WILL BioE3 BE THE BLUEPRINT OF INDIA’S BIOTECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION?

The Union Cabinet sanctioned the BioE3 policy—Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment—on 24th August 2024, to promote development and accelerate high-performance manufacturing within the biotechnology sector. This policy is intricately designed to steer India towards a more sustainable and resource-efficient industrial framework, promoting self-reliance and reducing the country's dependency on imports. By aligning economic growth with environmental stewardship, the BioE3 policy aspires to elevate India's standing on the global stage, enhancing its competitiveness and paving the way for a robust, self-sustaining biotechnology industry.

India’s Department of Biotechnology @dbt india, established in 1986, has played a pivotal role in the country's biotech evolution, particularly in fostering research institutions that have significantly advanced biotechnology manufacturing. This progress is exemplified by India's emergence as a global leader in vaccine development, diagnostics, and biologics, earning it the cognomen of the “vaccine factory” of the world. The potential of biotechnology extends far beyond vaccines and has yet to catalyse an industrial revolution. Recognising this, the current strategic focus of India’s biotechnology initiatives is centered on 6 key verticals:

1. Bio-based chemicals and enzymes;

2. Functional foods and Smart proteins;

3. Precision biotherapeutics;

4. Climate resilient agriculture;

5. Carbon capture and its utilisation;

6. Futuristic marine and space research.

Despite possessing substantial know-how and a robust pool of human resources, only a handful of Indian biotechnology companies have gained global prominence. A key challenge lies in the limited capacity of domestic Turnkey Project Consultants and OEMs to supply Indian companies and startups with the essential process-efficient and cost-effective designs (both modular or otherwise) that are?quick-to-commercialise, energy-efficient, multi-product-switchable yet regulatory compliant. Global challenges like climate change, unsustainable material consumption, and waste generation can effectively be addressed through sustainable innovations that prioritise eco-friendliness and resource efficiency. Focusing on greener technologies and reducing consumption alleviates the impacts of these challenges and aids the Indian biotechnological industry to take strides towards the national goal of a 'net zero carbon economy'. This aligns with the vision articulated by Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Jitender Singh, highlighting the remarkable growth of India's bio-economy—from $10 billion in 2014 to over $130 billion in 2024, with projections to soar to $300 billion by 2030.

The BioE3 initiative embodies this vision, aiming to cultivate a more industrialised biotechnology sector that not only harnesses cutting-edge technologies but also positions India as a global leader across diverse biotech domains. The establishment of bio-foundries and bio-artificial intelligence hubs is set to create new avenues for biotechnologists to collaborate, innovate, and will drive India’s future bioeconomy by promoting "Green Growth”. The central ambition of this policy is to catalyse the shift from conventional chemical-based industries to more sustainable, bio-based industrial frameworks. By championing the principles of a circular bioeconomy, it aims to accelerate progress toward net-zero carbon emissions. This will be achieved through the innovative use of microbial cell factories to convert biomass, landfill waste, greenhouse gases, and other byproducts into valuable bio-based products, driving both environmental sustainability and industrial transformation. India’s vast wealth of bioresources, coupled with an untapped potential waiting to be harnessed, offers a distinct advantage in biotechnology research, innovation, translation, and entrepreneurship. This industrial growth -poised to fuel employment generation- solidifies India's position in the global biotechnology landscape.

For over four decades, DD Enterprises has been a forerunner in providing turnkey solutions to India’s biotechnology sector — designing and delivering state-of-the-art bioprocess equipment that meet stringent regulatory standards. Our team of researchers, engineers, technicians, designers, and technology specialists, bring unparalleled expertise across a diverse array of knowledge domains. This interdisciplinary collaboration is particularly evident in the cutting-edge technology we deliver for manufacturing novel therapies like mAbs, Cell and Gene Therapy and Biosimilars as well as smart proteins. DDE has also partnered with major pharma companies during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver modular and automated processing systems for vaccine manufacturing. By combining global manufacturing best practices, technical know-how, user-friendly designs, accelerated technology development and commercialisation, DDE establishes a benchmark for innovation that is synonymous with the highest standards of safety and quality. ?As the Nation progresses towards the vision of Viksit Bharat - Startups & Innovation Mission @2047, DDE aims to revolutionise biomanufacturing processes — positioning India at the forefront of a future that is more sustainable and responsive to global challenges.

BIRAC Regional Bioinnovation Center (BRBC) India DST DBT BIRAC Narendra Modi

National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) BRIC-Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology BRIC-National Institute of Immunology Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) ICGEB