Not yet classifiedBIRAC_BIG
Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG)
A non-dilutive grant of up to ₹50 lakh over up to 18 months to take a biotech idea to proof of concept — for individual innovators and biotech startups under 5 years old, applied for directly on the BIRAC portal.
NOTICE
This service is free. We will never ask for payment. If anyone offers to apply on your behalf for a fee, they are not us.
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Up to ₹₹50,00,000
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Official fee
₹0 — completely free
Applying to BIRAC BIG is 100% free. BIRAC does not charge application fees, nor do approved incubators charge processing fees to submit.
Beware of lookalike portals
Only submit via the official birac.nic.in portal during active call windows. Beware of unauthorized consultants requesting commission on grant success.
Only the "Apply on official portal" button above leads to the verified government site.
Highlights and Media
Key Highlights
Up to ₹50 Lakh Grant
Non-dilutive funding to take early biotech concepts to validation without equity loss.
Biotech Innovators & Startups
Open to both individual researchers and registered companies/LLPs under 5 years old.
18 Months Project Support
Disbursed in milestone-linked installments to cover prototype costs, patenting, and salaries.
Allowable Grant Expense Limits
Breakdown of how the ₹50 Lakh grant budget can be allocated
Lab equipment, chemical reagents, and test materials required for experiments.
Compensation for project researchers, technical assistants, and founders.
Filing patents, legal IP advisory, and space rent/facilities at an incubator.
Domestic travel for field trials, validation testing, and miscellaneous expenses.
Who is eligible
- Your work has a biotech innovation focus
- You are looking for early-stage funding
- A non-dilutive grant fits a proof-of-concept stage
Eligibility rules · v1 · effective 1 January 2012
Who is not eligible
- BIG is a funding grant, so add funding to your goals to see it here.
- BIG is for biotech ideas being taken to proof of concept — note your innovation focus to qualify.
How to apply
Read the BIG scheme details on the BIRAC portal
Check that your idea and entity fit BIG before you start — individual innovators and biotech startups under 5 years old with at least 51% Indian ownership are eligible.
Typical duration · 1 day
Prepare your proposal
Write up your biotech idea, the proof-of-concept goal, and a budget across the up-to-18-month period. This is free to do yourself.
Typical duration · 14 days
Submit on the official BIRAC portal
Apply directly on the BIRAC portal during an open call. No agent or fee is needed.
Typical duration · 1 day
Wait for review and the funding decision
BIRAC reviews proposals and shortlists ideas for the grant of up to ₹50 lakh.
Sources
- BIRAC — Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG)MINISTRY_PORTAL · Fetched 5 July 2026
Additional Details
The Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) is run by BIRAC under the Department of Biotechnology. It gives a non-dilutive grant of up to ₹50 lakh, for a period of up to 18 months, to help you take an early biotech idea to proof of concept — meaning you do not give up any equity in return.
BIG is open to individual innovators and to early-stage biotech startups: a company or LLP under 5 years old, with at least 51% Indian ownership. The grant can cover limited market research, patenting, and founder costs, so you can focus on validating the science rather than worrying about early bills.
Applying for BIG is free. You submit your proposal yourself on the official BIRAC portal — you never need to, and should never, pay an agent or middleman to apply on your behalf.
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