**Executive Summary**
This document presents information requested by Thiru Arun Nehru regarding DBT (Department of Biotechnology) grants, biotech startups, STEM fellowships, and R&D centers in Tamil Nadu, for the period 2023-2026. It details institutions and startups receiving DBT grants under various schemes like BIRAC, BioNEST, and Biotech Hubs, along with data on incubated startups, IP filings, commercialized technologies, and beneficiaries of scholarships and fellowships. The information was answered in LOKSABHA on 11.02.2026 by the Minister of State, Dr. Jitendra Singh.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **DBT Grants under BIRAC, BioNEST and Biotech Hubs:**
* Lists institutions in Tamil Nadu that received funding from BIRAC under programs like BIPP, SBIRI, PACE, BioNEST, GCI and NBM.
* Lists the name of the applicant or grantee, the scheme or program, and the district.
* **Biotech Startups Incubation:**
* Details biotech startups incubated in Tamil Nadu bioincubators.
* Provides the name of the BioNEST Bioincubator, district, number of incubatees supported, products/technologies commercialized, and IPs filed.
* BIRAC provides infrastructure and operational support to centers, but not direct seed funding.
* **Scholarships and Fellowships (STEM & INSPIRE):**
* Provides district-wise data on recipients of DST WOS-A, WISE-PhD, WISE-PDF, and WISE-SCOPE programs for women in science and engineering.
* Presents data on beneficiaries of the DST-INSPIRE program (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) for scholarships and fellowships.
* Includes INSPIRE SHE Beneficiaries as well as INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship Beneficiaries.
* **R&D Centers and Employment Generation:**
* Details DBT-supported R&D centers approved and clinical trial units operationalized under the National Biopharma Mission (NBM) in Tamil Nadu.
* Lists grantees, districts, states and employment generated.
* **Women Scientists Support:**
* Lists the number of women scientists beneficiaries supported under the GCI and BioCARein programs in Tamil Nadu (district-wise).
**Impact Analysis**
**Institutions in Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Receive funding, resources, and support from DBT and BIRAC for biotech research, incubation, and commercialization.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the funding and resources effectively to advance research, foster startups, and generate employment.
**Biotech Startups in Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Benefit from incubation support, infrastructure, and opportunities for IP filing and technology commercialization.
* **Action Required:** Leverage incubation support to develop innovative products and technologies, file IP, and achieve commercial success.
**Students and Researchers in Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Receive scholarships and fellowships to pursue STEM education and research, particularly women in science and engineering.
* **Action Required:** Utilize scholarships and fellowships to advance academic and research careers, contribute to scientific knowledge, and foster innovation.
**R&D Centers and Clinical Trial Units in Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Receive DBT support to establish and operationalize advanced research facilities, conduct clinical trials, and generate biotech employment.
* **Action Required:** Effectively utilize the support to conduct high-quality research, operationalize clinical trials, and contribute to the advancement of healthcare and biotechnology.
**Women Scientists**
* **Impact:** Receive specific support under the DBT BioCARe program and the BIRAC Grand Challenge India (GCI) program.
* **Action Required:** Continue pursuing research, collaborate with other scientists, and contribute to scientific advancements.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu: Indian state, focus of the DBT grants and related initiatives
Department of Biotechnology (DBT): The primary funding agency for the grants and programs mentioned.
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC): Established by DBT, a Section 8 enterprise serving as a strategic interface agency
BioNEST: Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies scheme.
Ministry of Science & Technology: Government ministry overseeing the Department of Biotechnology.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
LOKSABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1984
ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026
DBT Grants under BIRAC, BioNEST and Biotech Hubs
1984. Thiru Arun Nehru:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) the details of institutions in Tamil Nadu receiving DBT grants under BIRAC, BioNEST
and Biotech Hubs during 2023-26, district-wise;
(b) the details of the number of biotech startups incubated in incubators in Tamil Nadu
district-wise, with seed funding disbursed, IP filed and companies commercialised;
(c) the STEM fellowships and INSPIRE awards given to students in Tamil Nadu district-
wise, including women researchers supported; and
(d) the details of the new DBT-supported R&D centres approved, clinical trial units
operationalised, and biotech employment generated, district-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a). The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, has established the
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a Section 8, not-for-profit
Public Sector Enterprise that serves as a strategic interface agency, dedicated to nurturing
-1-India’s startup ecosystem and advancing R&D with a specialized focus on the biotechnology
sector.
