Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council
Also called: BIRAC · Topic: Factors of Production, Entrepreneurship and Startups · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit public sector enterprise set up by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. It helps biotech startups, small firms and industry turn research ideas into real products, such as vaccines, diagnostic kits or better crop varieties. It gives them money and also mentoring, which means guidance from experts. It matters because firms in India spend little on research, and biotech ideas are risky and take years to pay off. Under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, BIRAC is a Second-Level Fund Manager, an expert body that passes public money on to private R&D projects.
Example
The RDI Scheme (₹1 lakh crore over 6 years, approved by the Cabinet on 1 July 2025) works in two tiers. A Special Purpose Fund inside ANRF sends money to fund managers such as BIRAC. BIRAC then chooses biotech firms and funds them through long-term loans or equity. The scheme does not fund firms directly.
Don't confuse with
- Technology Development Board (TDB): TDB is the other Second-Level Fund Manager under the RDI Scheme. TDB funds technology firms in many sectors, while BIRAC focuses on biotechnology.
- Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): ANRF is the statutory body that holds the RDI fund at the top level and funds university research. BIRAC sits one level below and passes the money to companies.