- In 2025, India unveiled its first National Biofoundry Network (NBN) under the BioE3 Policy—focusing on Economy, Environment, and Employment—marking a major step toward achieving a $300 billion bioeconomy target by 2030. The initiative, announced by Union Science & Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, positions India as a global hub for sustainable biotechnology and indigenous biomanufacturing.
- The National Biofoundry Network is a collaborative platform comprising six premier biotechnology institutions. It is designed to translate research into deployable, market-ready solutions, fostering innovation in advanced biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, gene editing, climate-smart agriculture, and green biotechnology.
- The network offers a one-stop ecosystem for design, prototyping, testing, and scaling up biotech products.
Objectives of NBN include:
- Strengthening indigenous biomanufacturing capacity.
- Supporting BioE3 Policy goals of economy, environment, and employment.
- Accelerating the research-to-market translation of biotech innovations.
- Promoting youth-driven innovation, start-ups, and entrepreneurship.
- Positioning India as a global leader in sustainable biotechnology.
Key Features of the Biofoundry Network:
- Integrated Network: Six institutions operating collaboratively.
- End-to-End Facility: Design → prototyping → testing → scale-up.
- Cutting-Edge Focus: Synthetic biology, CRISPR gene editing, sustainable biotech.
- Innovation Funding: Linked to BioE3 Challenge for young innovators.
- Global Collaborations: Partnerships with international biofoundries.
- Employment & Start-ups: Boosts jobs and incubates biotech enterprises.
- Sustainability Lens: Climate resilience, waste reduction, bio-based economy.
- Open Access: Infrastructure available to academia, industry, and researchers.