India’s biotechnology sector buzzes with potential, yet a frustrating disconnect persists between government promises and ground realities. Whilst the Department of Biotechnology launches ambitious schemes worth thousands of crores, startup founders in Bengaluru and Hyderabad tell different stories. They speak of delayed funding, bureaucratic labyrinths, and support that sounds impressive on paper but rarely materialises when needed most. This gap between policy ambition and practical delivery threatens to stifle the very innovation India desperately wants to cultivate. The question isn’t whether government intentions are good—it’s whether the machinery actually works for those building the future.
Government Ambitions and Ecosystem Building
The Indian government positions biotechnology as a critical economic driver, launching initiatives that sound genuinely transformative on announcement days. The Bio-RIDE scheme allocates Rs 9,197 crore for research, development, and biomanufacturing, promising seed funding and mentorship for emerging ventures. Over the past decade, more than 710 biotech startups received support through incubators, grants, and various funding programmes.
BioNEST incubators and regional entrepreneurship centres aim to connect academia, industry, and investors into a coherent ecosystem. These numbers look impressive in government reports and ministerial speeches, suggesting a nation committed to scientific entrepreneurship. However, entrepreneurs themselves report a different experience—one where accessing promised resources feels inconsistent, and professional networks remain frustratingly out of reach despite policy documents highlighting robust support structures.
Funding Channels and Institutional Mechanisms
DBT operates funding primarily through BIRAC, which manages equity and grant-based programmes targeting different innovation stages across the country. The SEED Fund, LEAP Fund, and Accelerating Entrepreneurs Fund have collectively channelled over Rs 733 crore into 65-plus startups recently. Capital assistance ranges from Rs 30 lakh to several crores, theoretically matching startups’ evolving needs as they scale operations. Thirty-one BioNEST incubators nationwide received more than Rs 235 crore, helping commercialise nearly 118 products and proving some initiatives deliver tangible results.
Credits: FreePik
BIRAC‘s partnerships with angel networks additionally expand access to private capital, mentorship, and market connections that young companies desperately require. Yet founders consistently report significant barriers when actually pursuing these funds—complex eligibility criteria, procedural delays, and minimal follow-up support plague the process. What appears generous in allocation often becomes inaccessible due to compliance overload and unclear funding cycles that discourage precisely the innovation they’re meant to foster.
Ground-Level Struggles and Persistent Gaps
Early-stage startups and scientists frequently find government support doesn’t match their daily operational realities, creating damaging disconnects throughout the ecosystem. Complicated application requirements and sluggish disbursement processes discourage innovation precisely when ventures are most vulnerable and need rapid, decisive backing. Whilst substantial sums receive government commitment, bottlenecks around compliance, unclear timelines, and passive institutional engagement frustrate talented founders in major hubs.
Beyond capital, deep tech startups struggle with commercial pathway navigation, regulatory guidance, and essential mentorship that transforms ideas into viable businesses. Many entrepreneurs need testing facilities, investor networks, and established company connections as much as cheques—support that remains maddeningly elusive. As one founder bluntly stated, “There’s endless talk about support, but real help doesn’t reach scientists and young ventures.” This credibility gap prompts calls for agile, transparent, responsive mechanisms that genuinely empower biotechnology entrepreneurship rather than simply announcing impressive-sounding schemes.
India’s biotechnology future depends on converting government ambition into practical, accessible support that actually reaches innovative startups when needed. The Department of Biotechnology has built foundations through Bio-RIDE and related initiatives, demonstrating genuine intent to foster scientific entrepreneurship nationwide. However, the journey from policy announcement to founder bank account remains frustratingly complicated, with procedural barriers undermining otherwise promising programmes. Streamlining funding access, increasing transparency, building shared infrastructure, and fostering sustained institutional engagement will determine whether India’s biotech ecosystem fulfils its considerable potential. The infrastructure exists; what’s missing is seamless delivery that matches the sector’s urgency and ambition.