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.

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

VECV Sales Rise 7.8 Per Cent In May 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles recorded sales of 7,978 units in May 2026, compared to 7,401 units in May 2025, registering growth of 7.8 per cent. This included 7,789 units from the Eicher brand and 189 units from the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,789 units during the month, up 7.3 per cent from 7,258 units a year earlier. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 9.1 per cent to 7,375 units from 6,758 units in May 2025.Exports declined 17.2 per cent to 414 units from 500 units in the corresponding month last year. Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses recor..

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

Table Space Strengthens DESYN Leadership Team

Table Space has announced strategic leadership appointments within DESYN, its integrated Design and Build business, as it looks to strengthen operations across key enterprise and GCC markets in India. DESYN was launched as a strategic extension of Table Space’s workspace solutions portfolio to meet rising demand for agile, high-quality and rapidly deployable enterprise workspaces.Shruti Ookabhoy has joined DESYN as Executive Director and will lead the Design vertical, focusing on design capability, operational excellence and team development across markets. She brings over 22 years of experi..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Jun 2026

Concord Associate Bags Rs 2.79 Bn Kavach Order

Concord Control Systems said its associate company, Progota India, has received a Rs 2.79 bn domestic order from Indian Railways for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of on-board Kavach 4.0 loco equipment.The order is scheduled for execution within 12 months and strengthens Concord’s role in India’s railway safety and signalling ecosystem. Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, designed to improve operational safety by helping prevent signal passing at danger and reducing collision risks.Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Syst..