First Hub

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges for the startup ecosystem of India. Hence the Government of India has joined hands with BIRAC to offer support to startups. FIRST, (Facilitation of Innovation and Regulations for

Start-ups and Innovators) HUB is created at BIRAC to resolve the queries of startups, entrepreneurs, researchers, academicians, incubation centres, SMEs etc. It brings stakeholders to a single platform and the FIRST HUB weekly sessions provide solution only for COVID-19 related queries. The current article briefs the First Hub - Facilitation of Innovation and Regulation for Start-Ups and Innovators

The objective of the First Hub:

To promote government initiatives on

Start-up India and Make in India, BIRAC has set up a Facilitation unit that will act as the First Hub to address the queries of Startups, Entrepreneurs, Researchers, Academicians, Incubation Centers, SMEs etc. BIRAC a Public Sector Undertaking of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India

Services Offered by First Hub:

The government of India is informed that First Hub will be open every first Friday of the Month at the BIRAC office from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Officers from DBT, BIRAC, ICMR, CDSCO, BIS, NIB and other relevant government organization will be available for taking queries related to the following:

Mentorship
Regulatory pathways and Regulation
Funding opportunities
Investment opportunities
Market access
Industry-Academia partnerships
Intellectual Property

Application Procedure for First Hub

Prior appointment is essential for filing queries at First Hub as only 5-6 Innovator slots are available. Innovators are requested to take prior appointment with details on Company Name, Address, Contact Details, Technology/ Innovation Summary, Stage of development and specific queries through online portal available at the official webpage of BIRAC. The entrepreneur needs to access the

official web-page of Startup India - COVID Resource Section, from the homepage, click on the Caption.

First Hub - Startup Homepage The link will redirect to a new page.

FIRST HUB - BIRAC By clicking on the Click here to apply for the First Hub option, the entrepreneur can submit the queries;

Applicant Name
Query For FIRSTHUB@BIRAC/ COVID-19
Applicant Type
Mode of Communication
Contact Details
Details of Queries
Technology/ Innovation Summary Details
Stage of Development

FIRST HUB - Application By clicking on the Save option, queries will be sent to BIRAC and the First Hub team will contact startups/applicant through Video Conferencing. The Link will be Shared by BIRAC

First Hub - Application2

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about FIRST HUB COVID.

The purpose of the FIRST HUB initiative is to provide a single platform where startups, entrepreneurs, researchers, academicians, incubation centers, SMEs, and other stakeholders can have their queries related to innovation, regulations, funding, and other areas resolved. It aims to facilitate and promote the government's Start-up India and Make in India initiatives.

The FIRST HUB initiative is organized by BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council), a Public Sector Undertaking of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, in collaboration with other relevant government organizations.

The FIRST HUB offers assistance and guidance on various areas, including mentorship, regulatory pathways, funding opportunities, investment opportunities, market access, industry-academia partnerships, and intellectual property.

According to the article, the FIRST HUB weekly sessions are held every first Friday of the month at the BIRAC office from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

The FIRST HUB sessions are open to startups, entrepreneurs, researchers, academicians, incubation centers, SMEs, and other stakeholders who have queries related to the areas covered by the initiative.

Yes, prior appointment is essential for filing queries at the FIRST HUB sessions, as only 5-6 innovator slots are available per session.

Interested parties can apply for an appointment at the FIRST HUB by accessing the online portal available on the official webpage of BIRAC, under the Startup India - COVID Resource Section.

While applying for the FIRST HUB, applicants need to provide details such as their company name, address, contact details, technology/innovation summary, stage of development, and specific queries.

After submitting the queries through the online portal, the FIRST HUB team at BIRAC will contact the applicants through video conferencing, and the link for the same will be shared by BIRAC.

Representatives from organizations like DBT, BIRAC, ICMR, CDSCO, BIS, NIB, and other relevant government bodies are present at the FIRST HUB sessions to provide expert guidance and solutions to queries related to their respective domains and areas of expertise.