India’s BRIC and UK’s Centre for Process Innovation Join Hands to Advance Biomanufacturing

India and the United Kingdom have strengthened their scientific and technological partnership through a new agreement aimed at advancing biomanufacturing, developing biofoundries and accelerating the translation of biotechnology research into industrial applications. The Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) and the United Kingdom’s Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) signed a Letter of Intent on 10 November 2026, establishing a framework for deeper collaboration in advanced biotechnology and industrial innovation.

The agreement was signed during the third Foundation Day celebrations of BRIC, held at the BRIC–National Institute of Immunology (NII). The event highlighted India’s expanding biotechnology capabilities, growing research infrastructure and efforts to strengthen collaboration between scientific institutions and industry.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised India’s potential to play a leading role in the next biotechnology-driven industrial revolution. He called for stronger industry participation, greater integration among scientific institutions and increased investment in emerging technologies to strengthen the country’s position in advanced biomanufacturing.

India-UK Partnership to Strengthen Biomanufacturing and Biofoundries

The Letter of Intent between BRIC and the UK’s Centre for Process Innovation seeks to promote cooperation in biomanufacturing and support the development of biofoundries, which are becoming increasingly important components of modern biotechnology research and industrial production.

Biomanufacturing involves using biological systems, microorganisms, cells and biotechnology-based processes to produce commercially valuable materials and products. Its applications extend across pharmaceuticals, healthcare, agriculture, industrial chemicals, enzymes and emerging bio-based manufacturing technologies.

Biofoundries provide specialised infrastructure that integrates biological research with automation, computational tools and advanced laboratory technologies. These facilities help researchers design, develop and test biological systems more efficiently, supporting the transition from laboratory discoveries to scalable industrial applications.

The proposed collaboration with CPI is expected to strengthen India’s capabilities in these areas by creating opportunities for scientific cooperation and the development of advanced biomanufacturing infrastructure.

The agreement is particularly significant as India seeks to expand its domestic biotechnology manufacturing capabilities and encourage closer partnerships between research organisations and industry.

India Developing Biofoundry Hubs Across Four Cities

During the Foundation Day celebrations, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the development of biofoundry hubs in Mohali, Hyderabad, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram, identifying them as important components of India’s emerging biomanufacturing ecosystem.

These centres are intended to support advanced biological research and facilitate the development of technologies capable of moving from laboratory experimentation towards industrial applications.

The Minister also emphasised the growing importance of integrating artificial intelligence with biomanufacturing technologies to improve research efficiency and strengthen innovation capabilities.

AI-enabled biological research can support the analysis of complex experimental data, assist in identifying promising biological processes and help optimise manufacturing techniques.

The expansion of biofoundry infrastructure, combined with international partnerships, reflects India’s efforts to establish an integrated biotechnology ecosystem connecting research institutions, technological infrastructure and commercial enterprises.

India’s Bioeconomy Expands Beyond $195 Billion

The announcement comes amid substantial growth in India’s biotechnology sector.

According to figures highlighted by Dr. Jitendra Singh, India’s bioeconomy has expanded from approximately $10 billion to more than $195 billion over the past decade.

The Minister also stated that the country’s biotechnology startup ecosystem has grown from approximately 50–60 startups to more than 11,000 biotechnology startups, reflecting increasing entrepreneurial activity and commercial interest in biological sciences.

The expansion of biotechnology enterprises is creating opportunities across healthcare, agricultural biotechnology, industrial research and emerging biological manufacturing technologies.

The growing ecosystem is also strengthening India’s ability to develop indigenous technologies, establish specialised research enterprises and pursue commercial applications of scientific discoveries.

The Government is encouraging closer cooperation among research institutions, startups and established industries to accelerate innovation and strengthen domestic capabilities in advanced biotechnology.

BRIC Integrates 13 Biotechnology Institutions Across 11 Cities

A central focus of the event was the institutional transformation undertaken through the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council.

Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology and Director General of BRIC, explained that the Council is working to integrate 13 premier biotechnology institutions across 11 Indian cities into a coordinated national research network.

