GCI-BIRAC Vaginal Health Formulation Innovation Grant

About this scheme

This initiative, led by GCI-BIRAC, is a grant program aiming to support **transformative women's health innovation** by creating locally relevant, affordable, and acceptable **vaginal health solutions** for over 400 million Indian women of reproductive age.

The initiative seeks to bridge the critical gap between cutting-edge vaginal formulation science and ground-level implementation. It encourages applications that combine scientific rigor with user-centered design to deliver products that are therapeutically effective and genuinely desirable for diverse populations.

Key deliverables include:
* **Novel Formulations or Components** with proof-of-concept mechanisms (adapted to Indian environmental/storage conditions, low-cost, locally sourced).
* Prototypes that are **regulation-ready** and **market-viable**.

The grant provides **milestone-based funding** and technical assistance tailored to the stage of development. Exploratory projects with shorter durations/lower budgets are strongly encouraged and will be given priority.

Who can apply

• **Applicant Type:** Open to research institutes, non-profit organizations (society, trust, foundation), **Companies (including start-ups)**, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP), government agencies, and academic institutions established in India.
• **Indian-Led:** The project must be **led by investigators in India**. 100% of the funding will go to the Indian organization/entity.
• **Ownership:**
• **Companies:** Minimum **51% of equity shareholding held by Indian nationals**.
• **LLP/Society/Trust:** Minimum **half of the stakeholders** must be Indian nationals.
• **Collaboration:** Partnerships with industry (for institutions/NGOs) and national/international experts are encouraged. Proposals led by **women and/or involving women-led organizations** are particularly encouraged.
• **Compliance:** All applicants must comply with the **Global Access clause**.

Frequently asked questions