**Policy Summary: Biotechnology Incubator Program in India**
The Department of Biotechnology, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, has been actively promoting biotechnology innovation and entrepreneurship through the establishment of incubation centers across India. As of July 2025, a total of 94 biotechnology incubation and pre-incubation centers have been established across 25 States and Union Territories (UTs) through the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the BioNEST and EYUVA schemes. Additionally, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has supported five incubators with biotechnology as a focus area.
BIRAC announces nationwide calls for proposals each year to establish new biotechnology incubators, earmarking approximately ₹20-30 crore annually to support 10-15 new incubators. Over the past 13 years (2012-2025), a total of ₹48,942.37 Lakhs has been allocated for the operation, development, and management of these bio-incubators.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, provided this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Biotechnology: A department within the Ministry of Science and Technology responsible for biotechnology initiatives.
Ministry of Science Technology: The Indian government ministry overseeing science and technology related affairs.
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council: BIRAC, a not-for-profit, Section 8 Public Sector Enterprise, established by the Department of Biotechnology.
BioNEST Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies: A scheme by the Department of Biotechnology to establish biotechnology incubation centers.
EYUVA Encouraging Youth for Undertaking Innovative Research Activities: A scheme by the Department of Biotechnology to encourage innovative research activities.
Department of Science Technology: A department within the Ministry of Science and Technology supporting incubators with focus on biotechnology.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Science Technology, Minister of State Independent Charge for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where a written reply was submitted.
Ministry of Science & Technology
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Set-up Biotechnology
Incubators
Posted On: 30 JUL 2025 4:50PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, through the Biotechnology Industry
Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a not-for-profit, Section 8 Public Sector Enterprise has established 94
biotechnology incubation and pre-incubation centres across 25 States & Union Territories (UTs) under the
BioNEST (Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies) and E-YUVA (Encouraging
Youth for Undertaking Innovative Research Activities) schemes.
Five Incubators have been supported by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science &
Technology which has biotechnology and related sectors as one of their focus areas.
The details of the number of biotechnology incubators set-up are as follows:
Sl. No State/UT No of incubation
BIRAC
1. Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam) 2
2. Andhra Pradesh (Tirupati) 1
3. Arunachal Pradesh 1
4. Assam 4
5. Bihar 1
6. Delhi 7
7. Goa 1
8. Gujarat 6
9. Haryana 1
10. Himachal Pradesh 2
11. Jammu & Kashmir 4
12. Karnataka 11
13. Kerala 3
14. Maharashtra 5
15. Madhya Pradesh 2
16. Meghalaya 3
17. Mizoram 1
18. Odisha 3
19. Punjab 4
20. Rajasthan 3
21. Tamil Nadu 13
22. Telangana 923. Uttar Pradesh 5
24. West Bengal 1
25. Uttarakhand 1
DST
26. Karnataka 1
27. Punjab 1
28. Madhya Pradesh 1
29. Kerala 1
30. Telangana 1
To establish new biotechnology incubators BIRAC announces nation-wide call for proposals every year.
Every year around 20-30 crores are earmarked for setting up of 10-15 new incubators.
The total funds allocated for the operation, development, and management of these bio-incubators amount to
Rs. 48,942.37 Lakhs over the last 13 years (from 2012-2025).
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science
& Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic
Energy and Department of Space, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, in a written reply in the
Lok Sabha today.
Click here to see PDF
****
NKR/PSM/AV
(Release ID: 2150219)