DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

The DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI aims to integrate artificial intelligence with biotechnology, fostering advanced biomanufacturing aligned with India's BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy. This initiative recognizes Bio-AI as a crucial tool for data-driven research, expected to generate significant scientific breakthroughs across critical areas like Health, Agriculture, and Environment.

The program seeks to establish Bio-AI Hubs, which are designed as interdisciplinary and interinstitutional collaborations. These hubs are anchored by organizations with proven expertise in AI/ML and supported by robust computational infrastructure. Operating in a Public-Private Partnership framework, these hubs function as shared DBTL (Design-Build-Test-Learn) facilities. Startups and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate as 'spokes,' contributing their specialized capabilities to the hub's research and innovation ecosystem.

Bio-AI Hubs will focus on developing AI-guided closed-loop platforms. These platforms integrate predictions, experiments, and analyses in a continuous feedback loop, accelerating scientific discoveries, optimizing bioprocesses, and improving decision-making at scale. The call covers five key thematic categories:

• Biomolecular Design: Including novel proteins, enzymes, bio-nanomachines, and next-generation antibodies.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Covering areas such as drought-resistant crops, AI-powered disease sensing, and dairy genomics.
• Synthetic Biology: Focusing on metabolic pathway optimization, strain engineering, and environmental biosensors.
• Ayurveda: Encompassing AI-driven pharmacogenomics, herb-drug interaction analysis, and plant-based drug discovery.
• Genome Diagnostics: Addressing AI risk prediction for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, cancer biomarkers, single-cell genomics, and neurodegenerative disorder stratification.

Proposals are evaluated on a rolling basis, and selected organizations gain access to cutting-edge biomanufacturing facilities and the extensive DBT-BIRAC network. This enables high-impact collaboration with leading institutions and industry partners across India.

• Supports Bio-AI integration for high-performance biomanufacturing.
• Open to Indian companies, startups, LLPs, and academic SIROs.
• Focus on Health, Agriculture, and Environment sectors.
• Rolling proposal evaluation with a deadline of June 30, 2026.
• Provides access to advanced biomanufacturing facilities and the DBT-BIRAC network.
• Aims to establish interdisciplinary Bio-AI Hubs as Public-Private Partnerships.

This program is open to a diverse range of Indian entities committed to advancing Bio-AI in biomanufacturing. Eligible applicants include:

• Companies established under the Companies Act 2013.
• Startups.
• Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) registered under the LLP Act 2008.
• Academic institutions, universities, societies, trusts, NGOs, and foundations that are recognized as Scientific and Industrial Research Organizations (SIRO).

Startups and SMEs have a specific role, as they can participate as 'spokes' within the broader Bio-AI Hub model. In this capacity, they contribute specialized expertise while benefiting from the hub's shared infrastructure, mentorship, and access to advanced computational and biomanufacturing tools. All proposals must come from Indian entities and will be assessed based on their scientific merit, feasibility, and alignment with the BioE3 policy priorities.

Applications for DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy are open and the current deadline is 30 Jun 2026. Applications are closing soon, so prepare your documents early. Deadlines can change — always reconfirm on the official source before submitting.

Participants in the DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI receive substantial benefits designed to accelerate their research and development. These include:

• Access to shared infrastructure, providing essential resources for advanced biomanufacturing.
• Opportunities for mentorship from experienced professionals and experts in the field.
• Utilization of advanced computational and biomanufacturing tools, facilitating cutting-edge research and development.
• Access to state-of-art biomanufacturing facilities, enabling high-performance production and experimentation.
• Engagement with the extensive DBT-BIRAC network, fostering collaboration with leading institutions and industry partners throughout India.

DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy is offered by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), a government body. As a government-backed grant, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Before you apply to DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy, keep these documents ready — note the program-specific requirements at the top:

• Certificate of incorporation showing your startup is registered as private limited and llp
• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy is best suited for idea and product-stage health pharma biotech, agri food rural and climate energy ev startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.