The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has launched the BioNEST-IIT Mandi Catalyst Centre, an initiative backed by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors. With an initial funding of Rs 5 crore, the centre aims to tackle social, economic, and ecological challenges unique to India, while taking advantage of IIT Mandi’s strategic location and resources.
The primary goal of the BioNEST-IIT Mandi Catalyst Centre is to foster a specialized incubation environment that nurtures startups and ventures in biotech and healthcare. Positioned in the Himalayan region, the centre seeks to become a hub of excellence, drawing national and international collaborations. It will capitalize on the region’s rich biodiversity and traditional medicinal knowledge to address both regional and global healthcare issues.
Key focus areas of the centre include:
Healthcare Innovation: Developing cost-effective solutions for disease detection, affordable healthcare, medical devices, prosthetics, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
Biotechnology Advancing : research in drug discovery, medical biotechnology, bioactive compounds, supplements, and functional foods for health and wellness.
The BioNEST-IIT Mandi Catalyst Centre is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for research and development, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering, biological sciences, and healthcare sectors to drive breakthrough innovations.
