Manipal, 2nd May 2022: The “Leadership Series – Innovation and Entrepreneurship Goals” event was organized by Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MSLS-MAHE) and the BioNEST-Manipal-Government of Karnataka Bioincubator, MAHE Manipal on 30th April 2022. The chief guest of this function was Dr. Manish Diwan, DGM and Head-Strategy Partnership & Entrepreneurship Development, BIRAC, DBT, New Delhi.
In the inaugural address Dr. K Satyamoorthy emphasised the growing relevance and importance of the Biotechnology Industry and the fast-growing start-up culture ecosystem in India as well as the great potential that remains untapped. He also welcomed and encouraged the young innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers in the audience to take advantage of the opportunities being provided.
Chief guest, Dr. Manish Diwan provided a brief introduction to BIRAC – Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), India’s leading flagship scheme set up by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India as an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs.
Dr. Manish Diwan also introduced the newly inaugurated The BioNEST (Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies) facility set up at Manipal to cater to Biotech entrepreneurs, startups with access to relevant instruments, mentorship, access to experts, and also the regulatory guidance. Dr. Diwan further encouraged the PhD scholars and young researchers present in the audience to take advantage of the many facilities provided by the Bioincubator for start-ups. He further also spoke about the great opportunity that MAHE as a university with several different departments provides to young researchers from the Biotech field for interdisciplinary collaboration.
The chief guests address was followed by an interactive session which was ushered by Dr. Manesh Thomas, CEO, Manipal-GoK Bioincubator-MAHE, Manipal where the audience was provided with the opportunity to interact with Dr. Diwan. Several questions including advice that Dr. Diwan had for academicians looking to transition into startups and entrepreneurship as well as opportunities provided by BIRAC for startups and entrepreneurs at the early stage of product development were addressed.
The session concluded with the vote of thanks which was delivered by Dr. Manesh Thomas, CEO Manipal-GoK Bioincubator who thanked the Chief Guest, the organizers and the audience for their participation and making the event a success.
Other dignitaries present at the function included Dr. Manesh Thomas, CEO, BioNEST-Manipal-Government of Karnataka Bioincubator and Dr. K. Satyamoorthy, Director, Manipal School of Life Sciences, MAHE, Manipal.
By 
ForthFocus™