In an exclusive conversation with Business Northeast, Dr Chhaya Chauhan, who heads the Incubation at the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), provided invaluable insights into the council's vision and increasing contribution towards the biotechnology start up economy in India, especially in the Northeast.
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit public sector undertaking incorporated in 2012 by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. As Dr Chauhan further outlined, BIRAC's fundamental mandate is to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in biotechnology.
"We finance start-ups and entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, training, and by setting up facilities that allow them to carry out R&D and translational research," she said.
In the last decade, BIRAC has played the role of an important catalyst for biotech innovation in India and has established the foundation for a strong and sustainable start up ecosystem in life sciences. Perhaps BIRAC's most unique contribution has been in enabling collaboration among academia and industry, a critical interface to translate cutting-edge research into successful, market-oriented solutions.
"Getting funding is one of our primary goals," Dr Chauhan explained. "We set up incubation centers inside educational institutions and assist in developing start-up companies inside these environments."
These BioNEST incubation centres supported by BIRAC offer something more than mere physical space. Start-ups are directly funded by BIRAC's schemes and get placed in thriving academic environments. "We have sophisticated labs and office space for start-ups in institutions like IIT Guwahati," she added, noting the value of research infrastructure access.
These facilities are provided at low cost to start-ups, thus eliminating a major entry barrier for young firms. The setup also creates symbiotic ties: start-ups gain from proximity to top-notch researchers, whereas students and faculty members find opportunities to join entrepreneurial endeavors.
In this ecosystem, start-ups or even members of the public can use world-class academic facilities, work closely with mentors, and develop their ideas into scalable businesses," she furthered.
Dr Chauhan was particularly pleased with BIRAC's growing presence in the Northeast, an underrepresented region in national innovation stories.
"We presently have nine BioNEST centres in the Northeast, of which four are in Assam, three in Guwahati and one in Jorhat. There are others in Mizoram and Meghalaya," she said. "We are also setting up a centre in Manipur, and our goal is to eventually have one in each state in the Northeast".
In a significant encouragement to local innovators, BIRAC has also initiated the Northeast Region Biotechnology Ignition Grant (NER-BIG), a focused funding programme for early-stage start-ups and researchers.
"Over 60 innovators have been provided with direct funding, worth Rs 50 lakh each, for translational research and development of technologies or products which can be commercialized," said Dr Chauhan.
This specially prioritized support is in line with the Department of Biotechnology's overall mission of empowering the Northeastern region through science and technology. "There's a special cell within the department dedicated to the Northeast. The region is close to our hearts," she stressed.
Dr Chauhan is hopeful about the Northeast's potential as a hotbed of biotech innovation in India. "We see great ideas and outstanding talent coming out of this part of the country. With proper support and ecosystem, a lot of game-changers can come out of here," she said.
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With continued investment, mentorship, and ecosystem development, BIRAC is creating a robust biotech ecosystem in the Northeast. From incubation facilities at premier institutes to grant programs for entrepreneurs, the council is providing an end-to-end support system that addresses both technical and entrepreneurial requirements.
As India increasingly turns to bio-innovation for answers to urgent health, agriculture, and environmental issues, the Northeast, with its biological diversity and pool of talent, could provide a key determinant of the sector's future.
BIRAC's activities are more than just financial assistance, they are about building an environment where science converges with enterprise. As the council expands its activities in the Northeast, the region has much to gain, not only from new start-ups and innovation, but also in research strength, jobs, and overall socio-economic growth.
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