Department of Biotechnology (DBT) with the approval of the Cabinet is implementing the BioE3 policy (Biotechnology for Environment, Economy & Employment) for fostering high performance Biomanufacturing and to enable start-ups, SMEs, industries and academia with access to shared infrastructure/facilities and resources for pilot & pre-commercial scale biomanufacturing of viable commercial bio-based products. Biomanufacturing provides a viable opportunity for a green production technology replacing traditional chemical synthesis and hazardous industrial processes in almost all domains. This technology relies hugely on engineering the invisible tiny microbes and human or animal cells/cell-free systems to produce new solutions and products. Deep tech innovations originating at the convergence of genomics, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, AI, precision fermentation coupled to enhanced speed of DBTL cycles of the biofoundries holds the key for transition of the cells and tiny creatures into biofactories. BioE3 Policy for a green, clean, prosperous, and self-reliant India, has been formulated to empower Indian institutions and industries to engage in transformative innovation through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and international collaborations.
To enable start-ups, SMEs, industries and academia with access to shared infrastructure/facilities and resources for pilot & pre-commercial scale biomanufacturing of viable commercial bio-based products.
Bioenablers (Biofoundries & Biomanufacturing Hubs) augment discovery and translational research across the following thematic sectors/subsectors:
1st Call: Biofoundries and Biomanufacturing Hubs The first call for proposals invited for setting up of “मूलांकुर” Bioenablers–Biofoundries and Biomanufacturing Hubs was issued in October 2024 under the BioE3 Policy. A total 253 proposals were submitted to DBT & BIRAC under the call. Applications were reviewed through a four-stage, domain-specific evaluation process comprising Screening, Selection, Financial Evaluation and Apex Committee. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) recently announced the launch of India’s first Biofoundry Network, a landmark initiative aimed at transforming the country’s biotechnology landscape and achieving a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030. The network will serve as a national platform to support bioproduction scale-up at academia. The network comprises of following Biofoundries supported from over 250 proposals through competitive, multi tier review mechanism. 1. Microbial Biofoundry for yeast and bacterial engineering at International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi. 2. Precision Biotherapeutics for scale up of Monoclonal Antibodies (mAb) and Live Biotherapeutics at Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad 3. Agri-food product at BRIC- National Agri-Food and Biomanufacturing Institute, Mohali 4. Pilot Scale Production of Biopesticides at Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology (IPFT), Gurgaon 5. Bioengineering Research Center for development of Indigenous microbial chassis for Bioproduction at BRIC- NCCS, Pune 6. Cancer Cell Therapy Biomanufacturing Hub at ACTREC, Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai.
It also brings together 15 cutting-edge Biomanufacturing Platforms mostly at industry and industry-academia facilities across India, offering shared infrastructure to start-ups, SMEs, industries, and academic institutions. These centers will support pilot and pre-commercial scale up of technologies across diverse sectors, including microbial biomanufacturing, sustainable agriculture, smart proteins, functional foods, precision biotherapeutics, marine biotechnology, carbon capture, and next-generation cell and gene therapies. 1. Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID), Bangalore with Tata Chemicals Limited- Pilot Scale Facility (100 L) to Scale up Specialty Chemicals and Enzymes. 2. Immunoadoptive Cell Therapy Private Limited, Mumbai-GMP grade facility for Gene Delivery vector. 3. Hi Tech Biosciences India Ltd, Pune- Fermentation facility (at a scale of 10 KL) to Produce drug Intermediates and Bio-energyStarter Cultures at Commercial Scale. 4. Embio Ltd, Mumbai- Pilot scale and large scale fermenters for Pre-commercial production of APIs. 5. Laurus Bio, Visakhapatnam- Fermentation Facility for Functional Foods, Smart Proteins, Bio-based Chemicals, Enzymes and Precision Biotherapeutics. 6. Virchow Biotech Private Limited, Hyderabad– Commercial Production of Monoclonal Antibodies and Biosimilars. 7. Agilent Bioplus LLP- scale up the production of gluconates. 8. Revelations Biotech Pvt. Ltd- commercial production of Fructo-oligo saccharides (FOS). 9. HiMedia Laboratories, Mumbai-1 KL scale for food based products, food additives, probiotics and cell growth stimulators. 10. Sundyota Numandis Probioceuticals Private Limited, Ahmedabad- QMS compliant facility for commercial production of probiotics and smart proteins. 11. IIT-Madras with TICEL Bio Park Ltd, Chennai-Development and scale-up of products used in cosmetics, food, pharma and Bioplastic Industry. 12. Jindal Steel, Angul- Facility for sequestration of CO2 and its utilization for growing engineered microalgal strains 13. KIIT Technology Business Incubator, Bhubaneswar- Dedicated facility for marine biotech products. 14. National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) with Hi Media Laboratories Pvt. Ltd, Hyderabad-Nation’s First Animal Stem cell repository. 15. Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Limited, Pune-Biomanufacturing center for precision medicine based on mRNA.
2nd Call- Biofoundries and Biomanufacturing Hubs: The second DBT BIRAC Joint Call for Proposals on मूलांकुर Bioenablers: Biofoundries and Biomanufacturing hubs under BioE3 Policy” was issued in May 2025 and closed in July 2025. A total of 213 proposals (113 at DBT and 100 at BIRAC) were received and are currently evaluated through the Selection Committee Meeting. Based on this, total 24 proposals (5 at DBT and 19 at BIRAC) were recommended for further consideration by Apex committee.
User Access Policy- DBT notified User Access Policy for DBT/BIRAC Biofoundries and Biomanufacturing Hubs established at Academia/Research lnstitutions/lndustries on 1st Aug, 2025. Under this initiative, Biomanufacturing initiative is envisaged to be established as programmatic research support for scaling up biotech product development. These bio-enablers are expected to democratize research resources and scale-up support to advance in-house research projects as well as provide services to other academia/ research organizations, start-ups, SME’s and industries.
Launch of 1st National Biofoundry Network - On 27th August 2025, one year celebration of the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy, Union Minister of Science and Technology (S&T), Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the BioE3 Challenge for Youth and the country’s first National Biofoundry Network.
Launch of High-Performance Biomanufacturing Platform - On 1stSeptember 2025, Union Minister of Science and Technology (S&T), Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the High-Performance Biomanufacturing Platforms under the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy.
The Biofoundry Network and Biomanufacturing platforms are expected to play a pivotal role in India’s transition to clean and green technologies, reduce import dependence, and establish the country as a frontrunner in the global Bioeconomy by impacting health, agriculture, food, energy, and environment.
Dr. Anamika Gambhir
Scientist ‘G’
Email: anamika@dbt.nic.in
Phone: 011-24363665
Dr. Kalaivani Ganesan
Scientist ‘F’
Email: k.ganesan@nic.in
Phone: 011-24365321
