The Department of Science & Technology (DST) supports Indian startups and innovators in healthcare, biotech, medical devices, and related deep-tech sectors through funding, incubation, and infrastructure access. The program offers up to ₹10 lakh, mentoring, laboratory facilities, networking, and regulatory support to help teams develop and commercialize high-impact solutions. Eligible applicants include medical professionals, students, innovators, and registered startups working on technologies aligned with priority healthcare and biotech themes.

DST Healthcare & Biotech Innovation Support Program

Overview

The Department of Science & Technology (DST) provides financial assistance and incubation support to early-stage innovators building impactful solutions in healthcare, biotechnology, medical devices, and life sciences. This program strengthens India’s innovation pipeline by giving startups access to funding, facilities, and expert mentors needed to move from concept to prototype and market readiness.

Why This Program Matters

The initiative accelerates India’s capacity to produce high-quality healthcare innovations by:

• Supporting early-stage R&D

• Reducing infrastructure and regulatory barriers

• Connecting innovators to industry, academia, and government stakeholders

• Enabling commercialization of indigenous, affordable medical technologies

• Encouraging deep-tech innovation in areas like AI/ML in healthcare, robotics, Ayurveda and natural products, and diagnostic devices

Key Benefits and Program Features

Participants gain access to a comprehensive innovation ecosystem, including:

Funding Support

• Grant of up to ₹10 lakh per startup

Incubation Infrastructure

• Fully furnished office and incubation space

• Meeting rooms, lecture rooms, and discussion areas

• Dedicated Design & Development (D&D) room

• Fab Lab and shared laboratory facilities

• High-end and sophisticated instrumentation

Product Development & Domain Support

• Facilities for healthcare, biotech, and medical device development

• Support for surgical instruments, natural products, Ayurveda solutions, diagnostic kits

• Strong emphasis on AI/ML, robotics, and community-centric health innovations

Mentoring & Advisory Services

• One-to-one technical mentoring

• Business and commercialization support

• Legal, compliance, and IP advisory

Networking & Collaboration

• Access to industry, government bodies, academic institutions

• Branding and visibility opportunities

• Ethical and regulatory clearance committee facilitation

Expanded Focus Areas

The program prioritizes solutions in:

• Medical devices and diagnostics

• Biotech and healthcare research tools

• Ayurveda, natural products, and traditional medicine innovation

• AI/ML-powered healthcare tools

• Robotics for healthcare

• Community health innovations

• Surgical instruments and equipment

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must fall into one of the following categories:

• Indian-registered startups in healthcare, biotech, or medical technology

• Innovators and individuals working on relevant solutions

• Medical students and residents developing healthcare technologies

• Medical professionals and faculty engaged in translational research
  All applicants must be aligned with the program’s thematic focus areas.

How the Program Works

1. Application Submission

Applicants provide details about:

• The problem being solved

• Proposed solution and technology

• Current development stage

• Team profile

• Funding requirement

• Infrastructure needs

2. Evaluation Process

Proposals are assessed based on:

• Innovation novelty

• Technical feasibility

• Potential social and healthcare impact

• Scalability prospects

• Alignment with DST priority themes

3. Incubation & Funding Allocation

Selected startups receive:

• Up to ₹10 lakh in funding

• Access to incubation facilities

• Lab and instrumentation access

• Mentorship and advisory services

4. Product Development & Validation

Participants work on:

• Prototype development

• Testing and validation

• Regulatory and ethical approvals

• IP filing and protection

5. Commercialization Support

DST and partner incubators assist with:

• Market strategy

• Pilot deployments

• Partnerships

• Scale-up planning

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying without a clear product development roadmap

• Underestimating regulatory and ethical approval requirements

• Weak documentation or missing technical details

• Poor articulation of market need or user impact

• Lack of evidence for feasibility or validation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the maximum funding available?

Up to ₹10 lakh per startup.

2. Do applicants need to be registered startups?

No. Innovators, students, and professionals can apply. However, registered startups are eligible for direct funding and incubation.

3. What sectors are supported?

Healthcare, biotechnology, medical devices, surgical technologies, AI/ML in healthcare, Ayurveda and natural products, robotics, and community health solutions.

4. Is incubation space provided?

Yes. Startups get access to fully furnished office space, labs, fab labs, and advanced instrumentation.

5. Are mentoring and business support included?

Yes. One-to-one mentoring, business guidance, legal services, and IP support are integral components.

6. Does the program help with regulatory clearances?

Yes. Ethical and regulatory committees support the approval process.

7. Is this program suitable for early-stage innovators?

Yes. Early-stage solutions and prototypes are encouraged, provided they demonstrate clear potential and alignment with program themes.

Conclusion

The DST Healthcare & Biotech Innovation Support Program is a powerful opportunity for innovators building transformative medical and life-science solutions in India. Through financial grants, deep infrastructure access, expert mentoring, and strategic networking, the program helps startups turn high-impact ideas into validated, market-ready products. Innovators seeking a strong launchpad for healthcare and biotech innovation will find this program an essential catalyst for growth and scale.