The Gujarat government has proposed an investment of Rs. 1 bn over five years to establish the Marine Biotechnology Research & Innovation Corridor, or M-BRIC, at Mocha village in Porbandar district. The project is intended to bring marine research, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, startups, industrial applications and coastal livelihoods into an integrated ecosystem.

The Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission, under the state Department of Science and Technology, is developing the initiative. An MoU is proposed between the mission and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, or CSIR-CSMCRI, to establish and develop the corridor.

The proposed facility will cover about 30 acres and include research infrastructure, pilot-scale bioprocessing and biomanufacturing units, incubation centres and industrial facilities. Its planned infrastructure is intended to support the movement of marine biotechnology projects from research and validation to commercial applications.

A dedicated seaweed-processing cluster will form a central part of the corridor. The cluster will handle raw material processing, extraction, drying, packaging, storage and quality control, providing facilities across the main stages of seaweed-based product development.

The project will focus on converting seaweeds, microalgae and marine microorganisms into high-value products. It will also support startups through technology validation, intellectual property protection, regulatory assessment, licensing and technology transfer, linking scientific research with industrial use and potential livelihood opportunities along the coast.

By combining research facilities, processing infrastructure and incubation support at one location, M-BRIC is planned as a platform for marine biotechnology activity in Gujarat. The proposed arrangement with CSIR-CSMCRI is expected to provide an institutional foundation for the corridor, while the participation of startups and industrial users is intended to help develop applications from marine biological resources.