The BRIC model seeks to improve collaboration among institutions while preserving their individual identities, scientific independence and operational autonomy.

According to the Government, the integrated framework has helped reduce administrative barriers, improve resource coordination and create greater opportunities for collaborative research.

The Council’s organisational approach emphasises scientific cooperation, shared resources, institutional trust and improved mechanisms for translating research into practical applications.

The wider objective is to strengthen India’s technological capabilities in areas relevant to healthcare, food security, industrial biotechnology and scientific innovation.

Wellcome Trust Announces ₹21.7 Crore Grant for Biotechnology Research Scholars

Another important development announced during the event was financial support for advanced biotechnology research training.

The Wellcome Trust announced a grant of up to ₹21.7 crore for a five-year immersion training programme intended to benefit more than 250 iBRIC+ PhD scholars.

The initiative seeks to strengthen the training of young researchers by providing opportunities for scientific collaboration, interdisciplinary learning and exposure to practical research environments.

The programme complements BRIC’s broader efforts to encourage researchers to work across institutional boundaries and participate in projects addressing real-world scientific and technological challenges.

Dr. Jitendra Singh also highlighted the i3C PhD programme, which provides opportunities for doctoral scholars to participate in research, innovation and collaborative activities, including placements in the healthcare and agriculture sectors.

According to the Minister, nearly 200 students have already benefited from the programme.

These initiatives reflect the Government’s emphasis on developing a highly skilled biotechnology workforce capable of supporting advanced research, innovation and industrial applications.

Genomics and Precision Medicine Identified as Emerging Opportunities

The Foundation Day discussions also highlighted the increasing importance of genomics in healthcare and medical research.

Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that India’s Genomics Centre of Excellence has attracted interest from medical institutions, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Genomics involves the study of genetic information and its relationship with biological processes, disease development and treatment responses.

Advances in genomic technologies can support precision medicine, an approach that seeks to improve diagnosis and treatment by considering individual biological and genetic characteristics.

The growing interest from medical institutions indicates opportunities for closer collaboration between biotechnology researchers and healthcare professionals.

Such partnerships could help strengthen India’s capabilities in advanced diagnostics, disease research and the development of more targeted medical interventions.

Government Encourages Greater Industry Participation in Biotechnology

The Government is also seeking to expand private-sector participation in scientific research and technological development.

Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted several institutional mechanisms supporting India’s research ecosystem, including the Research, Development and Innovation Fund, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

These initiatives form part of a broader effort to encourage research commercialisation, strengthen industry-academia cooperation and create opportunities for technology-driven enterprises.

The Minister emphasised that biotechnology, artificial intelligence and genomics could become important drivers of the next industrial revolution.

Unlike earlier industrial transformations in which India largely adopted technologies developed elsewhere, he noted that the country’s expanding scientific capabilities provide an opportunity to participate more actively in developing the technologies that will shape future industries.

The Government’s focus on biomanufacturing, biofoundries and advanced biological research reflects this effort to strengthen India’s role in emerging technological sectors.

India Advances Towards Biotechnology-Led Industrial Development

The Letter of Intent between BRIC and the UK’s Centre for Process Innovation represents another step in expanding India’s international scientific partnerships and strengthening its advanced biomanufacturing ecosystem.

The agreement brings together India’s growing biotechnology research network and an established British technology innovation organisation, providing a framework for cooperation in biofoundry development and industrial biotechnology.

Alongside the international partnership, the expansion of biofoundry infrastructure, financial support for research scholars and greater integration among BRIC institutions are strengthening the foundations of India’s biotechnology sector.

With its bioeconomy exceeding $195 billion and more than 11,000 biotechnology startups operating across the country, India is building an increasingly diverse ecosystem connecting scientific discovery, entrepreneurship and industrial production.

As these initiatives develop, advanced biomanufacturing and biotechnology research are expected to play an important role in strengthening indigenous technological capabilities, improving healthcare and agricultural innovation, and expanding India’s participation in emerging global industries.

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