Union Minister inaugurates BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre at CSIR-CFTRI in Mysuru.

Key facts

• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh launched the BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre on the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) campus.
• The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) supported the initiative under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
• The facility nurtures entrepreneurial talent in food bioprocessing and biotechnology research and supports advanced research, scale-up, and efficacy studies.
• CSIR-CFTRI’s incubation ecosystem has supported 26 start-ups, including 12 physical incubatees, 11 hybrid incubatees, and three graduated ventures.
• Incubated companies have filed 12 patents so far and operate in domains such as CRISPR technology, nutraceuticals, precision fermentation, probiotics and postbiotics, and botanicals.
• The Indian Army has shown interest in the incubated innovations during high-profile visits in 2025 and 2026.
• A hostel facility for farmers, FPOs, SHGs, cluster representatives, and other training participants will be built under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and will include a 50-seat classroom, twin-sharing accommodation, kitchen, dining, and other amenities.
• The Minister performed the bhoomi puja for the hostel facility on the M.G. Halli campus during his visit.
• CSIR-CFTRI conducts nearly 30-35 training programmes every year and the hostel is expected to be ready in a year to strengthen skill development initiatives aligned with the government’s ‘Skill India’ programme in food processing.