The Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) held the inaugural meeting of its Research Advisory Board (RAB) on 27 and 28 March 2026 at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) in Faridabad. BRIC is an apex autonomous body formed by subsuming 14 autonomous institutes of the Department of Biotechnology, and the board was constituted to guide, review and monitor research activities across BRIC Institutes (iBRIC). The two-day meeting brought together senior scientists, institutional leaders and expert members to deliberate on ambitious national initiatives and governance reforms aimed at transforming BRIC into a decentralised national biotechnology laboratory. Dr Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology and Director General of BRIC, set out a framework for co-creating the next phase of the country's biotech transformation and urged the board to act as co-architects of BRIC's evolution. Professor K VijayRaghavan emphasised the value of multidisciplinary teams and advocated for open knowledge sharing, shared infrastructure and iterative ideation aligned with technological advances. Discussions underlined the need to design mission-focused objectives to support a growing bioeconomy and to foster sustainability alongside scientific excellence. Directors of the BRIC Institutes including the Regional Centre for Biotechnology and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) presented a map of institutional capacity, niche research domains and strategic infrastructure. Participants outlined a network of biomanufacturing hubs and biofoundries being developed to position BRIC at the forefront of the emerging bio-based economy, and emphasised linkages with industry to accelerate technology translation. Delegates also discussed a performance framework matrix to help BRIC faculty align their work with institutional mandates and national development goals. The conclave concluded with an open webinar and panel discussion that enabled iBRIC faculty to engage with the Research Advisory Board and to exchange ideas on priorities and collaborations. Follow-up work will focus on utilising core budgets strategically and on fostering frugal innovations that leverage local materials and design intelligence.