BIOMANUFACTURING: India Must Adopt the 'Triple Helix Model'

THE DEFINING challenge of the day is to meet the fundamental human needs for food, medicine, and energy without compromising the environment, all the while fostering innovation and technology-led advancement. In this backdrop, the bioeconomy, which encompasses all economic activities derived from the use of biological resources, including bio manufacturing, is emerging as a critical enabler in addressing this challenge. With projections suggesting that up to 60 per cent of the global economy's physical inputs could be produced biologically, it promises to deliver a transformative impact across sectors.

- By Amit Kapoor & Mukul Anand

India’s bioeconomy, which contributes 4.25 per cent to the GDP, has surged to an unprecedented $165.7 billion in 2024, marking a sixteen-fold increase from just $10 billion in 2014, highlighting both economic and scientific progress. This success is not accidental but the result of a long-term vision. The foundation was laid in 1982 with the establishment of the National Biotechnology Board, which was upgraded in 1986 to the full-fledged Department of Biotechnology, creating a dedicated body to steer the nation’s biotech ambitions. A series of national-level strategies followed, each building on the last. The 2007 strategy opened up opportunities across various sectors; the 2015-2020 plan focussed on creating a world-class manufacturing hub; and the 2021-2025 strategy prioritised a skilled workforce and innovation. Approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024, the BioE3 Policy is India’s most comprehensive initiative to date.