Finance Minister to Inaugurate dhaRti BioNest at IIT Dharwad

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate the dhaRti BioNest Incubation Centre at IIT Dharwad, marking a significant step toward empowering startups in biotechnology, deep tech, and healthcare. This incubation hub aims to provide early-stage support for innovators through mentoring, lab infrastructure, and funding, especially in a region traditionally underserved by such high-tech facilities.

What is dhaRti BioNest?

• The dhaRti BioNest is a dedicated incubation centre established within the dhaRti Foundation at IIT Dharwad.
• It supports early-stage startups in life sciences, biomedical engineering, and tech-enabled health solutions.
• Functioning under the BioNEST program by BIRAC, it provides critical resources to help transform lab ideas into market-ready products.

The centre is designed to be a high-impact innovation hub that offers,

• Advanced lab infrastructure
• Business mentoring and technical guidance
• Regulatory and patenting support
• Networking with investors and healthcare stakeholders

This makes it a crucial resource for entrepreneurs in tier‑2 cities, bridging the gap between research and commercialization.

Achievements and Funding Support

Even before its formal launch, dhaRti BioNest has successfully supported 15 startups. These ventures have received ₹50 lakh each through the Elevate Karnataka scheme, aimed at nurturing high-potential innovators.

The centre is funded through a combination of,

• ₹5.2 crore from the MPLADS (Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme), allocated by Nirmala Sitharaman
• ₹5 crore from BIRAC, enabling specialized infrastructure and programmatic support
• This hybrid funding model ensures both central and local alignment in fostering a robust biotech innovation ecosystem.

Static Facts

• Location: dhaRti BioNest Incubation Centre, IIT Dharwad
• Inaugurated by: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
• Focus areas: Biotechnology, deep tech, healthcare innovation
• Startups supported: 15 so far under Elevate Karnataka, each receiving ₹50 lakh
• Funding: ₹5.2 crore from MPLADS and ₹5 crore from BIRAC
• Affiliated program: Part of BioNEST, a national biotech incubator network