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.
