Published on November 11, 2025
Delhi, India
As the world braces for a biotechnology-driven industrial transformation, India stands at the vanguard, propelled by visionary reforms and collaborative ecosystems. On November 10, 2025, during the Second Foundation Day of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, articulated a compelling narrative: India is not merely participating in the biotech revolution—it is architecting it. Emphasizing biotechnology’s shift from laboratory confines to “real-world solutions in healthcare, agriculture, and industry,” Singh launched the BRIC-BIRAC Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Program and referenced the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme. This analysis, enriched by recent insights on the biopharma pivot from biosimilars to novel therapies like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), dissects the minister’s blueprint, weaving in milestones like the BioE3 Policy, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, and partnerships driving a projected $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030.
Background: From Silos to Synergy in India’s Biotech Ecosystem
India’s biotechnology sector has evolved from nascent experiments in the 1980s to a powerhouse contributing 5% to global generics and pioneering mRNA vaccines. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science and Technology has been instrumental, with BRIC—formed in 2023—consolidating 14 premier institutes to dismantle operational silos and amplify impact. This structural overhaul aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2022 directive for integrated science governance, fostering a seamless flow from lab to market. Today, the ecosystem is pivoting from biosimilars—where India leads globally—to innovation in complex modalities like ADCs and personalized therapies, fueled by geopolitical shifts, supply chain resilience needs, and government incentives.
Key Points:
- Sector Growth Trajectory: India’s bioeconomy, valued at $130 billion in 2024, is projected to surge to $300 billion by 2030, driven by biopharma (45% share) and bioinformatics innovations; exports hit $12 billion in 2024, with a focus on high-growth regions like Latin America and Europe.
- Global Positioning: India ranks third globally in biotech publications and startups, with over 6,000 firms; the industry now emphasizes novel entities, leveraging bioprocessing and clinical strengths for affordable biologics.
- Policy Catalysts: The BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) launched in 2024 emphasizes ethical bioengineering, regenerative medicine, and green biotech; complemented by PLI schemes boosting self-reliance in critical APIs and formulations.
- Challenges Addressed: Historical fragmentation led to duplicated efforts; BRIC’s model now promotes cross-institute collaborations, reducing R&D redundancies by 20-25%, while addressing funding pressures through flexible PPP models.
This foundation has primed India for the “next industrial revolution,” as Singh described, where biotech intersects AI, genomics, and climate resilience.
Core Initiatives: Launching the BRIC-BIRAC EIR and Rs 1 Lakh Crore RDI Scheme
At the heart of Singh’s vision are targeted interventions to nurture innovators and scale discoveries. The BRIC-BIRAC EIR Program, unveiled on November 10, targets early-stage entrepreneurs with mentorship, seed funding, and commercialization accelerators, bridging academia-industry gaps. Complementing this is the RDI Scheme, rolled out by PM Modi on November 3, 2025, injecting Rs 1 lakh crore into private-led R&D, with BRIC institutes as nodal hubs for translational projects. These align with PLI’s pharma push, which has spurred investments in bulk drugs and medical devices, fostering self-reliance amid global disruptions.
Key Points:
- EIR Program Mechanics: Offers 12-18 month residencies at BRIC facilities, including access to high-throughput labs and IP support; initial cohort of 50 innovators focused on therapeutics and agritech, empowering youth to convert ideas into ventures.
- RDI Scheme Scope: Allocates 40% to health biotech (e.g., precision oncology), 30% to agri-biotech for climate-resilient crops, and 20% to industrial enzymes; mandates 50% private co-funding to ensure market viability.
- Integration Imperative: BRIC now coordinates with 20+ external entities, enabling shared resources like the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute’s gene-editing platforms; PLI has attracted ₹20,000 crore in commitments, targeting 50+ greenfield projects.
- Impact Projections: Expected to generate 50,000 jobs by 2028 and accelerate 100+ products to market, including next-gen antivirals; PLI alone poised to create 2 lakh jobs in pharma manufacturing.
These launches exemplify a shift from government-centric funding to ecosystem-driven growth, with PPPs as the linchpin—evident in the scheme’s emphasis on corporate labs co-developing solutions.
