DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

About this grant

The DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI aims to integrate artificial intelligence with biotechnology to foster high-performance biomanufacturing under India's BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy. Bio-AI is positioned as a critical enabler for data-driven, programmatic research expected to deliver novel research leads with significant impact across Health, Agriculture, and Environment. The initiative seeks to establish Bio-AI Hubs as interdisciplinary, interinstitutional collaborations anchored by organizations with established expertise in AI/ML, supported by robust computational infrastructure. These hubs operate in a Public-Private Partnership mode as shared DBTL (Design-Build-Test-Learn) facilities, with startups and SMEs participating as spokes contributing to each hub's research and innovation ecosystem. Bio-AI Hubs will develop AI-guided closed-loop platforms integrating predictions, experiments, and analyses in a continuous positive feedback loop to accelerate scientific discoveries, optimize bioprocesses, and improve decision-making at scale. The call covers five thematic categories: Biomolecular Design covering novel proteins, enzymes, bio-nanomachines, and next-generation antibodies; Sustainable Agriculture covering drought-resistant crops, AI-powered disease sensing, and dairy genomics; Synthetic Biology covering metabolic pathway optimization, strain engineering, and environmental biosensors; Ayurveda covering AI-driven pharmacogenomics, herb-drug interaction analysis, and plant-based drug discovery; and Genome Diagnostics covering AI risk prediction for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, cancer biomarkers, single-cell genomics, and neurodegenerative disorder stratification. Proposals are evaluated on a rolling basis. Selected organizations gain access to state-of-art biomanufacturing facilities and the broader DBT-BIRAC network, enabling high-impact collaboration across leading institutions and industry partners throughout India.

Eligibility requirements

All of the following criteria must be met:

• Companies established under the Companies Act 2013, startups, and Limited Liability Partnerships under the LLP Act 2008 are eligible. Academic institutions, universities, societies, trusts, NGOs, and foundations recognized as Scientific and Industrial Research Organizations (SIRO) may also apply. Startups and SMEs can participate as spokes within the hub model, contributing specialized capabilities while benefiting from the hub's shared infrastructure, mentorship, and access to advanced computational and biomanufacturing tools. Only Indian entities are eligible, and proposals will be evaluated solely on scientific merit, feasibility, and alignment with BioE3 policy priorities.

What the funding covers

• The DBT-BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on Bio AI aims to integrate artificial intelligence with biotechnology to foster high-performance biomanufacturing under India's BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy
• Bio-AI is positioned as a critical enabler for data-driven, programmatic research expected to deliver novel research leads with significant impact across Health, Agriculture, and Environment
• The initiative seeks to establish Bio-AI Hubs as interdisciplinary, interinstitutional collaborations anchored by organizations with established expertise in AI/ML, supported by robust computational infrastructure

How to apply

1. 1Submit proposals online at
2. 2www.birac.nic.in
3. 3only. No hard copies are accepted under any circumstances. Proposals are evaluated periodically in a rolling manner throughout the open call window. Deadline: June 30, 2026 (midnight).

Application tips