What are Schemes?

BIRAC aims to promote and foster cutting-edge technologies in the field of medical electronics through this scheme. The project IIPME is a partnership project between the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India, and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, a public sector undertaking of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Generation Based Incentive (GBI) was announced by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for Grid Interactive Wind and Solar Power Projects with the main aim to broaden the investor base, facilitate the entry of large Independent Power Producers and to provide level playing field to various classes of investors. The GBI is provided over and above the feed in tariff approved by State utilities

Under the Scheme, MSMEs will be assisted in reducing their manufacturing costs, through proper personnel management, better space utilization, scientific inventory management, improved processed flows, reduced engineering time and so on. LMCS (Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme) also brings improvement in the quality of products and lowers costs, which are essential for competing in national and international markets. The larger enterprises in India have been adopting LMCS to remain competitive, but MSMEs have generally stayed away from such Programmes as they are not fully aware of the benefits. Beside these issues, experienced and effective Lean Manufacturing Counsellors or Consultants are not easily available and are expensive to engage and hence most MSMEs are unable to afford LMCS.

Bio-incubation allows harnessing of the entrepreneurial potential of startups by providing access to infrastructure, mentoring as well as networking platforms that the startups could use during their fledgling days. It helps the young entitites to survive by providing them specialised support services during the critical period of a business venture i.e. the start-up phase. While the Bioincubators are able to support the “Space, Services and Knowledge” requirements of startups, wide gap exists in financial support required by a technology driven start up in the initial phase. BIRAC’s initiative -Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development Fund (“SEED Fund”) primarily aims to address this need through the Incubators. The basic idea of SEED Fund is providing Capital assistance to startups with new and meritorious ideas, innovations and technologies. This would enable some of these start-ups to graduate to a level where they will be able to raise investments from angel/Venture capitalist or they will reach a position to seek loans from commercial banks /financial institutions. Thus the proposed seed support is positioned to act as a bridge between promoters’ investment and Venture/Angel investment. This is not an investment scheme, but, rather a support scheme to enable start-ups and incubator to attain sustainability.

International cooperation scheme promotes the exports of MSMEs through international exhibitions/ trade fairs, conferences/ summits/workshops. The idea is to give MSMEs . a platform so that their products and services can get global recognition and expand their business.MSME delegations visit other countries to participate in international exhibitions, trade fairs, conferences, etc. The objective is to explore various ways and means to improve the market of MSMEs products through joint ventures, technology infusions, etc.At the same time, international conferences, summits, workshops, etc., related to the MSME sector are organized in India by various bodies.International cooperation scheme provides financial assistance by reimbursing airfare, space rent, freight charges, advertisement & publicity charges, and entry/registration fees for participating in international marketing activities.

Brochure Support is a marketing tool used by National Tourism Offices (NTOs) to promote their tourism products amongst the travel trade and the potential consumer. The India Tourism Offices overseas undertake this activity on regular basis. This support to tour operators etc. is given to ensure that India’s tourism products and packages find place in this brochure and other promotional material produced in the international markets. The startups in the Tourism Industry can use this scheme for marketing their products abroad.

The objective of the Scheme is to facilitate technology up-gradation in MSEs by providing an upfront capital subsidy of 15 per cent (on institutional finance of upto Rs 1 crore availed by them) for induction of well-established and improved technology in the specified 51 sub-sectors/products approved. In other words the major objective is to upgrade their plant & machinery with state-of-the-art technology, with or without expansion and also for new MSEs which have set up their facilities with appropriate eligible and proven technology duly approved under scheme guidelines.

In order to nurture a culture of applied research and need-oriented (societal or industry) innovation among researchers and to catch them young, provide professional mentoring and support needed, it is imperative that there be a focus on fostering local ecosystems. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has developed a focused strategic action plan to foster the culture of innovation and techno-entrepreneurship in Indian Universities, leveraging the University Innovation Cluster (UIC) and Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC) model. Five University clusters as mentioned below have been identified to establish Cluster Innovation Centres: 1. Anna University, Chennai 2. Panjab University, Chandigarh 3. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 4. University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 5. University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad Cluster Innovation Centre in Biotechnology (CIC-B), hosted in these University, are acting as the nerve centre to manage the University Innovation Cluster activities. Along with facilitating the creation of networks, partnerships between stakeholders to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, the CIC-B is providing pre-incubation support to innovative ideas, innovators for effective translation into products thereof.

