit) OR Incubated with any of the recognized Incubation Facility.
For Academic Collaborator: a. Public/private university/colleges in India
b. National research laboratories
c. Not-for-profit private research labs/societies/foundation
Funding Grant: Project Cost BIRAC Support to the Company (as Grant-in-aid): Up to 25 lakh - Up to 80% of the Project Cost; Above 25 lakh to Rs 100 lakh - Up to 50% of the Project Cost (with a minimum of Rs. 20 lakh) If the Project proposal has Academic Collaborator(s) and the total Project Cost exceeds Rs. 100 Lakh, then the total contribution of BIRAC to a Company/ LLP for the Project will not exceed Rs. 50Lakhs as Grant-in- aid. The contribution to the Academic Collaborator will be in addition to the Grant- in-aid approved for the Company/ LLP applicant.