The following Institutes, Startups, Companies located in Tamil Nadu received funding from
BIRAC under Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP), Small Business
Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI), Promoting Academic Research Conversion to
Enterprise (PACE), Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies
(BioNEST), Grand Challenge India (GCI) and National Biopharma Mission (NBM) schemes
during 2023-26:
S. No Applicant/ Grantee Name Scheme District
/Programs
1. Fermentech Gsv Private Limited SBIRI Thanjavur
2. C. Abdul Hakeem College SBIRI Vellore
3. Cisgen Biotech Discoveries Private Limited SBIRI Chennai
4. Levim Biotech LLP BIPP Chennai
5. Seagrass Tech Private Limited BIPP Chennai
6. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Department of PACE Coimbatore
Nano Science and Technology
7. Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences PACE Coimbatore
8. IIT Madras PACE Chennai
9. Central Leather Research Institute PACE Chennai
10. Avinashilingam Institute for HSc and HEd for PACE Coimbatore
Women
11. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences PACE Chennai
University-DCAHS
12. IIT Madras PACE Chennai
13. Healthcare Technology Innovation Center, IIT NBM Chennai
Madras
-2-14. The Cancer Institute (WIA - Women's Indian NBM Chennai
Association)
15. Christian Medical College Vellore Association NBM Vellore
16. Carenow Medical Pvt Ltd NBM Coimbatore
17. Vellore Institute of Technology NBM Vellore
18. SRM Institutes for Medical Science NBM Chennai
19. Theragen Biologics Private Limited NBM Chennai
20. ICMR - National Institute of Epidemiology NBM Chennai
21. Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Research Centre NBM Madurai
22. HTIC (Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre) BioNEST Chennai
MedTech Incubator, Chennai
23. Association for Bio-inspired Leaders and BioNEST Thanjavur
Entrepreneurs at Sastra TBI
24. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal sciences BioNEST Chennai
University - Veterinary Incubation Foundation at
TANUVAS
25. Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & BioNEST Chennai
Research
26. IIT Madras GCI Chennai
(b). The district-wise details of the number of biotech startups incubated in Tamil Nadu–
based bioincubators, intellectual property (IP) filed, and technologies/products
commercialised during 2023-26, are provided below. BIRAC provides infrastructure and
operational support to ensure the smooth functioning of these centres, however, it does not
provide direct seed funding to startups under the incubation scheme
-3-S. No Name of the BioNEST District Total No. No. of Products No
Bioincubator of / Technologies of
Incubatees commercialised IP's
supported filed
BioNEST HTIC
(Healthcare Technology
1. Innovation Centre) Chennai 69 27 42
MedTech Incubator,
Chennai
BioNEST Association
for Bio-inspired Leaders
2. Thanjavur 45 10 10
and Entrepreneurs at
Sastra TBI, Thanjavur
BioNEST Tamil Nadu
Veterinary and Animal
Sciences University -
3. Chennai 18 5 7
Veterinary Incubation
Foundation at
TANUVAS, Chennai
BioNEST Sri
Ramachandra Institute
4. Chennai 37 2 9
of Higher Education &
Research, Chennai
BioNEST-SRM Medical
College Hospital and
5. Chengalpattu 28 0 0
Research Centre,
Chennai
(c). The table below details the number of beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu who received
scholarships or fellowships from the Department of Science & Technology (DST) over the
last three years. This includes recipients under the WOS-A (Women Scientists Scheme),
WISE-PhD (Women in Science and Engineering-PhD), WISE-PDF (Women in Science and
Engineering-PDF), and WISE-SCOPE (Women in Science and Engineering- Societal
Challenges with Opportunities) programs.
