Venture Center, also known as the Entrepreneurship Development Center, was established under the “Scheme for setting up incubation centers in CSIR laboratories” by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). It operates as a Section 8 company under the Companies Act, 2013 (previously Section 25 under the Companies Act, 1956). Located within the premises of the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune, Venture Center aims to support innovation-driven enterprises, especially those leveraging science and technology. It is a recognized incubator by the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (DST-NSTEDB) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. Venture Center provides incubation support, funding opportunities, mentoring, and access to networks and infrastructure to foster technology-based startups and entrepreneurs. Its mission is to build a vibrant ecosystem that promotes knowledge-intensive and socially impactful ventures.

In collaboration with Indus Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Venture Center has launched a grant program to nurture early-stage science and technology-based startups within its incubation ecosystem. The initiative aims to empower entrepreneurs by providing flexible financial and professional support to help them reach key milestones. The selected individuals will be designated as “Indus Entrepreneurship Fellows” and must be incubated at Venture Center throughout the project. The Project Oversight Committee (POC) will oversee the deployment of funds in a dynamic and need-based manner. The support can include project grants, prize money, travel assistance, subsistence stipends, or access to professional services. The grant supports projects that demonstrate scalability, sustainability, and social impact. The overall goal is to build a resilient entrepreneurial pipeline capable of driving innovation with real-world impact.