• The proposal to be submitted by an Academic/Technical R&D Institutions (called Host Institute) and other institutions with a proven track record in promotion of technology based entrepreneurship. The host institute is supposed to have adequate expertise and infrastructure to support incubation activity.
• In case, the host institute is other than an academic institution, it should be a legal entity registered in India with the clear purpose and objective of promoting research, innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. It would be desirable to have partnership with atleast one academic institute of repute/technical institutes of repute/existing TBIs or STEPs/institutions/government bodies engaged in promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship.
• The financial support for establishing a TBI would be extended to a not-for-profit legal entity registered as a society/trust/section 8 company. DST encourages a TBI to collaborate with an industry, an academic institution and with other institutions of repute focussing on innovation, research, commercialization, and startup promotion. *DST does not support for-profit incubators
• The host institution should be in existence for at least 3 years. This will not apply to entities created by the central government or state governments.

• Already funded BIRAC BioNest can apply under category 4, subject to condition that they have completed or about to complete phase 1. Also the facility should have been made operational during the project duration or after completion of phase 1.
• Private Academic/Research Institutes/ Research Hospitals/ Incubators have to contribute 20% towards the total capex.
• BIRAC may take small equity in the startups incubated in the facility.

• AICs can be established either in Public funded institutions or Private sector funded institutions or in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
• Academic/R&D institutes and others like Technology/Industrial Parks or companies as well as individuals or group of individuals would be eligible to apply. AICs can also be established either individually by one of the applicants mentioned above or in collaboration with each other.
• The AICs would be setup as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) as a ‘not for profit’ section 8 company or a society/trust AICs can also be established as a ‘for profit company’ under the Companies Act 2013.

Eligibility criterias for all the 3 categories are as below –

Legal status – Must be Section 8/Section 25 entity

Experience – Must be an established incubation centre with 3 years of experience in running incubation activities

Industry Linkages – Must have collaboration with Industry partners/bodies

Legal status – Must be Section8/Section 25 entity/registered society

Experience – Must be an established incubation centre with 2 years of experience in running incubation activities

Industry Linkages – Must have collaboration with industry partners/bodies

Legal status – Initially Section 8/Section 25 entity status not mandatory. Must acquire section 8/25 status within one year of establishment as TIDE centre.

Experience – Should have an entrepreneurship/incubation cell

Industry Linkages – Not mandatory

The following broad parameters are used for evaluation of the proposals –

• Preparedness of Host Institute (HI)/TBI
• Team proposing TBI at the HI and capacity of HI for promoting startups and innovations
• Approach and methodology to be adopted, innovative content and pipeline of potential incubatees
• Assessment of TBI reaching projected milestones, co-founding and sustainability of TBI

• Focus is on translational activities where innovations can be converted to product or technology. Institutes/organizations that can facilitate this mandate should only apply.
• Under the various categories BioNest will be funded at strategic locations which have the potential to be future biotech hubs.
• The existing capabilities of Host Institute (HI) for promoting startups and innovations including the teams within the HI will be assessed.
• The strength of Business development support at the incubator and mentoring support at the Host Institute.

• Overall strengths and weakness of the proposed business plan for implementation of AIC.
• Experience & background of the proposed team, board and other officials.
• Financial sustainability of plan etc.
• Any other criteria that the AIM Mission directorate deems fit and is in line with the National objectives.

Not Available

Not Available

Grant Amount depends on the project

AICs would be provided a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs 10 crore which would cover capital and operational expenditure.

Upto 27.2 Crore

~5 years

3-5 years

Maximum 5 years

~5 years