cover story
were established between
the years 2012 and 2014.
The activity seems to have
accelerated post 2012
which has been the year of
formation of the BIRAC.
The biotech startup
scenario in India was
transformed by one of
BIRAC’s flagship scheme
called BIG (Biotechnology
Ignition Grant). The
funding agency says that
through its incubation
scheme (Bionest),
it has supported 15
bioincubation centres
across the nation and has
created 175,000 sq.ft of
incubation space. Within
these incubators, around
199 biotech startups are
being provided support. In
each of the bioincubator,
BIRAC has supported a
common pool of high end
instrumentation that is
being used by incubate
and other SMEs for
R&D. It boats of 50 new
products, 30 early stage
technologies and 125 IPs.
Further, the
Biotechnology
Translational research
and industry academia
partnership has promoted
through 3 Biotech
clusters, 8 Biotech Parks
20
BioVoiceNews | May 2017
and 13 Bioincubators.
Also, 25 Centers of
Excellences have been
created as a flexible model
of long-term support for
highly innovative, basic
and translational research
to create high quality
state-of-the-art facilities
for R&D. In addition, over
60 programme support
is being implemented
to various outstanding
research activities across
the country.
The reason why we are
talking about the BIRAC
again and again is much
obvious. The support
mechanism prior to it
wasn’t encouraging for
the startups though the
schemes such as SBIRI
and BIPP had been
doing a great job. The
numerous entrepreneurs
and experts of all hues
we have spoken to in last
five years, have shared
their varied experiences.
While there has been off
the record criticism here
and there, not even one
has raised questions on
the organization’s need
to exist or its mode of
funding. Again, majority
of the startups founders
have appreciated the
BIRAC’s presence.
Equally important
reason is that there is
INGREDIENTS OF SUCCESS
• Founders are driven by passion and
commitment
• Commitment to stay the course and stick with
a chosen path
• Willingness to adjust
• Patience and persistence
• Willingness to observe, listen and learn
• Develop the right mentoring relationships
• Domain specific business knowledge
• Balance of technical and business knowledge