Apply Now: Accelerating Innovation in Vaginal Formulations for Women’s Health (India)

This challenge welcomes innovations at any stage of development that align with the objectives of the initiative, encouraging researchers, start-ups, and institutions to contribute toward improving women’s health through biology-driven innovation and user-centered design.

The program seeks to leverage biological understanding to create next-generation vaginal products that are safe, affordable, and suited to India’s diverse socio-cultural and environmental contexts. By the end of this initiative, the goal is to produce actionable knowledge and prototype innovations that are regulation-ready, market-viable, and designed for widespread adoption.

To ensure real-world applicability and impact, the GCI-BIRAC challenge offers funding support of up to INR 2.2 crore (approximately USD 250,000) per project, for a duration of up to 24 months. This financial support aims to empower organizations to develop and validate their innovations, ensuring readiness for scale-up and regulatory alignment.

The initiative is structured around two major objectives. The first, Biology-Driven Formulation Innovation, focuses on harnessing the vaginal microenvironment to develop novel formulations or components that are low-cost, locally sourced, and stable under Indian conditions. Projects under this objective will explore the biological characterization of products, studying their impact on the vaginal microbiome, epithelial health, pH balance, and mucosal immunity while ensuring compatibility with common vaginal conditions. They will also be expected to outline a scalability roadmap that includes cost analysis, manufacturing strategies, and regulatory compliance with Indian standards.

The second objective, User-Centered Design Research, aims to define the characteristics of an ideal vaginal product through comprehensive user insights. This will include understanding preferences, barriers, and additional benefits such as odor control, sexual wellness, and menstrual support across multiple demographic groups. The outcome will be actionable design principles that consider cultural and regional nuances, preferred delivery methods, and practical factors like discretion and accessibility. This research will also inform an implementation framework addressing communication, distribution, pricing, and community engagement strategies for broader acceptance.

Eligibility for this call extends to a wide range of India-led entities, including companies, start-ups, limited liability partnerships, government agencies, research institutes, non-profits, and academic institutions. Companies must be incorporated under the Indian Companies Act with a minimum of 51% Indian ownership, while LLPs should have at least half of their partners as Indian nationals. Academic and public research institutions recognized by UGC, AICTE, or equivalent authorities are eligible, as are societies, trusts, NGOs, and foundations established under relevant Indian laws. All applicants must demonstrate compliance with BIRAC’s documentation and maintain transparency through proper registration and governance standards.

GCI-BIRAC strongly encourages collaboration among institutions and partnerships that bridge scientific, social, and industrial expertise. Special emphasis is placed on projects led by women researchers and collaborations involving women-led organizations, reflecting a commitment to gender equity and inclusivity in innovation. Applicants are also expected to adhere to the Global Access clause, ensuring that the outcomes of funded projects remain accessible and beneficial to the wider public.

Through this initiative, GCI-BIRAC aims to catalyze a new wave of science-driven, user-focused innovations that empower women’s health and wellness. By combining biological research with thoughtful design and practical deployment strategies, the program aspires to transform the landscape of vaginal health products in India—creating sustainable, accessible, and impactful solutions for millions of women across the country.

For more information, visit BIRAC.