PACE – Promoting Academic Research Conversion to Enterprise
Funds academia to take biotech research to proof of concept, then funds industry to validate it — up to 100% of project cost.
What you get
AIR component up to ₹50 lakh · CRS component has no stated funding ceiling
Nodal ministry
Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
Support type
Grant
Best suited for
Prototype / PoC
Typical timeline
Calls twice a year — 1 April to 15 May and 1 September to 15 October
What this scheme actually is
PACE has two arms. Academic Innovation Research funds an institution to develop a technology of societal or national importance up to proof of concept. Contract Research Scheme then funds its validation by an industry partner. For a startup, the CRS arm is a route to funded validation work with an academic partner — and there is no stated ceiling on it.
Implementing agency: BIRAC
What the scheme sets out to do
Who can apply
What you get
How to apply, step by step
- 1
Choose AIR or CRS
AIR is academia-led; CRS requires an industry partner and is where a startup participates directly.
- 2
Verify the 51% Indian-shareholding condition for CRS
The industry collaborator must meet it. Check the cap table before committing.
- 3
Apply in one of the two annual windows
1 April to 15 May, and 1 September to 15 October. BIRAC may also announce need-based additional calls under separate RFPs.
- 4
Settle IP and publication rights in advance
Academia-industry projects fail commercially when IP and publication terms are left to the end. Fix them in the collaboration agreement.
What we actually do on a PACE mandate
Services this usually needs
No consultant can guarantee a sanction — that decision sits with the evaluating committee, bank or incubator. We commit to an honest eligibility view, an application built to the evaluator’s format, filing inside the window and a documented follow-up cadence. That is stated in every engagement letter we sign.