Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh recently inaugurated the BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre at Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysuru, marking a significant step toward strengthening India’s food biotechnology ecosystem.
The incubation facility, set up under the aegis of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, is equipped with advanced incubation suites and shared research infrastructure. It aims to accelerate innovation by supporting startups in food bioprocessing, scale-up validation, and regulatory facilitation.
Driving Startup Innovation
As of March 2026, the BioNEST centre has supported 26 startups, including both active and graduated ventures. Several of these startups have successfully commercialised their products, demonstrating the centre’s impact in bridging research and market application.
Collectively, these startups have:
- Filed 12 patents
- Contributed to multiple research publications
- Focused on market-oriented innovations
Emerging High-Tech Domains
The startups incubated at the centre are working in cutting-edge areas such as:
- Nutraceuticals
- Precision fermentation
- Probiotics
- CRISPR-based technologies
- Botanical products
This reflects a broader shift in India’s food and biotechnology sectors toward high-value, science-driven innovation.
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