"A network of Biofoundries, will boost ecosystem's value creation status as 'Innovator"

After a policy shift under Narendra Modi’s regime, biotechnology research and Bio StartUps are prioritised and have taken centre stage. Now the centre has announced a BioE3 Policy aimed at ‘Fostering High Performance Biomanufacturing’. The policy lays out plans for accelerating the transition to biomanufacturing by promoting integrated use of AI, digitalisation with ‘omics’, and upstream biotechnology innovations through bio-AI hubs, biofoundries, and biomanufacturing hubs across the country. In an interaction with BioSpectrum, Dr Manish Diwan, Mission Director, Make in India for Biotech Sector, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and Head, Biofoundry, NCR Biotech Cluster & IVCOL shared some insights about new BioE3 policy and plans for upcoming iBRIC Biosciences Innovation Park and goals of this pioneering facility.

- Shivani Thakar

Could you give us an insight into the iBRIC Biosciences Innovation Park’s upcoming plans for biotech innovations, especially in the precision therapeutics space?

The iBRIC+ Biosciences Innovation Park, a 200-acre campus in the serene Aravali hills on Faridabad-Gurgaon highway, would be India’s first model Biocluster powered by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and BIRAC. It will address a large infrastructural gap that currently exists in the innovation ecosystem by setting up a pilot and pre-product development facilities for startups, and SMEs. The biocluster would nucleate the best talent, industry and investments to create a worldclass ecosystem.