New Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh has launched BIO-NIVESH, a strategic platform designed to connect biotechnology innovators with investors and help channel private capital into promising technologies for commercialisation and scale-up.
The platform was launched during a joint roundtable with biotechnology startups and investors, bringing together 20 high-potential biotechnology and deep-tech startups and around 50 investors.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said stronger collaboration between innovators, investors, industry and the government would be essential to take India’s biotechnology ecosystem from research and entrepreneurship to industry, markets and global scale.
Platform to Bridge Innovation and Investment
BIO-NIVESH has been designed to create a structured engagement between biotechnology entrepreneurs and the investment community. Unlike conventional startup pitching or investor-connect programmes, the platform will facilitate two-way interaction.
The initiative aims to help:
- Connect promising biotechnology startups with investors and private capital.
- Support technology scale-up and commercialisation.
- Help innovators understand investor expectations and investment requirements.
- Give investors greater insight into scientific, regulatory and development pathways.
- Build partnerships involving capital, manufacturing, market access and strategic expertise.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, “innovation is incomplete without investment, while investment will not sustain itself without innovation”, highlighting the need for closer coordination across the biotechnology ecosystem.
Minister Calls for ‘Big Five in Five Years’
During the roundtable, the Minister suggested that the biotechnology ecosystem could examine the feasibility of a “Big Five in Five Years” approach.
The proposal is aimed at focusing resources on developing a few large anchor biotechnology companies that could contribute to the wider growth of the startup ecosystem.
He said ideas and approaches emerging in one technology sector could also be examined for their applicability to other sectors wherever feasible.
India Should Not Miss the Next Biotech Revolution
Dr. Jitendra Singh said biotechnology could play a major role in the next industrial revolution and stressed that India should not be a late entrant.
He referred to the country’s experience during the IT revolution, when India entered the sector about a decade behind some other countries, and said initiatives such as BIO-NIVESH are intended to position India to capture opportunities from the next phase of technology-led growth.
The Minister also called for greater engagement between the biotechnology ecosystem and the corporate sector, noting that biotech innovations often involve:
- Longer development cycles
- Complex regulatory pathways
- Significant capital requirements
- Considerable technology and commercialisation risks
At the same time, he said successful biotechnology innovations can create lasting value and significant impact across health, society and the economy.
Private Capital Seen as Key to Scaling Innovation
The Minister said government support can help create enabling conditions and absorb some of the initial risks, but private investment will be critical for sustaining growth and taking technologies to scale.
He encouraged investors to assess startups beyond immediate funding rounds, including their:
- Technology and intellectual property
- Development pathway
- Market potential
- Regulatory readiness
- Scalability
- Potential to build globally competitive companies from India
He also urged innovators to engage with investors at an early stage, pointing out that investors can contribute more than capital through strategic expertise, partnerships, manufacturing capabilities, market access and global networks.
RDI Fund to Provide Long-Term Capital Support
Dr. Jitendra Singh also highlighted the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, which has an outlay of ₹1 lakh crore.
BIRAC has been designated as a Second-Level Fund Manager for biotechnology and allied sectors under the framework.
According to the Minister, the mechanism is intended to provide long-term patient capital to technology developers, startups and companies working in strategic biotechnology areas, particularly those involved in technology translation, scale-up and innovation-led manufacturing.
20 Startups, Around 50 Investors Participate
The inaugural BIO-NIVESH edition brought together:
- 20 biotechnology/deep-tech startups
- Around 50 investors
- Representatives from government, industry and the wider innovation ecosystem
The startups were selected based on factors including innovation, development stage, market potential, scalability and regulatory readiness.
The programme was structured in two major sessions:
- Startup–Investor Connect: Direct engagement between the selected startups and investors.
- Ministerial Interaction: Discussions involving startups and investors on capital access, commercialisation, scale-up and measures to support innovation-led growth.
BIO-NIVESH to Become Recurring Platform
Dr. Jitendra Singh said BIO-NIVESH should ultimately be assessed by the partnerships created, investments mobilised, technologies scaled and products brought to market, rather than simply by the number of meetings or startup pitches.
The platform is envisaged as a recurring initiative, with subsequent editions proposed in different cities to expand participation and connect regional biotechnology innovation ecosystems with investment networks.
The event was attended by Department of Biotechnology Secretary Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, DG-BRIC and BIRAC Chairman, along with BIRAC Managing Director Dr. Dhananjay Tiwary, Accel India Founding Partner Prashant Prakash and representatives of the startup and investor communities.
