Following the approval of the Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment (BioE3) by the Union Cabinet last August, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) organised a consultation with States on Friday here to setting up bio-manufacturing facilities in their regions.
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Bio-manufacturing refers to the industrial manufacture of a variety of products relating to high-value bio-based chemicals, bio-polymers and enzymes; smart proteins and functional foods; precision bio-therapeutics and climate resilient agriculture.
“Currently, several States do not even have a policy on biotechnology manufacturing. For the next — say Biocon — to emerge we need close engagement between States and the Centre,” said Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology.
“Biotechnology has never been much of a buzzword but I am confident that in the coming years, it will be an avenue of massive investments and profits and (States) that take early steps will have an advantage,” Union Science Minister Jitendra Singh said at the conclave.
The road map to achieving this will involve establishing ‘State-Centric BioE3 Cells’, formulating State-centric BioE3 action plans, constituting State-level steering committees, appropriate working groups and nodal officers and setting up Bio-AI hubs, foundries and manufacturing hubs.
States are expected to adopt at least two thematic areas (identified under BioE3 policy) based on their strengths, needs, expertise and capacities, ensuring a “localised yet comprehensive approach” to foster bio-manufacturing and, identifying a few bio-based productsincluding chemicals from the priority list for their bio-manufacturing, an accompanying document specified.
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Several States made presentations on their efforts at promoting biotechnology industries. Some said that they have had policies in place since 2002 and provide tax credits, fellowships and other forms of support to aspirants. However, they were largely unanimous that without significant support from the Centre, in terms of direction and fund, successfully scaling up biotechnology manufacturing would be challenging.
Published – February 07, 2025 11:03 pm IST