BIRAC GCI , Screening & Diagnosis Innovations Open Call

• Up to Rs. 2 crore grant for Solution / Product / Technology proposals (18 months)
• Rs. 50 lakh Exploratory tier (12 months) for high-risk early-stage proposals
• Focus: TB, emerging pathogens, syndromic panels, enteric pathogens , screening & diagnostics
• Equity-free / non-dilutive (BIRAC Grand Challenges India)
• Open to academic, clinical and industry , consortia-based applications encouraged

About this scheme

This Open Call under Grand Challenges India (GCI, BIRAC), administered by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council under the Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India, supports indigenous innovations and transformative solutions in four priority infectious disease areas, tuberculosis, emerging pathogens, syndromic panels and enteric pathogens. The call targets high-risk, high-reward innovations for screening and diagnostics, with an emphasis on near point-of-care and ultra-low-cost solutions designed to significantly improve accessibility and availability.

The Call offers two funding tiers. The Exploratory tier provides up to Rs. 50 lakh (approx. USD 55,000) over a 12-month duration for high-risk early proposals. The Solution / Innovation / Product / Technology tier provides up to Rs. 2 crore (approx. USD 200,000) over an 18-month duration for proposals advancing toward product or technology development and deployment.

The Call is open to a broad set of applicants: Indian academic and research institutions, public and private R&D organisations, start-ups, and not-for-profit foundations. Multidisciplinary partnerships and consortia-based applications are strongly encouraged, academic, clinical and industry-led collaborations are explicitly welcomed.

Beyond direct funding, awardees receive technical handholding from BIRAC / GCI and access to scale-up and deployment pathways. Applications must be submitted through the BIRAC online portal only; applicants need to register on the BIRAC portal first. The Call was announced on 12 May 2026 and applications close on 1 July 2026 at 2:00 PM IST.

Who can apply

• Indian academic and research institutions
• Public and private R&D organisations
• Start-ups incorporated in India
• Not-for-profit foundations
• Multidisciplinary partnerships and consortia-based applications strongly encouraged (academic + clinical + industry collaborations)
• Focus area must align with the Call's priority infectious disease themes: tuberculosis, emerging pathogens, syndromic panels, or enteric pathogens
• Innovations should target screening and / or diagnostics, preferably near point-of-care, ultra-low-cost solutions
• High-risk, high-reward proposals encouraged

Eligible entity types: Private Limited, LLP, Section 8 / NGO

Benefits & funding

• Direct cash grant in two tiers: up to Rs.
• 50 lakh (USD ~55,000) for the Exploratory tier over 12 months, or up to Rs.
• 2 crore (USD ~200,000) for the Solution / Innovation / Product / Technology tier over 18 months.
• Awardees additionally receive technical handholding, mentoring, and access to scale-up and deployment pathways through BIRAC and Grand Challenges India.
• The grant is non-dilutive , BIRAC does not take equity.
• Disbursement is typically tranche-based against project milestones.

How the application process works

The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with BIRAC, in your own name.

1. 1

   Submitted proposals are reviewed by expert panels / scientific committees convened by BIRAC and Grand Challenges India.

2. 2

   Evaluation criteria typically include scientific merit, innovation quality, feasibility, public-health impact (with emphasis on accessibility / affordability for screening and diagnostics), team capability and the strength of multidisciplinary / consortium partnerships.

3. 3

   Selected awardees enter into a funding agreement with BIRAC and receive funds against project milestones over 12 months (Exploratory) or 18 months (Solution / Product tier).

Documents checklist 6

• Full Proposal (in BIRAC prescribed format)
• Principal Investigator / Lead Innovator CV
• Institutional / Organisational Endorsement Letter
• Detailed Budget with Milestones
• Consortium Partner Commitment Letters (if applicable)
• Ethics / IRB / IAEC Clearance (where applicable)

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Frequently asked questions