Minister updates ICGEB Board on BioE3 Policy
India’s bioeconomy has seen an exponential rise from US$10 billion in 2014 to US$165.7 billion in 2024, and is on track to achieve US$300 billion target by 2030, Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science & Technology told international experts in New Delhi on 14 May.
He emphasized that India is at the right time, in the right place, with a highly enabling political ecosystem to lead the next global biotechnology revolution http://dst.gov.in.
The Minister also dedicated India’s first of its kind public funded Department of Science and Technology (DST)-ICGEB ‘Bio-foundry’ at the 31st Board Meeting of Governors of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB).
Addressing the Board of Governors, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “This milestone aligns with the Government of India’s BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment).”
Emphasizing the national importance of biomanufacturing, he lauded the BioE3 Policy, approved by the Cabinet in August 2024, as a game-changing step to build a resilient ecosystem for bio-based products and promote high-performance biomanufacturing. He stated that India is now poised to lead the next wave of industrial revolution with sustainable biotech-driven manufacturing practices.
The Minister expressed pride in ICGEB New Delhi’s pioneering role in implementing the BioE3 Policy, especially through the newly dedicated Bio-foundry. The facility will serve as a platform for scaling up bio-based innovations in collaboration with startups and researchers.
He shared that 105 international students from 29 countries have earned PhDs, along with 112 postdoctoral researchers, reflecting its global academic excellence. He also highlighted the signing of an MoU between Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and IN-SPACe for advancing space biotechnology and space medicine.
He underscored the importance of maintaining a strong focus on five key sectors to drive the next phase of India’s biotechnology growth. These include bioenergy, bio-industrial, bio-plantation, biomedical, and biomanufacturing. He emphasized that strategic development in these areas will not only strengthen India’s bioeconomy but also contribute significantly to sustainable development and global competitiveness.
The Minister reiterated, “India has the most enabling milieu today for biotechnology. The time is right, the ecosystem is ripe, and we have visionary leadership steering us toward becoming a global bioeconomy leader.”
The ICGEB Board was represented by Dr. Jelena Begovic, President of the ICGEB Board of Governors, who underscored the critical importance of biotechnology in addressing the needs of today’s rapidly changing world.
Dr Lawrence Banks, Director General of ICGEB (Italy), lauded India’s exceptional commitment and impressive strides in the biotech sector.
Marianna Maculan, Secretary of the ICGEB Board of Governors, was also present during the proceedings.
DBT Secretary Dr Rajesh Gokhale highlighted India’s growing leadership in the biomedical and bio-industrial sectors, emphasizing recent initiatives that are shaping the future of these domains. Dr Alka Sharma, Senior Adviser at DBT and Dr Ramesh Sonti, Director, ICGEB were also present at the 31st Board Meeting.
ICGEB has 69 member countries and plays a key role in biotechnology-led sustainable global development through research, training and technology transfer.
Founded in 1983, the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) is a premier intergovernmental organization dedicated to advancing research in the life sciences. India is one of the founding members of ICGEB. The organization operates through three main centres: New Delhi (India), which focuses on research and biotechnology applications; Trieste (Italy), which serves as the headquarters and coordinates global operations; and Cape Town (South Africa), which functions as a key hub for research, development, and international collaboration. fiinews.com
