The Ministry of Science and Technology has launched BIO-NIVESH, a platform designed to connect biotechnology startups with investors and accelerate the commercialisation of biotech innovations in India. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the initiative at a roundtable event that brought together 20 promising biotech startups and around 50 investors. The platform aims to channel private capital into biotechnology ventures and help them scale from laboratory prototypes to market-ready products.
What BIO-NIVESH offers
BIO-NIVESH functions as a two-way engagement mechanism that goes beyond typical startup pitching events. The platform allows biotechnology and deep-tech startups to understand how investors evaluate opportunities, while simultaneously giving investors insight into the scientific, regulatory and development pathways specific to biotechnology.
The inaugural session included direct startup-investor connections, with the 20 participating startups selected based on innovation quality, development stage, market potential, scalability and regulatory readiness. A second session featured interactive discussions with the Minister, investors and startups on access to capital, commercialisation strategies and scale-up challenges.
The Ministry is positioning BIO-NIVESH as a recurring platform that will expand to different cities, thereby connecting regional biotech ecosystems with national investment networks. The Department of Biotechnology and BIRAC (Biotechnology Research and Advancement Institute) are leading the initiative.
Additionally, the government highlighted the Research, Development and Innovation Fund with an outlay of 1 lakh crore rupees, under which BIRAC has been designated as a fund manager for biotechnology and allied sectors. This fund is intended to provide patient capital for technology developers and startups working on innovation-led manufacturing and scale-up projects.
What this means for you
If you are a biotech entrepreneur, BIO-NIVESH provides a structured pathway to connect with seasoned investors who understand the sector’s unique demands: longer development cycles, strict regulatory requirements and high capital needs. If you are an investor, the platform offers vetted access to high-potential startups across India’s biotech ecosystem. For the broader economy, these connections could accelerate the movement of Indian biotechnology innovations from research labs into commercial products and potentially create globally competitive companies from India.