FundingFunding opportunities up to ₹10 Lakh through ACIC-VGU schemes
Equity-free Idea AI, SaaS & Enterprise
ClosesAug 15, 2026
Closed Grant Equity-free
Grand Challenges India (GCI) Open Call for Breakthrough Solutions and Cost-Disruptive Innovations for Screening and Diagnosis
by BIRAC
Grand Challenges India (GCI), supported by BIRAC, is inviting proposals for breakthrough and cost-disruptive innovations in infectious disease screening and diagnosis. The programme offers grants of up to Rs. 2 crore to support researchers, startups, academic institutions and industry partners developing affordable, near point of care diagnostic solutio
Check your readinessShare a few details and an IncorpX advisor will walk you through fit, documents and timelines for this scheme. Free, no obligation.
- Researchers developing innovative solutions for infectious disease screening and diagnosis.
- Academic institutions and universities working on biotechnology, diagnostics and healthcare research.
- Startups building affordable diagnostic technologies or near point-of-care solutions.
- Public and private R&D organisations conducting translational research in life sciences.
- Clinical researchers and healthcare institutions developing next-generation diagnostic tools.
- Biotechnology and medtech companies creating innovative screening technologies.
- Multidisciplinary teams and consortia combining expertise from academia, industry and clinical research.
- Not-for-profit foundations engaged in public health, biotechnology or infectious disease innovatio
About this scheme
Grand Challenges India (GCI) is a funding initiative supported by BIRAC that encourages breakthrough innovations in infectious disease screening and diagnosis. This open call provides grants of up to Rs. 2 crore for projects focused on tuberculosis, emerging pathogens, syndromic panels and enteric pathogens, with a strong emphasis on affordable and accessible diagnostic technologies.
The programme is designed to support high risk, high impact ideas that have the potential to improve healthcare outcomes through innovative screening and diagnostic solutions. It welcomes multidisciplinary collaborations involving academic institutions, research organisations, startups, industry partners and clinical teams, helping innovators take promising technologies from research towards real world implementation.
Who can apply
- Indian academic institutions
- Research institutions
- Public R&D organisations
- Private R&D organisations
- Indian startups
- Not-for-profit foundations
- Industry-led collaborations
- Clinical collaborations
- Multidisciplinary consortia
Eligible entity types: Private Limited, LLP, Partnership, Proprietorship
Benefits & funding
Headline support
Up to ₹2 crore grant (Exploratory proposals up to ₹50 lakh)
- Funding up to ₹2 crore
- Exploratory grants up to ₹50 lakh
- Supports high-risk innovations
- Supports cost-disruptive technologies
- Supports near point-of-care diagnostics
- Encourages multidisciplinary collaborations
- Technical handholding
- Support for scale-up
- Deployment support
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
Review the Request for Proposal (RFP)
- 2
Register on the BIRAC portal
- 3
Prepare the proposal
- 4
Complete the online application
- 5
Submit before the deadline
- 6
Await evaluation
Want a second pair of eyes before you submit?IncorpX provides assistance for structuring proposals and organising the paperwork this process expects.
Documents checklist 6
- Detailed project proposal
- Institution or company registration documents
- Research and technical proposal
- Budget plan
- Collaboration documents (if applicable)
- Supporting documents required by BIRAC
Need help getting these in order? IncorpX provides assistance for incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST registrations along with document preparation.
Official application
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Applications are submitted directly with BIRAC, in your own name. Share a few details and we will point you to the official application portal and help you prepare a complete submission.
Here is the official application link
Apply in your own name with BIRAC. Want a second pair of eyes before you submit? An IncorpX advisor can help you prepare.
Open the official applicationFrequently asked questions
What is the Grand Challenges India Open Call?
The Grand Challenges India (GCI) Open Call is a BIRAC-supported funding programme that supports breakthrough and cost-disruptive innovations for infectious disease screening and diagnosis.
Who can apply?
Indian academic institutions, research organisations, startups, public and private R&D organisations and not-for-profit foundations can apply individually or through collaborations.
How much funding is available?
Exploratory proposals can receive up to ₹50 lakh for up to 12 months, while innovation, product or technology proposals can receive up to ₹2 crore for up to 18 months.
Which diseases are covered?
Tuberculosis, emerging pathogens, syndromic panels and enteric pathogens.
What type of innovations are supported?
High-risk, high-reward innovations for screening and diagnostics, particularly affordable near point-of-care solutions.
Are collaborative proposals encouraged?
Yes. The programme encourages multidisciplinary partnerships and consortium-based approaches involving academia, clinical institutions and industry.
How do I apply?
Applications must be submitted through the official BIRAC online portal.
Can IncorpX help with the application?
Yes. IncorpX can assist with eligibility assessment, proposal preparation, documentation, company incorporation, startup registrations and grant application support.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 1 July 2026 at 2:00 PM.
Important disclaimer
IncorpX is a private platform operated by a private company. It is not a government department, agency or official portal, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government body or of any organisation, incubator, accelerator, investor or partner listed in this directory. All program names, logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only.
This directory is compiled from publicly available official sources and is provided for general information only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax or professional advice. Funding amounts, eligibility criteria, required documents, deadlines and availability are determined by each program authority and change with every cycle, so the details shown here may be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm the current terms on the official program source before you apply or take any decision.
IncorpX charges no fee for the information in this directory and does not collect, process, lodge or submit any application on your behalf. Applications are made by you, in your own name, directly with the respective program authority. IncorpX provides assistance only for application preparation and for related registrations such as company incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME (Udyam) and GST. Eligibility, approval, disbursement and selection rest solely with the respective program authority, and IncorpX makes no representation or guarantee as to any outcome.
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