BioNEST (Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies)

What is BioNEST?

BioNEST; Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies, is a dedicated scheme of BIRAC, the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, set up by the Department of Biotechnology in 2012. BioNEST funds the creation of globally competent bioincubation facilities across India.

BioNEST is an institutional infrastructure scheme, not a personal benefit scheme. According to the BioNEST guidelines, the scheme champions the mandate of the Startup India Action Plan announced on 16 January 2016, which targeted scaling up the biotech start-up ecosystem. The initial aim of at least 2,000 biotech start-ups by 2020 and creation of 50 bioincubators has been achieved, and BIRAC has since supported dozens more.

BioNEST bioincubators are mandated to provide incubation space to entrepreneurs and start-ups along with shared access to high-end infrastructure, specialised and advanced equipment, business mentorship, IP, legal and regulatory guidance, and networking opportunities.

Key objectives

• Establish bioincubators across India that support biotech start-ups and entrepreneurs.
• Connect industry and academia so knowledge moves between them efficiently.
• Provide technical and business mentorship to early-stage biotech ventures.
• Place incubators at strategic locations that can become future biotech hubs.

What are the BioNEST application categories?

Who is eligible for BioNEST?

The following can apply:

• Indian institutions, including universities, research institutes, colleges, management institutes, business schools, business incubators, biotech parks, state government science and technology bodies, biotech state councils and research hospitals.
• Indian legal entities, a private company, a not-for-profit Section 8 company, a trust or a society; registered under the relevant law of India, having at least 51% Indian citizen stakeholders as owners, partners, trustees, members, associates or directors as applicable.

Incorporation of an Indian legal entity is recommended for a bioincubator, but the guidelines state it is not compulsory for new applicants from Indian institutions such as universities, research institutes, colleges, management institutes and business schools.

You cannot apply if:

• You are an individual entrepreneur or a biotech start-up looking for funding. There is no individual application route under BioNEST and no personal benefit. Start-ups approach a BioNEST incubator for incubation, and apply separately to BIRAC's start-up funding schemes for money.
• Your institution's focus is not translational, the guidelines state that only institutes and organisations focused on translational activities, where innovations can be converted into a product or technology, should apply.
• Your entity has less than 51% Indian citizen stakeholders.
• You are an already-funded BioNEST incubator applying under Category 3 without having completed, or being about to complete, the existing phase, and without the facility having been made operational during the project duration.

What are the BioNEST space and duration requirements?

• Space: about 10,000 sq ft or more is recommended, which is treated as the ideal capacity to cater to a minimum of 25 start-up teams, at an average dedicated space of up to 200 sq ft per start-up in a cabin layout.
• The space may be distributed across a meaningfully usable vicinity if a single stretch is not available, and the host institute may operationalise it in a phased manner.
• A joint application from more than one institution committing the total space of about 10,000 sq ft or more may be considered.
• The expert panel may relax space requirements in special cases on merit, depending on location and regional capacity.
• Duration: support for bioincubation runs for up to a maximum of 5 years.

What documents are required for BioNEST?

How to apply for BioNEST

1. Log on to the BIRAC website at birac.nic.in and check the BioNEST page for an active call for proposals.
2. Register your institution or entity as a new user, or log in with existing credentials. Registration is free.
3. Identify the category you are applying under, Category 1, 2a, 2b, 3 or 4 — based on whether you are creating a new incubator, adding bioincubation to an existing incubator, integrating an existing bioincubator, scaling a funded BioNEST incubator, or setting up with state government support.
4. Prepare the project proposal covering the focus area of the proposed centre, the governance model, the sustainability and revenue model, projected milestones, and the pipeline of potential incubatees.
5. Document the space commitment of about 10,000 sq ft, the equipment plan, and the mentoring and business development support the host institute will provide.
6. Attach the establishment documents, accreditation certificates, Indian stakeholder proof and, for private entities, the commitment to contribute at least 20% of capex.
7. Submit the proposal online before the call closes. Only online submission is accepted.
8. Present before the expert panel when called, and cooperate with the site assessment of the host institute's existing capabilities.

How is a BioNEST proposal assessed?

According to the BioNEST guidelines, the expert panel assesses:

• Whether the institute or organisation is focused on translational activities that convert innovations into products or technologies.
• Whether the proposed location is strategic, able to become a future biotech hub and to catalyse the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• The existing capabilities of the host institute in promoting start-ups and innovations, including teams already within it.
• The host institute's preparedness: infrastructural facilities, dedicated bioincubation space, access to instruments from existing facilities, and technical and business mentoring available internally or from dedicated external sources.
• Approach and methodology, innovative content, and the pipeline of potential incubatees, including the governance model and the sustainability or revenue model.
• The strength of mentoring support, the ability to provide the training and information that lets start-ups build viable projects with both social impact and commercial performance.
• The strength of business development support, regulatory understanding, compliance readiness, investment readiness, go-to-market and business model validation, peer-to-peer learning, on-ground support and alliances.

What funding does BioNEST provide?

• Funding is grant-in-aid covering both capital and operational expenses, based on the need and scope of the project as adjudged by the BioNEST committee.
• BIRAC funding covers refurbishment and renovation of space, equipment, furniture and operational cost.
• Private institutions and entities, including private academic and research institutes, research hospitals and incubators: must contribute a minimum of 20% towards the total capex of the project cost.
• BIRAC may exercise the provision of taking equity in start-ups incubated in the facility, in the manner approved by the competent authority and as per its norms.
• After successful execution of the initial approved period, an applicant may apply for scaling up under Category 3.

How does a biotech start-up use a BioNEST incubator?

A start-up does not apply to BioNEST. A start-up approaches an existing BioNEST bioincubator directly and applies for incubation under that incubator's own selection process. BIRAC publishes a BioNEST compendium listing the bioincubation centres it has supported, with their locations and focus areas, which is the practical starting point for finding one near you.

Once incubated, the start-up gets access to laboratory space, specialised equipment it could not buy on its own, business and technical mentoring, and IP, legal and regulatory guidance. Funding for the start-up's own product development comes from BIRAC's separate start-up schemes, not from BioNEST.

Who to contact about BioNEST

BIRAC is located at 5th Floor, NSIC Business Park, NSIC Bhawan, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi 110020. The published telephone number is 011-24389600 and the email is birac.dbt@nic.in. Queries specific to an active call are answered at the email address printed in that call document.

There is no fee to apply under BioNEST, and BIRAC does not appoint agents or consultants to source proposals.