bio event
different stages of the
innovation ecosystem
from ideation stages to
proof-of-concept and late
stage validation to product
development. BIRAC has
9 flagship schemes that
are supported by funding
from the Department
of Biotechnology, and
manages 7 collaboratively
funded programs with
international partners,
such as the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation, Nesta,
the Wellcome Trust and
USAID, among others.
Social Innovation is a
26
BioVoiceNews | April 2017
key focus for affordable
and accessible product
development.
“Innovation and research
must be directed toward
addressing the most
pressing problems
of society. We’re
proud that BIRAC
and the Department
of Biotechnology are
spearheading this effort
in the biotechnology
domain. Since its
inception in 2012, BIRAC
has created nearly two
dozen incubators across
the country and supported
over 350 start-ups. We
firmly believe that social
entrepreneurship is
the key to creating an
inclusive society and our
government is committed
to providing all the
necessary support,” said
Dr K VijayRaghavan,
Secretary, Department
of Biotechnology and
Chairman, BIRAC.
The science and
technology sector will
play a key role in the
government’s Start-Up