New Delhi, Dec 03: The Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA), the apex industry body representing India’s private market investors, hosted the Domestic Institutional Investors (DII) & Exits Forum 2025 in New Delhi today. Supported by 360 ONE, Cooley, Peak XV Partners, as well as by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), MGB Advisors, and Uniqus Consultech, the Forum brought together leading domestic allocators, policymakers, fund managers, and industry participants to strengthen India’s domestic capital framework. A key highlight was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IVCA and BIRAC to deepen collaboration on capacity building, investment awareness, and strengthening India’s science and technology innovation ecosystem.
As part of the programme, Dr Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, BIRAC, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, joined a panel on “Unlocking $12 Billion+ Domestic Institutional Funds for Indian Alternative Assets”, which focused on mobilising Indian institutional pools and aligning best practices with the needs of a rapidly growing alternative investment landscape. The panel drew attention to the importance of domestic capital in supporting research-led innovation and helping science-based enterprises scale sustainably.
Mr. Jitendra Kumar added, “India’s biotech ecosystem has expanded from fewer than 500 companies to more than 10,000 today, driven by BIRAC’s incubation networks and co-funding models that bring private capital into R&D. Deep tech requires long gestation, high-quality infrastructure, and patient capital, and companies are now seeking Rs 25 to 100 crore for scale-up. RDIF arrives at the right time to bridge this gap and mobilise domestic capital for breakthrough technologies. This is a pivotal moment for India to strengthen deep tech innovation and build globally competitive biotech enterprises.”
India’s innovation ecosystem has been expanding, supported by a strong network of research institutions, bio-incubators, and early-stage enterprises. BIRAC has enabled more than 4,800 innovators and supported the establishment of 95 incubators across the country, creating a strong foundation for research-led entrepreneurship. With India’s biotech startup base crossing 8,500+ ventures, the Forum highlighted the need to build clearer domestic capital pathways to help these enterprises transition from early development to commercial scale. Dr Kumar’s session centred on how deeper engagement from institutional investors can strengthen these transitions and reinforce India’s long-term technological capabilities.
Conversations like these formed a key part of the Forum’s broader agenda to strengthen India’s DII base and ensure investment flows align with the country’s long-term strategic and innovation priorities. Dr Kumar’s participation added a crucial perspective on connecting research-driven enterprise development with institutional capital, reinforcing the n:eed for coordinated efforts across government, investors, and industry to support India’s next phase of technology-led growth.