Regional BIRAC Centres to Boost Biotech Startups Across India

29 Mar 2025 CW Team

The Minister emphasized the importance of mapping states based on their biotech capabilities and directed the department to work with state governments to establish Bio E3 (Economy, Environment, and Employment) Cells. Assam has become the first state to set up a dedicated Bio E3 Cell. These units will support innovation, entrepreneurship, and the scaling up of biotech ventures at the regional level.

To advance biomanufacturing, the Minister called for stronger support systems for StartUps, including enhanced incubator services. He also underlined the need to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in biomanufacturing and bio foundries to drive growth in the sector and position India as a global biotech hub.

Highlighting the importance of a tripartite synergy between research infrastructure, StartUps, and industrial R&D, Dr Singh directed the department to prioritise the creation of Core R&D Facilities. These facilities will offer advanced biomanufacturing capabilities to enable pilot validation, upscaling, and commercialization of biotech innovations.

He also referred to the Centre-State Partnership Summit held in Delhi, reaffirming the government's commitment to fostering a nationwide biotech ecosystem through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and technical assistance. Several states have shown interest in developing Biotechnology Parks, further strengthening India's bio-economy.

Additionally, the Minister stressed the importance of regenerative technologies in the future of biomanufacturing and encouraged collaboration with industry leaders to replicate the success of India’s space sector in the biotech domain.

At a high-level meeting of the Department of Biotechnology, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh announced the establishment of Regional BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) Centres across India. These centres will be set up in collaboration with state governments to boost StartUps and biomanufacturing, aiming to unlock the biotechnology potential of various regions. The Minister emphasized the importance of mapping states based on their biotech capabilities and directed the department to work with state governments to establish Bio E3 (Economy, Environment, and Employment) Cells. Assam has become the first state to set up a dedicated Bio E3 Cell. These units will support innovation, entrepreneurship, and the scaling up of biotech ventures at the regional level. To advance biomanufacturing, the Minister called for stronger support systems for StartUps, including enhanced incubator services. He also underlined the need to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in biomanufacturing and bio foundries to drive growth in the sector and position India as a global biotech hub. Highlighting the importance of a tripartite synergy between research infrastructure, StartUps, and industrial R&D, Dr Singh directed the department to prioritise the creation of Core R&D Facilities. These facilities will offer advanced biomanufacturing capabilities to enable pilot validation, upscaling, and commercialization of biotech innovations. He also referred to the Centre-State Partnership Summit held in Delhi, reaffirming the government's commitment to fostering a nationwide biotech ecosystem through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and technical assistance. Several states have shown interest in developing Biotechnology Parks, further strengthening India's bio-economy. Additionally, the Minister stressed the importance of regenerative technologies in the future of biomanufacturing and encouraged collaboration with industry leaders to replicate the success of India’s space sector in the biotech domain.

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