Ministry of tourism through this particular aims to project India as a multidimensional tourist destination by inviting the foreign media (stakeholders) to promote the Brand 'India'. This scheme also provides financial assitance to local tourist operators/agencies/travel startups/hoteliers to promote by various activites in NE states and Jammu and Kashmir. The scheme also caters to promotion of unexploited and less visited places. 

This is a credit linked subsidy scheme for setting up of coir units with project cost upto Rs.10 lakhs plus one cycle of working capital, which shall not exceed 25% of the project cost. Working capital will not be considered for subsidy. The scheme main objective is to facilitate sustainable development of the Coir Industry in the country and is under the ambit of Minsitry of MSME.

The programme on Ayurvedic Biology was initiated primarily by the office of the Principal ScientificAdvisor to the Government of India. The programme, now reconceived, is being implemented by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). Against this background, the SERB constituted a Task Force to promote the application of basic sciences in the investigation of Ayurvedic concepts, procedures and products, and nurture the discipline of Ayurvedic Biology.

The startups require intensive networking and information about other business ventures. This scheme provides information on business, technology and finance to MSMEs, and also exhibit core competencies of Indian SMEs. This is done through MSME Global mart - www.msmemart.com. These information is available through annual membership of the portal.A free membership plan is also provided with limited access and services and a Gold membership plan for SC/STs is also provided with full access and services, which is free of charge.

To promote emerging technological and knowledge based innovative ventures that seek the nurturing of ideas from professionals.To promote and support untapped creativity of individual innovators and also to assist individual innovators to become technology based entrepreneurs.To promote networking and forging of linkages with other constituents of the innovation chain for commercialization of their developments.

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has published a revised refinance scheme under the support by The National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) elaborating about the revival of the operations of existing biomass power & small hydro power projects affected due to unforeseen circumstances

The Small Exporter's Policy is basically the Standard Policy, incorporating certain improvements in terms of cover, in order to encourage small exporters to obtain and operate freely without the different type of risks like Political and Commercial. It is issued to exporters whose anticipated export turnover for the period of one year does not exceed INR 1 crores. 

The India tourism Offices overseas extend advertising support to wholesalers, retailers and other organizations also (like Museums, Clubs, special interest groups, etc.) who wish to organize special India promotions. This is to promote the entreprenuers products or services to the potential international customers.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is Government of India’s flagship initiative to create and promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of our country. AIM’s objective is to develop new programmes and policies for fostering innovation in different sectors of the economy, provide platforms and collaboration opportunities for different stakeholders, and create an umbrella structure to oversee the innovation & entrepreneurship ecosystem of the country.

The Ministry of Tourism has a scheme for granting approval to hotel projects from the point of view of this suitability for international tourists. A classification committee set up by the Ministry classifies the functioning hotels under the star system into six categories from star one to five star deluxe. Similarly, the Ministry has a scheme of approving Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Adventure Tour Operators and Tourist Transport Operators, the idea being to encourage quality, standard and service in these categories so as to promote Tourism in India.This is a voluntary scheme open to all bonafide agencies.

Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programmes are organized regularly to train and make the youth aware of the various requirements and know-how for setting up MSEs. The idea is to bridge the skill divide in the country. These EDPs are generally conducted in ITIs, Polytechnics, and other technical institutions. The idea is to motivate the youth towards becoming job creators rather than job seekers.20% of the ESDPs are conducted exclusively for SC/ST/women and P.H. members of the society. It is a free-of-cost program

Biotech start up journey, especially for first time entrepreneurs, is full of hurdles, both technological as well as business related such as business plan and market entry strategies, navigating regulatory hurdles, connecting and pitching to VCs and networking with future stakeholders. There is a greater realisation within the biotech community regarding the importance of focused mentorship which can help accelerate nascent biotech start up. BIRAC is therefore envisaging designing and implementing an equity based fund for supporting entrepreneurs in the valley of death.