The Biocon Foundation, in collaboration with the BeST Cluster and NCBS, is inducting the first BioWISE cohort of female graduate students. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
While the country’s women are entering STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) education in large numbers, too many are dropping out at the stage of entering professional roles, lamented Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chair of Biocon.
“India doesn’t have a pipeline problem in science, it has a transition problem,” she said while speaking at the induction of the first cohort of BioWISE, an initiative to empower women for jobs in STEM (mostly life sciences) fields, held at the city’s Biocon Park on Friday.
Biocon Foundation, Biocon’s Corporate Social Responsibility arm, in collaboration with the Bangalore Science and Technology Cluster (BEST Cluster) and the National Center for Biological Sciences (NCBS), formally inducted the first batch of BioWISE.
The 15 female postgraduates were selected through a multi-stage process from over 350 applicants across Tier 2 and 3 colleges in Karnataka for the six-month internship program, including stipends and mentorship. Under the training programme, 25 female undergraduates, 15 postgraduates and 10 undergraduates from Tier 2 and 3 universities across Karnataka would be supported with academic training covering biotechnology, life sciences, microbiology, bioinformatics and allied disciplines, enabling them to build sustainable STEM careers.
BioWISE was a strategic intervention where talent met opportunity, Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw said, adding, “This program is about building trust and ecosystems of support so that women not only stay in science, but lead, innovate and shape the future of Indian science entrepreneurship.”
Fifteen female STEM trainees were placed at the National Center for Biological Sciences (1), Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (2), Indian Institute of Science (5) and Biocon (7), where they would work alongside scientists and industry professionals on live research and development programs.
In a virtual speech, Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary of the Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor (OPSA), said: “The future of science and innovation will depend on how inclusively we nurture and strengthen our talent pool. When women are given equal access to opportunities, supported in their growth and empowered to lead, the entire ecosystem will benefit.”
According to Anupama Shetty, Mission Director, Biocon Foundation, in addition to 15 post-graduate interns, the program would also support 10 undergraduate students during the year through scholarships, short-term internships and mentoring modules, giving them early exposure and continuity to enter STEM careers.
Published – 03 Apr 2026 20:47 IST
