The government has given the green light to the first national call for the Rs 2,000 crore BIRAC–RDI Fund, part of the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) initiative aimed at enhancing the biotech sector. This move signifies a significant shift in India’s focus on science-driven progress, positioning the country as an early adopter in emerging technologies rather than a latecomer. The startup landscape has seen remarkable growth, with the number of biotech startups surging from around 50 in 2014 to over 11,000 presently, indicating a substantial increase in both scale and ambition.
The bioeconomy, valued at approximately $8 billion in 2014, has experienced rapid expansion, propelling India into a prominent position among global biotech players. Emphasizing the pivotal role of biotechnology in propelling industrial growth, akin to how information technology drove India’s earlier development, the minister highlighted that the forthcoming industrial revolution will be steered by biotech innovation, advanced manufacturing, and modern entrepreneurship.
Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology and Director General of BRIC, noted that the RDI Fund is designed to back long-term, high-risk research endeavors necessitating patient capital and advanced infrastructure. Complementing the BioE3 Policy, the initiative offers a framework for fostering cutting-edge products spanning biopharma, bio-industrial manufacturing, bioenergy, blue economy, and biocomputation, with the ultimate goal of transitioning from research outcomes to scalable industrial outputs.
Part of the national RDI initiative sanctioned by the Union Cabinet in July 2025 and rolled out in November 2025 under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the BIRAC–RDI Fund seeks to bridge the gap between laboratory research and large-scale manufacturing by supporting technologies ranging from TRL-4 to TRL-9 through a blend of equity, convertible instruments, and long-term debt. Over the past decade, BIRAC has established a comprehensive innovation ecosystem, including 100+ bio-incubation centers, over 10 lakh square feet of incubation space, and engagement with more than 15 lakh startup entrepreneurs.
