New Delhi : India is rapidly emerging as a major global biotechnology powerhouse, with its bioeconomy expanding from approximately $10 billion to more than $195 billion, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said during the third Foundation Day celebrations of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC).

The event, held at BRIC–National Institute of Immunology (NII), brought together scientists, policymakers and industry representatives to discuss India’s growing capabilities in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, genomics and advanced manufacturing.

Highlighting the country’s scientific progress, Dr Singh noted that India’s biotechnology startup ecosystem has grown from just 50–60 ventures to over 11,000 startups, reflecting the sector’s expanding innovation and entrepreneurial potential.

BRIC’s Integrated Approach to Scientific Innovation

Emphasising institutional collaboration, the Minister highlighted BRIC’s unique structure, which brings together 13 leading biotechnology institutions across 11 cities under a unified national framework.

Describing it as a ‘joint family’ model, he said the arrangement enables institutions to share infrastructure, expertise and resources while retaining their individual autonomy. The approach is expected to reduce administrative barriers and encourage faster scientific breakthroughs.

Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology and Director General of BRIC, stressed the importance of translating laboratory research into practical, market-ready technologies. He underlined the council’s commitment to strengthening indigenous innovation and India’s global scientific standing.

Major International Partnerships and Funding Announced

The Foundation Day celebrations also witnessed several significant announcements:

• UK-India Partnership: BRIC and the UK’s Centre for Process Innovation signed a Letter of Intent to strengthen cooperation in biomanufacturing and biofoundry development.
• Research Funding: Wellcome Trust announced a grant of up to ₹21.7 crore for a five-year immersion training programme involving more than 250 iBRIC+ PhD scholars.
• Advanced Biofoundries: Strategic hubs in Mohali, Hyderabad, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram will support advanced biomanufacturing and AI-driven research.

Focus on Young Scientific Talent

The celebrations also highlighted investments in the next generation of researchers. The i3C PhD programme, designed to promote interdisciplinary research across healthcare and agriculture, has already supported nearly 200 scholars.

Three distinguished scientists — Dr Sunil Laxman of BRIC-inStem, Dr Rashna Bhandari of BRIC-CDFD and Professor Bhabatosh Das of BRIC-THSTI — received the iBRIC+ Spotlight Scientist of the Year–2026 awards for their contributions to scientific research.

Building India’s Global Biotech Leadership

With increased opportunities for private-sector participation through initiatives such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and BIRAC, India is looking to strengthen the connection between scientific research, industrial development and commercial innovation.

The third Foundation Day of BRIC underscored the country’s ambition to move beyond technology adoption and emerge as a global innovator in biotechnology and the next generation of industrial advancements.