India unveils 21 bioenabler platforms to drive global biomanufacturing leadership

New Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, launched High-Performance Biomanufacturing Platforms under the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy, positioning India as a future global hub for biotechnology-led growth.

Speaking at an interactive meet of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) with industry stakeholders at India International Centre here, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “India now accounts for 21 out of the 121 bio-companies globally. This is not a small achievement for a country that once followed others; today, we are among the first movers in institutionalising biomanufacturing policy.”

The Minister said, the government’s focus on biomanufacturing was part of a larger vision to make India self-reliant in critical sectors and reduce dependence on imports. “BioEnablers are the foundation of India’s next wave of biotechnology-led growth. By providing world-class platforms, tools, and infrastructure, BioEnablers empower our scientists, StartUps, and industry to move faster from ideas to innovations, and from laboratories to markets,” he said.

The newly launched platforms bring together 21 advanced bio-enabler facilities across the country. These facilities will offer shared infrastructure for startups, small and medium enterprises, industries, and academic institutions to test, scale, and commercialise technologies. The scope of work spans microbial biomanufacturing, smart proteins, sustainable agriculture, functional foods, carbon capture, marine biotechnology, and next-generation cell and gene therapies.

As per the Minister, India’s bioeconomy has surged from $10 billion to nearly $100 billion in a decade, with a target of $300 billion. Biotech startups have grown from 50 to over 13,000, supported by nearly 100 BIRAC incubators.

The Minister stressed that biomanufacturing will not only strengthen healthcare, agriculture, and the environment but also reduce import dependence and enhance India’s global standing. He predicted biotechnology would become the new “buzzword” of growth, much like IT in the 1990s.

DBT Secretary Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale called the launch a “pioneering step” toward global bioeconomy leadership. The facilities include pilot-scale plants for specialty chemicals, fermentation hubs for functional foods, GMP-grade setups for gene delivery vectors, and platforms for monoclonal antibodies, enzymes, and mRNA-based medicines.

Industry leaders welcomed the move, noting its role in enabling frontier technologies like CAR-T cell therapy, marine biofoundries, synthetic biology, and probiotics. They also flagged challenges—lack of large-scale indigenous vector production, regulatory hurdles, and need for deeper marine biotech integration.

Dr Singh responded that while BIRAC provides early handholding, long-term growth will depend on global partnerships, private investment, and stronger academia-industry linkages. He urged companies to move beyond replication and aim for leadership in futuristic therapies and marine biotechnology.

The event saw active participation from DBT, BIRAC, scientific advisers, academia, and industry representatives, underscoring the collaborative drive powering India’s biotech growth story.