Latest news with #BioconFoundation
Entrepreneur
10-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Syngene, RICH, Biocon Foundation Launch Third Cohort of Women-in-STEM Program
Now in its third year, the program is benefitting 40 women students selected after a competitive process that evaluated academic performance, research aptitude, and socio-economic background. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Syngene International, in collaboration with the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) and Biocon Foundation, has announced the launch of the third cohort of its flagship women-in-STEM scholarship and mentoring program. Designed to empower women from tier II and tier III institutions across India, this initiative continues to provide a crucial platform for aspiring scientists to gain industry exposure, financial support, and research mentorship. Now in its third year, the program is benefitting 40 women students selected after a competitive process that evaluated academic performance, research aptitude, and socio-economic background. With a strong emphasis on supporting students from underserved communities, the initiative aims to address the systemic challenges that often prevent women from smaller cities from pursuing successful careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). "This program is more than an educational intervention," said Dr Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India. "It is a regional solution model that connects science to society, talent to opportunity, and learning to livelihood. What RICH, Biocon Foundation, and Syngene have built here is not just impactful, it is essential to India's scientific and social progress." The program offers structured mentorship, financial assistance and hands-on research exposure, which includes practical experience in real lab environments. Participants will complete project-based internships at top pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as esteemed government institutions like CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). These internships are designed to build technical competencies, foster professional networks, and inspire long-term careers in STEM. Pramuch Goel, Head of Corporate Affairs, Syngene International, stated, "As an innovation-driven company, Syngene sees this program as an investment in India's scientific future. It's helping create a stronger, more inclusive research ecosystem by nurturing talent from institutions that often lack access to cutting-edge infrastructure or networks." Revathi Karamalla, from the second cohort, shared, "Before this program, I wasn't sure what a career in STEM looked like. Through mentorship and hands-on exposure, I gained the skills and confidence to shape my career path." Abhirami K, a current participant, said, "Coming from a small village, I never imagined I'd get a chance like this. This program is helping me understand what it takes to build a career in science." Launched in 2022 with 21 students, the program has expanded steadily, integrating features like biotech industry visits and national discussions on women in STEM. Several alumni have progressed to PhD programs or secured roles in research, underlining the initiative's success in bridging academia and industry. Dr Anupama Shetty, Mission Director, Biocon Foundation, highlighted, "This program exemplifies how targeted support can empower talented women to pursue meaningful careers in science. It's encouraging to see students grow in confidence and visualise long-term pathways in STEM." Rashmi Pimpale, CEO of RICH, summed up the initiative's significance: "In just two years, we've seen how structured support can turn potential into progress. This is not a nice-to-have, it's a must-have for inclusive scientific growth." With its growing impact, the Syngene–RICH–Biocon Foundation program stands as a model for industry-academia collaboration in nurturing the next generation of women scientists in India.
New Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Helping women steer careers in life sciences
BENGALURU: To help women build careers in life sciences, Biocon Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Biocon Group, in collaboration with The Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) Cluster, and National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), on Monday announced the launch of the first-of-its-kind program BioWISE - Women in STEM Empowered. The program is aimed at disadvantaged science students from tier 2 and 3 universities across Karnataka. As the first state-level cohort, the BioWISE program will support 25 women students, including 15 postgraduates (PG) and 10 undergraduates (UG) from life sciences backgrounds. The initiative is designed to run 6 months for PG students and 3 months for UG students, offering them extensive exposure, training, and mentorship.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Biocon Foundation partners with NCBS and BeST Cluster to support 25 women in STEM
Biocon Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Biocon Group, in collaboration with The Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) Cluster, and National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), announced the launch of BioWISE, an initiative aimed to help disadvantaged female science students from tier 2 and 3 universities across Karnataka, to build a career in life sciences. The programme aims to support 25 women students from diverse communities through scholarships, extended internships, and mentorship, thereby enhancing access, participation, and retention of women from underserved communities in STEM, particularly the life sciences. In the first State-level cohort, 15 postgraduates and 10 undergraduates from life sciences background will be supported. The students will be selected from colleges and universities across the State. Mentorship and exposure During the cohort duration, which is six months for PG students and three months for UG students, the students will be provided with exposure, training, and mentorship. Biocon Foundation will enable the initiative through funding, and experts from Biocon Biologics will support with mentorship. NCBS will serve as the host institute and academic mentoring partner. BeST Cluster will contribute to the programme's design, management, and implementation. In a statement from Biocon Foundation, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon Group, said, 'Empowering women in STEM through our program BioWISE, is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic investment in our nation's future. Our commitment to supporting women in science stems from our broader vision of enabling equitable access to health, education, research, and opportunity.' Identifying pockets During the cohort, participants will engage in mentorship sessions with experts from Biocon Biologics, NCBS, and other institutions to gain insights into research and career opportunities. They will also get the opportunity to visit the research labs of NCBS, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Jyoti Nivas College, and bio-incubators and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Focused workshops, wet-lab experiences, research-oriented seminars and soft skills and communication training are the other features of the programme. 'It is important to work with the government to identify pockets from where we can pick up students,' saidAnupama Shetty, Mission Director, Biocon Foundation, speaking to The Hindu during the launch event at NCBS. 'Where do we focus in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, which are the colleges where there is a larger women representation and good pass rates - these are some insights we need, and that is how we would be planning the community outreach,' she added. R Anantharaman, CEO, BeST Cluster, noted that the initiative is a commitment to ensure that career breaks do not translate into career ends.
Business Upturn
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Biocon launches BioWISE program to empower women in STEM across Karnataka
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on June 9, 2025, 17:01 IST Biocon Foundation, the CSR arm of Biocon Group, has announced the launch of its new BioWISE (Women in STEM Empowered) program in partnership with the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) Cluster. The initiative aims to support 25 women science students from tier 2 and 3 universities across Karnataka to build careers in life sciences through internships, mentorships, and training. This first-of-its-kind program will support 15 postgraduate and 10 undergraduate students from underserved communities, offering six-month and three-month mentorship and hands-on exposure respectively. The initiative is structured to include lab visits, bio-incubation centre tours, soft skills training, and continuous mentor-mentee sessions with experts from Biocon Biologics, NCBS, and other partner institutions. Chairperson Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw emphasized that empowering women in STEM is a strategic investment in India's future. The program will be hosted at NCBS, while BeST Cluster will oversee design and implementation. Biocon Biologics will also provide professional mentorship. The launch event witnessed participation from various dignitaries and scientists, with all stakeholders committing to building an inclusive scientific ecosystem that ensures equitable access to research, education, and opportunity. Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
