An innovation fair was organised to showcase the work of 65 innovators who were supported by BIRAC
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) Innovators Conclave in New Delhi, was recently inaugurated by Science and Technology Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. Dr Vardhan informed, “The government is focussed on making India a global hub for innovation and BIRAC is playing a crucial role in shaping the biotech innovation ecosystem of India.”
He further added, “DBT is playing a catalytic role in building a $100 billion Indian bio-economy and is now effectively leveraging the research and entrepreneurial capabilities of this sector to address the needs of our people by creating affordable products that have the potential to change lives and catapult India in to a brighter future.”
The minister added, “How much of what we are able to do we are able to take to the people?. We should make sure that the scientific innovations are put in use.”
Speaking on the occasion, YS Chowdary, Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences said, “Over the last five years, a foundation has been laid for making India a global leader in biotechnology research and development. We are ensuring that our innovators and indigenous products receive the encouragement and support to make their mark on the international biotech stage. We are proud of the impact that BIRAC has generated in such a short span and this innovation conclave is testament to it.”
On the occasion, two books, BIRAC Innovations: Propelling the Bio-Economy and The BIRAC Star Entrepreneurs were released. An innovation fair was organised to showcase the work of 65 innovators who were supported by the BIRAC.
The BIRAC innovator award was won by Viravecs Labs from Bengaluru under the Healthcare (Therapeutics) category, Tuscano Equipments, Chennai received the prize for healthcare device and diagnostics, Vivira Process Technologies was awarded for its work in Industrial Biotechnology. Openwater.in from Bengaluru won the prize in the industrial biotechnology (technology development) category, ATGC Biotech, Hyderabad won the prize in the agriculture category.
According to officials, BIRAC has provided financial and mentoring support to more than 500 companies, and nearly 500 young entrepreneurs and startups. BIRAC’s partnership network includes more than 15 implementing agencies both national and international, nearly 700 national experts from academia, industry, public and private research laboratories, donor agencies and other government departments that can contribute towards building the innovation ecosystem of India.
Prof Vijay Raghavan, Secretary, DBT and Chairman, BIRAC during the event said, “The country’s biotech startup landscape has shown immense growth over the last five years. BIRAC was created to bridge the space between policy, industry and academia in the biotech sector and bring all stakeholders together on one platform. Our impact on the biotech innovation landscape is clearly visible.”
“BIRAC has transformed the biotech innovation ecosystem in the country. Our investments in the Indian innovation ecosystem are bearing fruit and our innovations are now showing real impact and producing tangible benefits for society. This Innovation Fair is the perfect occasion for us to showcase what our up and coming investigators are working on and how they hope to transform India. This fair also gives us the opportunity to showcase the potential for scale-up of these innovations to relevant stakeholders and decision-makers, said Dr Renu Swarup, Senior Advisor, DBT and MD, BIRAC added.
BIRAC has supported 25 bio-incubators and two regional centres for entrepreneurship development. The support for innovation and startups has today resulted in more than 100 technologies and products at different stages of commercialisation.
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