25 women students to receive internship, training, and mentorship in Life Sciences segment
Biocon Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Biocon Group in collaboration with The Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) Cluster, and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) announced the launch of BioWISE – Women in STEM Empowered programme, aimed at disadvantaged science students from tier II and III universities across Karnataka, to build a career in life sciences.
The announcement was made at an event at NCBS campus, Bengaluru which was attended by R Anantharaman, CEO, BeST, Prof LS Shashidhara, Director-NCBS, Prof Vatsala Thirumalai, Dean Research, NCBS, and Dr Anupama Shetty, Mission Director, Biocon Foundation along with Dr Sumana, Nodal Officer, DCE, Govt of Karnataka.,
Some of the other guests also included Prof Uma Ramakrishnan, Dean Faculty, NCBS, Dr Vineeta Ragavan, Research Development Officer, Instem, Prof. TNC Vidya & Dr Achira Roy from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR, Dr Rajeswari Shome from ICAR-NIVEDI, Dr Mansi Malik & Dr Pankaj Gupta from Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), among other dignitaries.
Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon Group, said, “At Biocon Group, we believe that science must be inclusive. Empowering women in STEM through our programme 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.”
Prof Ambarish Ghosh, Co-PI, BeST Cluster, Said, “At BeST Cluster, we believe diversity and inclusion are essential. BioWISE is our step toward a scientific community where women from all backgrounds can thrive, lead, and inspire.”
Anatharaman, CEO, BeST Cluster, said, “This initiative is a commitment to ensure that career breaks do not translate into career ends. We believe BioWISE will help unlock the vast potential of talented women in STEM across Karnataka.”
Prof LS Shashidhara, Director, NCBS, stated, “NCBS is honoured to serve as a hub for this initiative, and we look forward to hosting and mentoring the next generation of women leaders in science.”
Dr Sumana, Nodal officer, DCE, Government of Karnataka, observed “Empowering women in STEM is not just a goal, it is a necessity for building resilient, future-ready research systems. BioWISE is an inclusive platform that brings this vision to life, starting right here in Karnataka.”
As the first state-level cohort, the BioWISE programme will support 25 women students, including 15 postgraduates (PG) and 10 undergraduates (UG) from life sciences backgrounds. The initiative is designed to run for 6 months for PG students and three months for UG students, offering them extensive exposure, training, and mentorship. BioWISE provides a multi-dimensional platform to build competencies, foster mentorship, and open up research and industry pathways for women entering the STEM specifically the life sciences workforce.
Biocon Foundation will enable the initiative through funding and experts from Biocon Biologics, an industry partner, will support with mentorship; 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 Anupama Shetty, Mission Director, Biocon Foundation, stated “BioWISE is an essential step toward creating enabling environments where women can thrive in science. At Biocon Foundation, we believe that empowering women in STEM will have a ripple effect across communities, leading to more inclusive and sustainable growth.”
Prof Vatsala Thirumalai, Dean Research, NCBS, said “BioWISE represents more than training, it is about transformation. We are proud to support an initiative that brings opportunities to young women from underserved communities and prepares them for impactful careers in life sciences.”
Program Highlights:
- Regular Mentor-Mentee Sessions: Participants will engage in continuous mentorship sessions with experts from Biocon Biologics, NCBS, and other institutions to gain insights into research and career opportunities.
- Lab Visits & Scientific Exposure: Structured visits to NCBS, TIGS (Tata Institute for Genetics and Society), IISc (Indian Institute of Science), and JNC (Jyoti Nivas College) will provide practical exposure to world-class research labs and facilities.
- Bio-Incubation Centre Visits: Participants will explore bio-incubators and entrepreneurial ecosystems to understand innovation pathways in life sciences.
- Hands-on Training & Research Seminars: Focussed workshops, wet-lab experiences, and research-oriented seminars/webinars will help participants build core technical and scientific thinking skills.
- Soft Skills & Communication Training: Emphasis will be placed on workplace readiness, professional communication, and career planning to ensure sustainable reintegration into STEM fields.
