India Ranks 12th Globally in Biomanufacturing, BRIC to Anchor BioE3 Vision: Dr Jitendra Singh

New Delhi, December 29: Ahead of the New Year, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh on Monday inaugurated the new Secretariat complex of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), calling it a “key milestone” in shaping India’s future bioeconomy.

Highlighting India’s growing footprint in the global biotechnology landscape, the Minister said the country currently ranks 12th worldwide in biomanufacturing, underscoring the need to accelerate innovation, scale manufacturing capabilities, and strengthen institutional collaboration to move up the global value chain.

The newly inaugurated BRIC Secretariat, located on the 4th Floor of NSIC Business Park, New Delhi, will function as a lean coordinating hub for BRIC’s 14 autonomous institutions, enabling seamless collaboration while preserving their institutional independence. The unified framework was formally envisioned in November 2023 to improve governance efficiency and foster integrated, impact-driven research beyond traditional silos.

Following the inauguration, Dr. Jitendra Singh chaired a comprehensive review meeting of BRIC’s ongoing initiatives. Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Director-General, BRIC, Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale presented an overview of the Council’s progress, emphasizing BRIC’s central role in advancing India’s biomanufacturing ambitions under the BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment).

Dr. Gokhale highlighted plans to establish BioE3 Parks as integrated ecosystems where BRIC research institutions, start-ups, MSMEs, and large industries can co-locate, enabling smoother transition from laboratory research to pilot-scale manufacturing and commercial deployment.

Commending the progress achieved since BRIC’s inception, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Council is poised to emerge as the backbone of India’s biomanufacturing ecosystem, aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He stressed the importance of a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach” to dismantle institutional silos, address structural bottlenecks, and enhance India’s global competitiveness in biosciences.

During a round-table interaction with senior officials from various departments and State Governments, the Minister underlined that governance reforms over the past decade have focused on simplifying systems by eliminating redundant rules, rather than adding layers of regulation. He noted that rationalisation of service rules, abolition of outdated practices, and technology-driven transparency have fundamentally transformed administrative culture.

Dr. Jitendra Singh also acknowledged the proactive role played by the Department of Biotechnology and its industry interface, the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), in fostering collaboration, optimising resources, and nurturing future-ready human capital in the biotechnology sector.

Directors of BRIC institutions reiterated the transformative potential of biology-led and biology-inspired technologies, emphasizing the need for indigenous biological data, robust biosecurity frameworks, and sustained investment in human resource development. They reaffirmed their commitment to positioning India as a global hub for biotechnology and biomanufacturing through coordinated institutional efforts.