Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) Scheme is grant-in-aid funding to support individuals and startups in the field of Biotechnology. The BIG scheme invests in ideas that have clear potential to translate into commercial products/technologies. The scheme provides funding, mentorship, access to incubation, and other support for ideation to proof of concept. Funding will be in the form of Grant-in-Aid up to ₹50 Lakhs. So, if you have an idea, a strong rationale supporting it, addressing an unmet need, you can apply for BIG funding to progress from ideation to Proof-of-concept.

Healthcare, Life sciences including Drugs, Biologics, Delivery systems, Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Biomaterials, others; Industrial Biotechnology including enzymes, biofertilizers, bioprocesses, waste treatment, others; Agriculture and allied areas such as Nutrition, Fisheries, Poultry, Sericulture, Animal Husbandry, Aquaponics, others; Waste to value; Sanitation; Biofuels, Clean Energy; Bioservices and Bioanalytics including Big Data, Artificial intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Automation integrated in Biotech applications

The BIG award provides funding support for buying equipment, reagents, and components, hiring skilled manpower for team building, travel, incubation charges, rentals, engaging services, etc. in the 18 months period of the BIG grant. During the BIG tenure, BIRAC extends several networking opportunities to connect with experts, mentors, industry, investors, peer-to-peer learning, specialized training & workshops, and exposure to various platforms on a merit basis. These opportunities are made available through BIRAC’s ecosystem-supporting partners including BIG partners, BioNEST clusters, and a huge network of extended partners.

Individual Entrepreneur, a registered Startup including LLP.

No, only Indians with Indian passports are eligible to apply for this scheme. OCIs are not eligible to apply.

No, the Project leader must have completed basic graduation at the time of application submission.

Yes, if you are pursuing translational research leading to the formation of a startup. As a procedural requirement, you are required to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your institute/employer. Faculty members who are not willing to create a Startup within the BIG term of 18 months are encouraged to apply under other schemes of BIRAC for Faculty.

Yes, you can apply as an individual but need to provide an undertaking that you will terminate your association with the current employer and take up the project full time, if selected. Or, your application should be submitted under the Company/LLP category with the employer company being the applicant company.

The date of incorporation of the Company/LLP should not be earlier than 5 years from the date of BIG Call launch.

Yes, the Project Leader must be a shareholder in the applicant company .

There is no such criterion of minimum percentage.

No, the legal entity should be a company registered under the Companies Act.

No, Institutes/Universities are not eligible to apply for this scheme. Students may be eligible to apply.

No, the legal entity should be a company registered under the Companies Act.

No, DSIR certification is not needed to apply for this scheme.

Only online applications are accepted. To apply under BIG Scheme, applicant needs to register on BIRAC website “https://www.birac.nic.in/desc_new.php?id=327”under ‘New User’ and submit the application.

Please use a different user name and e‐mail id for submitting BIG proposal.

The indicative criteria for evaluation of an application include Unmet need, Value proposition/differentiation, Technical viability, Team strength. Proposed product/ technology must have Commercialization Potential.

It is 4 tier selection process. All eligible applications go through following steps: a. Preliminary Selection Committee (PSC) screens the proposals for scheme fit, adequacy of details, and plagiarism b. The PSC-recommended proposals are then reviewed Online by subject experts c. The recommended applicants are then called for F2F presentations before the Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP). The proposal will be scored on a scale of 100. d. Expert Selection Committee (ESC) will decide the final cutoff of marks and recommend the proposals for BIG funding.

It typically takes 4 months for the final announcement of BIG results from closing of the call. You will be updated at each stage by BIG Partners about your application status.

The project must complete within 18 months

No, but only ONE will be eventually funded. It is encouraged to submit the best one proposal (the most prioritized) by the applicant. Submitting more than one project reflects poorly on the applicant’s ability to prioritize options.

A Guide or Mentor is mostly preferable but not mandatory.

An Incubator is defined as a facility designed for housing R&D-driven start-up companies or individual incubatees. It typically provides the incubation space, access to equipment, mentoring, and other required services to start-up companies/individuals for their initial growth. An Incubatee is defined as an individual or a company located in an Incubator and availing its services after formally associating with the incubator.

No. Only a Letter of Intent for incubation from an incubator shall suffice. It is applicant’s discretion to choose any of the 50 BIRAC’s BioNEST incubators / BIRAC’s BIG partner incubators / any other incubator present in the country.

Write to the incubator where you intend to incubate.

Incubator is a center that has the required lab infrastructure, required network to support your proposed BIG work. Certain BioNEST incubators have been officially recognized as BIRAC’s BIG Partners. These incubators are mandated to implent the BIG Scheme (Facilitate and mentor the aspirant applicants and BIG grantees). BIG Partners are responsible for initial screening of the proposal, technical due diligence, financial due diligence, project monitoring, fund disbursement, arranging for workshops etc.

The Incubators should have a legal status i.e. should be either a registered society or a registered trust or a registered company.

Yes, but it is NOT mandatory. You may choose to incubate at the incubator of your choice. This may include BIG partner or any other incubator offering facilities and services required for the execution of your project. a) BIRAC supported BioNEST Bio Incubators list can be viewed here:<https://www.birac.nic.in/bionest.php>

The applicant will receive the fund in a separate dedicated, auditable no-lien account. The fund disbursement is linked with milestones through BIRAC’s BIG Partners.

BIG grantees on successful progression to commercialization are required to pay 5% royalty on net sales of the product/technology developed through BIRAC support till the time such royalty payment becomes equivalent to the grant-in aid assistance disbursed by BIRAC for the Project.

Confidentiality is maintained for all the proposals that are received under different schemes. All the external reviewers sign a non-disclosure agreement and no conflict agreement before viewing the proposals.