Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, launched Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) with a total outlay of ₹1,500 crore, marking one of India’s largest international partnerships in biomedical research funding. The programme will receive ₹1,000 crore from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and ₹500 crore from the Wellcome Trust, a London-based charitable foundation. The initiative aims to nurture top-tier scientific talent and position India as a global leader in the biotechnology revolution.
What Is the Biomedical Research Career Programme?
The Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) is a flagship fellowship and grant initiative designed to build world-class biomedical research capacity in India. It was first launched in 2008-2009 through a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance, commonly referred to as the India Alliance. The programme offers research fellowships based in India that follow internationally benchmarked standards, enabling Indian scientists to pursue cutting-edge biomedical research without leaving the country.
The programme has evolved through distinct phases. Phase I (2008-2018) established India as an emerging hub for biomedical science by supporting early-career researchers through competitive fellowships. Phase II (2018-2025) expanded the portfolio to include collaborative grants and a broader range of career-stage support, strengthening the pipeline of biomedical researchers across the country. Together, the first two phases supported more than 500 researchers, strengthened biomedical research across over 200 institutions, and trained thousands of students and early-career scientists.
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), established in 1986 under the Ministry of Science and Technology, serves as the nodal government agency driving India’s biotechnology agenda. The Wellcome Trust, founded in 1936 and headquartered in London, is one of the world’s largest biomedical research charities, with an endowment of approximately £37.6 billion.
What Phase III Brings
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Phase III of BRCP in October 2025. The active implementation period runs from 2025-26 to 2030-31, with an additional six-year support window from 2031-32 to 2037-38 to service fellowships and grants approved during the active phase.
Phase III will expand support for outstanding researchers across different career stages, promote collaborative and translational research, and strengthen India’s biomedical innovation ecosystem. It is expected to train over 2,000 students and postdoctoral fellows, generate high-impact publications, and enable patentable discoveries. The programme also aims for a 10-15% increase in support to women researchers and an expanded footprint of activities in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, helping reduce regional disparities in scientific capacity.
Key Components of Phase III
The programme is built around three major pillars:
Early Career and Intermediate Research Fellowships in basic, clinical and public health research are designed to support scientists at the formative stages of their careers. These globally recognized fellowships provide funding, salary support, and research expenses for five-year terms, with amounts reaching up to ₹4.5 crore for intermediate fellowships.
Collaborative Grants Programme includes Career Development Grants for early-career researchers and Catalytic Collaborative Grants for teams of two to three investigators led by mid-senior career researchers. These grants aim to bring 25-30% of collaborative programmes to Technology Readiness Level 4 and above, meaning the research moves closer to practical application and product development.
Research Management Programme focuses on strengthening core research support systems, including mentorship, networking, public engagement, and the development of new national and international partnerships.
India’s Growing Biotechnology Landscape
The launch of BRCP Phase III comes at a time when India’s biotechnology sector is experiencing unprecedented growth. The country’s bioeconomy has expanded nearly twenty-fold, from $10 billion in 2014 to over $195 billion in 2025, and is projected to reach $300 billion by 2030. India now hosts nearly 12,000 biotechnology startups and has emerged as one of the world’s leading vaccine manufacturers.
Dr Jitendra Singh noted at the launch that biotechnology is set to become the defining force behind India’s next phase of economic growth, scientific advancement, and global competitiveness. He described India’s transformation from a time when its healthcare capabilities received limited global recognition to becoming a trusted leader in preventive healthcare and vaccine development.
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Public Sector Undertaking under DBT established in 2012, has been instrumental in fostering this startup ecosystem. DBT also oversees 15 autonomous institutions under the recently formed Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), including the National Institute of Immunology, the National Brain Research Centre, and the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics.
Significance of the DBT-Wellcome Trust Partnership
The collaboration between DBT and the Wellcome Trust represents a model of sustained international scientific cooperation and philanthropy. Since its inception in 2008, the India Alliance has operated as an independent public charity headquartered in Hyderabad, governed by a board of trustees and a strategic advisory council comprising leading scientists from India and abroad.
Dr Jitendra Singh described this partnership as a demonstration of how long-term collaborations can accelerate scientific discovery, develop world-class human resources, and build research ecosystems capable of addressing both national and global health challenges. He also called for greater participation by philanthropic institutions and industry, noting that while India possesses abundant scientific talent, sustained financial partnerships are essential for translating research into affordable healthcare solutions.
The long-term approval framework for Phase III, spanning over a decade, provides continuity and stability that allows researchers to plan ambitious, multi-year projects without funding uncertainty. This aligns with the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, which aims to transform India into a developed nation by the centenary of its independence, with science and technology playing a central role.
Key Takeaways
- Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) was launched with a total outlay of ₹1,500 crore, with ₹1,000 crore from DBT and ₹500 crore from the Wellcome Trust.
- The programme was first launched in 2008-2009 through the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance, a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle based in Hyderabad.
- Phase III will run from 2025-26 to 2030-31, with an additional six-year support period until 2037-38 for servicing approved fellowships and grants.
- The programme aims to train over 2,000 students and postdoctoral fellows and achieve a 10-15% increase in support to women researchers.
- India’s bioeconomy has grown from $10 billion in 2014 to over $195 billion in 2025, with a target of $300 billion by 2030.
- The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) was established in 1986 under the Ministry of Science and Technology, while the Wellcome Trust was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in London.
