India's BIG grant success rate stuck at 5%, lagging behind global standards

India's Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG), initiated in 2012 by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), has been instrumental in supporting over 950 startups, resulting in more than 125 products and 500 intellectual property assets.

However, the program's grant success rate remains low at approximately 5 percent, meaning only 50 out of every 1,000 applicants receive funding. This rate is notably below global standards, highlighting challenges in scaling support for biotech innovation.

In contrast, the Department of Science and Technology's (DST) NIDHI programme, launched in 2016, has supported over 12,000 startups through 175 incubation centers nationwide, generating over 130,000 jobs and creating 1,100 IP assets. NIDHI encompasses five schemes, including PRAYAS and Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR), though grant amounts have remained static, with PRAYAS offering Rs 10 lakh and EIR Rs 30,000 monthly.

The disparity between BIG's limited grant success and NIDHI's broader reach underscores the need for enhanced funding mechanisms and increased grant availability to better foster India's biotech and startup ecosystems.

"BIG's application success rate is also lower compared to global standards. The success rate is somewhere close to 5 per cent. A thousand people apply, and you get 50 grants," a key observation reflecting the program's competitive nature.

Despite these challenges, both initiatives have significantly contributed to India's innovation landscape, but scaling grant success rates remains critical for future growth.

India's Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) program, launched in 2012, supports startups but has a low success rate of about 5%, lagging behind global standards. Despite backing over 950 companies and fostering 125 products, the grant's limited reach contrasts with the broader NIDHI initiative aiding 12,000 startups since 2016.