PU BioNEST declared Best Incubation Centre at Global Bio-India 2023

Chandigarh, December 7, 2023: BioNEST Panjab University has been adjudged the Best Incubation Centre amongst Tier II cities of India at Global Bio-India held from 4-6th December, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

The event was organized by Department of Biotechnology-Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Govt., of India, This is a proud moment for the incubation centre which came into existence in September, 2017,BioNEST Panjab University has always envisioned ideas turning into reality.We aim to promotestart-up culture in India under Make-in India and Atma Nirbhar Bharatcampaign by providing complete technology building platform said the Prof. RenuVig, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of the University. Prof. Rohit Sharma, Project Leader, BioNEST stated that we have developed a pre-incubation space, incubation space and post incubation facilitythrough funding received from BIRAC, New Delhi. He further elaborated that the bio-incubation space is providing, its incubatees and anchor associations, state-of-the-art infrastructure, technical, administrative, purchase, networking & scientific support. It is also supporting its occupants to establish an energetic yet comfortable environment that satisfies their needs and are enabling them to meet national and international standards of quality management. It is also providing existing and potential start-ups, multiple platforms are provided to corporate societies, innovators/inventors, industrialists, educationists, incubators, students, investors, angel funders, material suppliers and stakeholders, venture capitalists, state councils, “government people”, in order to provoke the establishment of not only an innovation chain but an “Innovation Web”. Provides support to establish start-ups either as a standalone entity or as a part of the academia.

BioNEST has a complete technology building platform with state-of-the-art laboratories has been established and has resulted in tangibles. There have been over 30 start-ups/ Innovators whohave been incubated at BioNEST. Some have already reached above TRL 4-5 and 3 start-ups have passed TRL-9. Five products have been successfully launched and 2 start-ups have received fund for validation & scale-up. 10 start-ups have received funding through BIG/ BIG like grants, 20-50 Lakhs each for developing POC’s. Therehave been 4 BIG awardees and 5 SAEN awardees. Intellectual property has been protected through over 10 patents in a period of last five years. Start-ups incubated with us have received national/ international recognitions through national awards and international visits & trainings. Under the pre-incubation scheme three teams of under-graduate students and three Post –docs have been selected and funded. This also acts as a pipeline of incubatees in the system. A large amount of funding from industry for collaborative Research & Development for Proof-of-concept (POC), Post-POC & scale-up studies & certain joint initiatives in the areas of Bioprocess engineering, Biopharmaceuticals with core focus on vaccine under healthcare segments has been taken.

Global Bio-India 2023 provided deliberation platform for discussion on opportunities and key challenges in the areas of bio-manufacturing, capacity-building, clinical trials, drug discovery, regulation & policies creating global supply chains for achieving a growth-oriented road-map for the biotechnology sector in the country. Technical Sessions & Policy dialogues on topics of National & Global Importance, Bio- Partnering, Startup Pavilion, B2B meetings and Mega Biotech Exhibition by Startups& SMEs, Biotech Large Companies, Bio-Incubators, Bio-Services, were the few salient components of the event. The event showcased and identified key biotechnological innovations, products, services, technologies from national and international companies, start-ups and research institutes, as well as foster collaboration and funding opportunities for research and development.