On October 1, 2025, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thermo Fisher Scientific (TFS). The partnership aims to support over 500 biotech startups over the next three years via the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge (BSGC). The BioVerse Challenge will identify and support 100 startups with strategic mentorship, R&D access, and investor connections. The BioVerse Mentors Circle will train an additional 400 startups, expanding access to biotech techniques and entrepreneurial know-how. A BioVerse Alumni Network will provide mentorship, coaching, and funding. Thermo Fisher Scientific will provide early-stage biotech entrepreneurs facilities in Genome Valley, Hyderabad. DPIIT can be contacted through Joint Secretary, Shri Sanjiv, and Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan. Release ID: 2173540.
Key Entities Referenced
DPIIT: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, the primary government body involved in the MoU to strengthen India's biotech startup ecosystem.
Thermo Fisher Scientific: A company partnering with DPIIT in an MoU to accelerate innovation in India's biotechnology sector.
Startup India: A government initiative under which the BioVerse Challenge is launched to support biotech startups.
BioVerse Challenge: A nationwide platform under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge (BSGC) to identify and nurture biotech entrepreneurs, including mentorship and funding opportunities.
Hyderabad: Location of upcoming Thermo Fisher Scientific facilities that will provide startups with technologies and guidance.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
DPIIT and Thermo Fisher Scientific Sign MoU to
Strengthen India’s Biotech Startup Ecosystem
Partnership to Support 500+ Biotech Startups
Through Advisory, Mentorship and Nationwide
Challenge
Posted On: 01 OCT 2025 3:06PM by PIB Delhi
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thermo Fisher Scientific (TFS) to accelerate innovation in
India’s biotechnology sector and nurture a strong pipeline of high-growth startups.
The partnership aims to support over 500 biotech startups in the next three years through strategic advisory,
technology access, mentorship, and investor connect. As part of the MoU, TFS under Startup India, DPIIT’s
initiative Bharat Startup Grand Challenge (BSGC) will launch the BioVerse Challenge, a nationwide platform
to identify and nurture India’s most promising biotech entrepreneurs, and the BioVerse Mentors Circle to
provide skill development and technical training across leading bio-incubators.
Under this partnership:
BioVerse Challenge will identify and support 100 high-potential biotech startups with intensive
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strategic mentorship, subsidized access to R&D facilities, and investor connections.
BioVerse Mentors Circle will train and guide an additional 400 startups, expanding access to
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advanced biotech techniques and entrepreneurial know-how.
A BioVerse Alumni Network will provide long-term mentorship, coaching, and funding
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opportunities to participating startups.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, said, “The collaboration between Startup India,
DPIIT and Thermo Fisher Scientific marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s biotechnology
ecosystem. By combining Thermo Fisher’s global expertise with Startup India’s strong innovation network,
we aim to create new opportunities for early-stage biotech entrepreneurs to scale their solutions and contribute
to India’s bioeconomy.”
Highlighting TFS’s commitment, Shri Srinath Venkatesh, Managing Director, India & South Asia, Thermo
Fisher Scientific, said, “We are honoured to formalize our collaboration with DPIIT through this MOU, and to
partner on the BioVerse Challenge. The BioVerse Challenge reflects our commitment to working closely with
early-stage start-ups and bio-incubators across India. Through our upcoming facilities in Genome Valley,
Hyderabad, we will give founders access to technologies and guidance that can help them move from
prototype to product faster. It will enable them to compete globally.”
Thermo Fisher Scientific brings unmatched expertise in life sciences research, diagnostics, and biotechnology.
Together with Startup India, DPIIT this initiative will catalyze India’s position as a global hub for biotech
innovation.
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Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan(Release ID: 2173540)