Women beneficiaries supported under DST WOS-A program in
Tamil Nadu state (district -wise)
S.No District 2023-26
1. Chennai 9
-4-2. Coimbatore 3
3. Karaikudi 2
4. Salem 1
5. Tiruchirappalli 2
Total 17
Women beneficiaries supported under DSTWISE-PhD program in
Tamil Nadu state (district-wise)
S. No District 2023-2026
1. Chennai 9
2. Coimbatore 3
3. Dindigul 1
4. Kancheepuram 2
5. Sivaganga 1
6. Thanjavur 2
7. Tiruchirappalli 2
8. Vellore 1
Total 21
Women beneficiaries supported under DST WISE-PDF program in
Tamil Nadu state (district wise)
S. No District 2023-2026
1. Chennai 8
2. Coimbatore 2
3. Cuddalore 1
-5-4. Salem 1
5. Thanjavur 1
6. Tiruchirappalli 1
7. Tirunelveli 1
Total 15
Women beneficiaries supported under DST WISE-SCOPE program in
Tamil Nadu state (district-wise)
S. No District 2023-26
1. Chennai 3
2. Coimbatore 2
3. Cuddalore 1
4. Dindigul 1
5. Tiruchirappalli 1
6. Tirupathur 1
Total 9
The table below presents the number of beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu who were awarded
scholarships and fellowships under the DST-INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for
Inspired Research) program over the past three years.
INSPIRE-SHE Beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu State (district-wise)
S.No. District Name 2023-26
1. Chengalpattu 2
2. Chennai 15
3. Coimbatore 4
4. Dharmapuri 1
-6-5. Dindigul 1
6. Erode 20
7. Kanchipuram 5
8. Kanyakumari 9
9. Madurai 2
10. Nagapattinam 1
11. Namakkal 8
12. Salem 1
13. Thanjavur 2
14. Thiruvallur 2
15. Thoothukudi 1
16. Tiruchirappalli 2
17. Tirunelveli 2
18. Tiruppur 6
19. Virudhunagar 6
Total 90
INSPIRE Fellowship Beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu State (district-wise)
S. No District 2023-26
1. Chengalpattu 44
2. Chennai 144
3. Coimbatore 126
4. Cuddalore 13
5. Dindigul 16
6. Kanchipuram 3
7. Kanyakumari 7
8. Madurai 8
-7-9. Salem 10
10. Sivaganga 68
11. Thanjavur 20
12. Tiruchirappalli 39
13. Tirunelveli 14
14. Tiruvarur 17
15. Vellore 53
Total 582
INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship Beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu State (district-wise)
S.No. District Name 2023-26
1. Chengalpattu 6
2. Chennai 33
3. Coimbatore 2
4. Dindigul 2
5. Kancheepuram 1
6. Karaikudi 2
7. Namakkal 1
8. Tiruchirappalli 9
9. Vellore 5
Total 61
Additionally, the details of women scientists in Tamil Nadu supported by the DBT BioCARe
program and the BIRAC Grand Challenge India (GCI) program are presented below.
-8-Women scientists beneficiaries supported under GCI program in
Tamil Nadu state (district-wise)
S. No District 2023-26
1. Thiruvallur 2
Total 2
Women scientists beneficiaries supported under BioCARein
Tamil Nadu state (district-wise)
S.No District 2023-26
1. Chennai 3
2. Coimbatore 2
3. Cuddalore 1
Total 6
(d). The details of DBT-supported R&D centres approved, clinical trial units operationalized
in the state of Tamil Nadu under the National Biopharma Mission (NBM) are as under-
Grantee District State Employment
Generated
Healthcare Technology Innovation Center, IIT Chennai Tamil Nadu 5
Madras, Chennai
The Cancer Institute (WIA - Women's Indian Chennai Tamil Nadu 20
Association), also known as the Adyar Cancer
Institute
Christian Medical College Vellore Association, Vellore Tamil Nadu 12
Vellore
SRM Institute for Medical Science, Chennai Chennai Tamil Nadu 14
ICMR - National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai Tamil Nadu 12
Chennai
Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Research Centre, Madurai Tamil Nadu
14
Madurai
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