The Society was established by the Department of Defence Research and Development (i.e., DRDO) in collaboration with Department of Science and Technology (DST), with participation from Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and medical institutions such as National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore and Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum who also constitute the Governing Council. The research activities of the Society are carried out through the Laboratories of Defence Research and Development Organisation and also at few other well known Academic and medical Institutions.

The Society was officially launched on 27 June 1993 at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Hyderabad by Dr. P Rama Rao, the then Secretary, DST in the presence of His Excellency Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the then Secretary, DRDO & also Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri. The Society was registered at Bangalore with the Registrar of Societies, Karnataka on 1st October 1993. The registered office of SBMT is located at Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bangalore. The Director, DEBEL functions as the Chief Executive of the Society.

The Society is governed by the MANAGEMENT COUNCIL chaired jointly by the Secretaries of DRDO and DST and includes the Secretary, Dept of Health Research & DG, ICMR, Directors of NIMHANS & SCTIMST among others (vide below for constitution). In addition, the activities are guided by the PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT BOARD and the ADVISORY COUNCIL.