Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI)

SBIRI supports biotech startups by funding product and process innovation, often with research partners, so they can develop and validate ideas for commercial use.

• Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) aims to boost innovation focused Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach in the area of Biotechnology.
• SBIRI creates an enabling platform for the creation of product and process development and their commercialisation.
• It facilitates innovation by enabling collaboration between startups, industry, public institutions, and the Government to promote research and innovation in the Indian biotechnology sector.

• Biotechnology startups with/without partnerships with public/private universities, public or private research institutions, or societies/foundation/NGO.

• For a project cost of up to ₹50 lakh, 100% BIRAC grant-in-aid is given to select applicants and collaboration company (if any)
• For a project cost over ₹50 lakh, BIRAC grant-in-aid would be ₹50 lakh along with 70% of the project cost over and above ₹50 lakh. The remaining cost is to be borne by the applicant.

1. 01Call for Applications are announced twice a year (1st April – 15th May; and 1st September - 15th October).
2. 02Besides two regular calls, BIRAC may also announce need-based additional calls whose terms and conditions would be worked out separately and described in their respective RFPs.

Status as stated in the playbook (June 2026):
“Call for Applications are announced twice a year (1st April – 15th May; and 1st September - 15th October).”

• Website: birac.nic.in (opens in a new tab)
• Operational Guidelines: birac.nic.in (opens in a new tab)