Categories: Current AffairsNational

India Launches First National Biofoundry Network under BioE3 Policy

In 2025, India launched its first National Biofoundry Network (NBN) under the BioE3 Policy (Economy, Environment, Employment), marking a major step towards achieving the country’s ambitious $300 billion bioeconomy target by 2030. The initiative, unveiled by Union Science & Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, positions India as a global hub for sustainable biotechnology and indigenous biomanufacturing.

What is the National Biofoundry Network?

The National Biofoundry Network is a collaborative national-level platform comprising six premier biotechnology institutions. It is designed to translate biotech research into deployable market-ready solutions, fostering innovation in,

Advanced biomanufacturing
Synthetic biology
Gene editing
Climate-smart agriculture
Green biotechnology

It acts as a one-stop ecosystem for design, prototyping, testing, and scaling up biotechnology products.

Objectives of the National Biofoundry Network

The initiative has multiple long-term goals,

Strengthen indigenous biomanufacturing capacity.
Align with BioE3 Policy goals of economy, environment, and employment.
Accelerate research-to-market translation of biotech innovations.
Promote youth-driven innovation, start-ups, and entrepreneurship.
Position India as a sustainable biotech leader globally.

Features of the Biofoundry Network

Integrated Network: Six institutions operate as a single collaborative platform.
End-to-End Facility: Covers design → prototyping → testing → scale-up.
Cutting-Edge Focus: Works on synthetic biology, CRISPR gene editing, and sustainable biotech.
Innovation Funding: Linked to the BioE3 Challenge, supporting young innovators.
Global Collaborations: Ties with international biofoundry networks for knowledge exchange.
Employment & Start-up Boost: Creates jobs in biotech and incubates start-ups.
Sustainability Lens: Focus on climate resilience, waste reduction, and bio-based economy.
Open Access: Provides infrastructure access to academia, industry, and researchers.