Public-Private Partnerships: The Engine of Biotech Acceleration
Singh repeatedly hailed PPPs as “the key to Indian economic reforms,” citing their role in landmark achievements. From the world’s first DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine (CoVaxin) to breakthroughs in haemophilia gene therapy, collaborations have democratized access to high-impact biotech. The minister noted how such synergies expanded vaccine equity during the pandemic, reaching 2 billion doses globally. Today, flexible models—like equity stakes, co-development, and outsourced services—are enabling firms to navigate funding crunches and supply chain woes.
Key Points:
- Proven Successes: PPPs facilitated the anti-biotic vaccine for neonatal sepsis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome sequencing of 10,000 isolates in 2025, slashing diagnostic timelines by 70%; key players like Serum Institute, Dr. Reddy’s, and Shilpa Biologicals exemplify this through ADC co-developments.
- BioE3 Synergies: Policy incentives like tax rebates for joint ventures have spurred $5 billion in PPP investments since 2024, targeting bio-manufacturing hubs in 10 states; collaborations with CROs and startups accelerate scaling for smaller firms.
- State-Level Expansion: Call for BioE3 Cells in all states to localize R&D, fostering regional clusters (e.g., Hyderabad’s vaccine valley) and integrating AI for predictive healthcare; Shilpa Biologicals’ partnerships in oncology highlight risk-sharing in novel therapies.
- Risk Mitigation: Structured via BIRAC’s venture funds, PPPs de-risk startups with milestone-based grants, boosting survival rates to 80% post-incubation.
Analysis: While transformative, equitable PPP distribution remains a hurdle—rural biotech lags urban centers by 40% in funding. Scaling state cells could address this, aligning with Viksit Bharat’s inclusive growth ethos.
Health and Economic Implications: Safeguarding Lives, Fueling Prosperity
Biotech’s dual mandate—health security and economic multiplier—resonates in Singh’s address. Innovations like CRISPR-based haemophilia trials promise to halve treatment costs, while bio-agri solutions could enhance yields by 25% amid climate stresses. Economically, the sector’s 15% CAGR outpaces manufacturing, with exports poised to double by 2027, driven by affordable innovations in biologics and anti-snake venom therapeutics.
Key Points:
- Health Milestones: India’s 2025 tuberculosis sequencing initiative supports WHO’s END-TB goals; regenerative therapies target 50 million chronic patients; ADCs in oncology address rare diseases, with clinical advancements reducing costs via Indian manufacturing scale.
- Economic Multipliers: Biotech contributes 2.5% to GDP, with PPP-driven hubs creating 1 million jobs by 2030; digital agriculture under BioE3 to add $50 billion via precision farming; PLI enhances self-reliance in 41 critical APIs.
- Sustainability Focus: Emphasis on circular bioeconomy—e.g., waste-to-biofuel projects—aligns with net-zero targets, reducing emissions by 10-15% in pharma; Manufacturing 4.0 and regulatory harmonization boost global competitiveness.
- Global Diplomacy: Vaccine gifting diplomacy has elevated India’s soft power, securing tech transfers from G7 nations.
Expert perspectives reinforce this: The integrated approach under BRIC could elevate India’s biotech patent filings by 30%, rivaling Europe’s output.
Stakeholder Reactions and Broader Policy Landscape
The launch elicited optimism across platforms, with educators praising EIR’s mentorship model and industry leaders eyeing RDI’s private incentives. Social discourse highlights youth engagement, with calls for more women-led startups (currently 15% of the sector). This builds on earlier 2025 pushes, like ANRF’s Rs 1 lakh crore R&D corpus, signaling a cohesive national strategy. Voices from the industry underscore the cultural shift: “Digitalisation is not just a technology upgrade, but a shift in culture and skills.”
Key Points:
- Public Echoes: Recent discussions underscore PPPs’ role in AI-biotech fusion, like predictive diagnostics for 500 million Indians; Sridevi Khambhampaty of Shilpa Biologicals notes, “We’ve kept a very flexible model… this is very interesting in these times with the changing funding situation in biotech globally.”
- Policy Continuum: Complements Symbiosis Centre’s 2025 conference on biotech as the “fourth industrial wave,” urging ethical AI integration; PLI’s focus on innovation ensures “quality is no longer just about regulatory obligation, it is about trust, reliability, and competitive advantage.”
- Challenges Ahead: Enforcement of IP reforms and skill-building for 2 million workers needed to sustain momentum; geopolitical tariffs demand agile supply chains.
- International Benchmark: Mirrors Singapore’s A*STAR model but with India’s scale, potentially capturing 20% of global bio-pharma by 2047.
