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 the BioWISE - Women in STEM Empowered program on June 9, 2025.
- The program is designed to empower disadvantaged science students from tier 2 and 3 universities across Karnataka to build careers in life sciences.
- It will support 25 women students, comprising 15 postgraduates (PG) and 10 undergraduates (UG) from life sciences backgrounds, through scholarships, extended internships, and mentorship.
- The initiative will run for 6 months for PG students and 3 months for UG students, providing extensive exposure, training, and mentorship.
- Key program highlights include:
- Regular Mentor-Mentee Sessions with experts from Biocon Biologics, NCBS, and other institutions.
- Lab Visits & Scientific Exposure to research labs such as NCBS, TIGS, IISc, and JNC.
- Bio-Incubation Centre Visits to explore entrepreneurial ecosystems.
- Hands-on Training & Research Seminars to build technical and scientific thinking skills.
- Soft Skills & Communication Training for workplace readiness and career planning.
- Biocon Foundation will enable the initiative through funding and expert mentorship from Biocon Biologics, while NCBS will serve as the host institute and academic mentoring partner. BeST Cluster will contribute to the program's design, management, and implementation.
- Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon Group, commented, “At Biocon Group, we believe that science must be inclusive. 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.”