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

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), together with BIRAC, has launched a joint call for proposals titled “Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing” under India’s BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Employment and Environment). This initiative aims to establish interdisciplinary Bio AI Hubs that serve as shared Design-Build-Test-Learn facilities operating in a Public-Private Partnership model. The core objective is to integrate artificial intelligence with biotechnology to accelerate research and development across five thematic areas: Biomolecular Design (novel proteins, enzymes, bio-nanomachines, next-generation antibodies), Sustainable Agriculture (drought-resistant crops, AI-powered disease sensing, dairy genomics), Synthetic Biology (metabolic pathway optimization, strain engineering, environmental biosensors), Ayurveda (AI-driven pharmacogenomics, herb-drug interaction analysis, plant-based drug discovery), and Genome Diagnostics (AI risk prediction for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer biomarkers, single-cell genomics, neurodegenerative disorder stratification). Selected hubs will facilitate a closed-loop process where AI predictions, experiments, and analyses continuously inform each other, speeding up discoveries and decision-making. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the deadline, and chosen entities gain access to state-of-the-art biomanufacturing infrastructure and the collaborative ecosystem of DBT-BIRAC, including leading academic institutions and industry partners.

• Integrates AI with biotechnology for high-performance biomanufacturing under the BioE3 Policy.
• Open to Indian startups, companies, LLPs, and academic/SIRO institutions.
• Five thematic areas: Biomolecular Design, Sustainable Agriculture, Synthetic Biology, Ayurveda, Genome Diagnostics.
• Hubs operate as shared Design-Build-Test-Learn facilities in a Public-Private Partnership mode.
• Rolling evaluation; apply online at birac.nic.in by June 30, 2026.
• Access to state-of-the-art biomanufacturing infrastructure and DBT-BIRAC network for collaboration.

The call is open exclusively to Indian entities. Eligible applicants include companies incorporated under the Companies Act 2013, startups, and Limited Liability Partnerships (registered under LLP Act 2008), as well as academic institutions, universities, societies, trusts, and non-governmental organizations that are recognized as Scientific and Industrial Research Organisations (SIRO). Startups and SMEs can participate as spokes within hub consortiums, contributing specialized skills while leveraging shared infrastructure. There is no requirement for DPIIT or MSME registration, nor any specific founder conditions. Entities at both idea and product stages may apply, provided they meet the entity type criteria.

DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy is open to startups at the idea and product stage working in health pharma biotech, agri food rural and climate energy ev. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India. Applicants should be registered as private limited, llp and society.

The most recent application window for DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy closed on 30 Jun 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

Selected participants will receive access to shared infrastructure including advanced computational and state-of-the-art biomanufacturing facilities. They will also benefit from mentorship provided by hub anchors and the BIRAC network. Additionally, there are collaborative opportunities to work with leading academic and industry partners across India. As the hubs operate in a spoke model, startups and SMEs can leverage the larger ecosystem's capabilities while contributing their own expertise.

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.

Proposals are evaluated periodically on a rolling basis within the open call period. The assessment is based solely on scientific merit, feasibility of the workplan and team, and alignment with the BioE3 policy themes. No fixed evaluation dates are announced; therefore, applicants are encouraged to submit early. The final decision rests with DBT-BIRAC.

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.