25 women to get STEM career boost with Biocon-supported initiative

Bengaluru: Twenty-five women students pursuing life sciences in Karnataka will be supported to build careers in the field through a programme launched by Biocon Foundation in partnership with the Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) Cluster and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) on Monday.

The BioWISE — Women in STEM Empowered — programme aims to empower disadvantaged women students from tier-2 and Tier-3 universities across Karnataka through regular mentorship, internships, bio-incubation centre visits, and other initiatives.

It will offer hands-on training, research seminars, and soft skills sessions to improve access and retention of women from diverse communities in STEM.

The first cohort will support 25 students, including 15 postgraduates and 10 undergraduates from life sciences backgrounds.

In a video message, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson of Biocon Group, said, “Empowering women in STEM through BioWISE is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic investment in our nation’s future.
Our commitment to women in science stems from our broader vision of enabling equitable access to health, education, research, and
opportunity.”

Other dignitaries, including R Anantharaman, CEO of BeST; Prof L S Shashidhara, Director of NCBS; Prof Vatsala Thirumalai, Dean of Research at NCBS; Dr Anupama Shetty, Mission Director of Biocon Foundation; and Dr Sumana, Nodal Officer, Department of Collegiate Education, Karnataka, noted that the initiative would help build a thriving scientific community from a vast pool of talented women in STEM, essential for creating future-ready research systems.

Dr Sumana highlighted that only 7% to 10% of leadership roles in India are held by women, with their participation in startups at about 10%.

Biocon Foundation is funding the project. Experts from Biocon Biologics will offer mentorship, while NCBS will serve as the host institute and academic mentoring partner, and BeST Cluster will contribute to the programme’s design, management, and implementation.