Call for

Functional Foods for Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing under BioE3 Policy

Organisation Name:

Department of Biotechnology (DBT),Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India

Application Deadline:

10 July 2025

About Organisation

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, is a premier agency promoting innovation and research in biotechnology. In partnership with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a not-for-profit public sector enterprise set up by DBT, it supports and nurtures emerging technologies to enhance India’s bioeconomy. BIRAC bridges the gap between academia and industry by funding innovative research and fostering entrepreneurship in biotechnology sectors including health, agriculture, and industrial processes. The joint initiatives of DBT and BIRAC aim to translate scientific advances into scalable solutions through strategic funding, mentoring, and infrastructure support. One such initiative is supporting Functional Foods for High-Performance Biomanufacturing, aligned with the BioE3 Policy, which focuses on environment-friendly and efficient bio-manufacturing. This policy framework promotes eco-conscious production and advanced technologies, ensuring India’s competitiveness in the global bioeconomy. Through this collaboration, DBT and BIRAC envision positioning India as a global hub for sustainable biotechnology innovations that can transform public health, nutrition, and industrial production systems.

About the Grant

The Functional Foods for Fostering High-Performance Biomanufacturing Grant under the BioE3 Policy invites proposals that explore innovative solutions using biomanufacturing approaches to address chronic disorders, cognitive function, and rare metabolic diseases. This call encourages the development of novel functional foods utilizing cutting-edge technologies like precision fermentation, targeted nutraceutical formulation, scalable encapsulation, and stabilization systems. The grant supports two categories: Discovery & Application-oriented Integrated Network Research and Bridging the Gaps for Scale-up. The first category focuses on proof-of-concept studies (Technology Readiness Level 3–5), validating the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of new ideas. The second category targets scaling up validated solutions (TRL 5–8), emphasizing pilot-scale production, techno-economic feasibility, and sustainable delivery models. The program seeks to enhance India’s capabilities in functional food production through scientific innovation, industrial integration, and public health impact. Proposals that demonstrate potential for commercialization, interdisciplinary collaboration, and societal benefit are highly encouraged. This grant aligns with the broader goals of the BioE3 Policy to create eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and economically viable biomanufacturing systems that meet national and global demands in food and health sectors.

Who can Apply?

The grant opportunity is open to a wide range of applicants actively involved in the biotechnology and food innovation sectors. Eligible applicants include:

Companies incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 and recognized as startups, particularly those working on innovative biotechnological or nutraceutical products.
Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) registered under the LLP Act, 2008 that have relevant expertise or operational focus in biotechnology, health nutrition, or functional foods.
Academic and research institutions affiliated with universities, societies, or trusts that are officially recognized as Scientific and Industrial Research Organizations (SIROs) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foundations, and voluntary organizations actively engaged in scientific research and development related to food technology, metabolic disorders, or biomanufacturing.

Collaborative proposals involving industry-academia partnerships are highly encouraged, particularly those with a clear translational pathway from research to market. Proposals must align with the grant’s focus areas, demonstrate technical viability, and include measurable outcomes. All applicants must have the organizational infrastructure, team capacity, and compliance readiness to undertake research and development or scale-up activities.

How to Apply?

Interested applicants must prepare and submit a comprehensive project proposal aligned with the grant’s focus areas. The proposal should detail objectives, methods, expected outcomes, timelines, and budget requirements. Applications must be submitted through the designated portal of the implementing agency, following all technical and administrative guidelines. Applicants are advised to adhere strictly to formatting, eligibility, and documentation requirements to ensure successful submission and evaluation.

Application Deadline

The last date to submit proposals for the Functional Foods Biomanufacturing Grant is 10 July 2025. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered for funding.

Last Date To Apply
All proposals under this grant call must be submitted no later than 10 July 2025. It is strongly recommended to complete submissions well before the deadline to avoid technical issues.

Grant Amount
Funding support will vary based on project category and scope, covering costs associated with R&D, validation, and scale-up activities. The exact amount will depend on proposal merit and review outcomes.