In a landmark move towards fostering sustainable growth, the Government of India has introduced the BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment), a comprehensive framework to industrialise biology and establish India as a global leader in biomanufacturing. This policy reflects India's commitment to leveraging biotechnology to address critical societal challenges like climate change, food security, and human health while boosting economic growth and job creation.
Considering the potential of this policy to boost innovation, foster entrepreneurship, expand job opportunities, and support a circular bioeconomy, people from various backgrounds need to understand its implications. Therefore, as part of the scientific community in India, we at NII are reached out to future scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators—the students—who will play a critical role in the implementation of the policy for "Viksit Bharat". To this end, NII hosted the Open Space on BioE3.
An esteemed panel of experts sat with the students of various colleges of Delhi University to break down the specific attributes or rather the focus areas of the BioE3 policy that together lay the blueprint for its implementation.
First, Dr Debasisa Mohanty, Director NII discussed the vision of the Department of Biotechnology and Government of India behind the launch of such a forward-thinking policy.
Dr Syed Shams Yazdani from International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology then took over to talk about “Bio-based chemicals and enzymes and Carbon capture and its utilizations”. Dr Yazdani leads the Microbial Engineering Group at ICGEB that works on leveraging biotechnology for biofuel production.
Dr Devinder Sehgal from the National Institute of Immunology discussed “Precision biotherapeutics”. Dr Sehgal leads the Molecular Immunology Group at NII and his group is interested in developing monoclonal antibodies in the Streptococcus pneuomoniae model
Dr Naveen Bisht from the National Institute of Plant Genome Research joined the discussion and talked about “Functional foods & smart proteins and climate resilient agriculture. Dr Bisht is a leader in agriculture biotechnology working on biofortification, gene editing for quality enhancement in food plants.
Dr Gitanjali Yadav from the National Institute of Plant Genome Research introduced the idea of BioAI Hubs as Bioenablers. Dr Yadav specialises in genomics and structural bioinformatics, with specific research interests in food security and ecosystem conservation.
Lastly, Dr Gopalan Sampathkumar from the National Institute of Immunology, who leads the Chemical Glycobiology Group of NII, which is interested in exploring role of glycoconjugates in biological and immunological processes joined the discussion. At the Open Space he dealt with “Futuristic marine and space research”.
From the discussion and the Q&A sessions, here is a summary of the BioE3 policy with its framework.
Why BioE3 Policy?
With India’s bioeconomy projected to reach ₹24,000 billion by 2030, contributing 5-6% to the national GDP, biomanufacturing emerges as a pivotal driver for this transformation. By promoting sustainable, bio-based products such as enzymes, bioplastics, and precision therapeutics, the BioE3 Policy aims to establish a resilient biomanufacturing ecosystem that emphasizes circular and regenerative practices.
Key Objectives of BioE3 Policy
The BioE3 Policy aligns with the national agenda of "Green Growth" by:
- Driving cutting-edge biomanufacturing innovations.
- Accelerating the commercialization of bio-based products.
- Boosting entrepreneurship and creating a highly skilled workforce.
- Building a circular bioeconomy to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste.
Salient Features of the BioE3 Policy
- Innovation-Driven R&D: Encouraging research and entrepreneurship across thematic sectors.
- Biomanufacturing Hubs: Establishing nationwide facilities to scale up production of bio-based products.
- Regenerative Bioeconomy: Promoting ethical and sustainable growth models.
- Global Regulatory Harmony: Aligning Indian standards with international norms.
Strategic Roadmap for Implementation
The policy identifies six thematic verticals of national importance, supported by cross-cutting 'मूलांकुर' Bio-Enablers:
- Bio-based Chemicals and Enzymes: Developing specialty chemicals, APIs, and biopolymers using synthetic biology.
- Functional Foods and Smart Proteins: Producing sustainable, nutritional foods with low carbon footprints.
- Precision Biotherapeutics: Innovating mRNA therapeutics, monoclonal antibodies, and cell and gene therapies.
- Climate Resilient Agriculture: Creating green agribiologicals as alternatives to agrochemicals.
- Carbon Capture Utilization: Converting CO2 into industrial compounds for de-carbonizing industries.
- Marine and Space Research: Harnessing marine biodiversity and microbial biomanufacturing for future space missions.
Cross-Cutting Bio-Enablers
- Bio-Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hubs: Integrating AI to accelerate data analysis and innovation.
- Biomanufacturing Hubs: Establishing shared facilities for pilot-scale and pre-commercial production.
- Biofoundries: Automating biological engineering processes from design to scalable production.
Expected Outcomes
The BioE3 Policy aims to:
- Advance indigenous innovation in biopharmaceuticals, agribiologicals, and bio-based materials.
- Promote Green Growth through sustainable, bio-based industries.
- Foster a circular bioeconomy by converting waste into valuable products.
- Address climate change and achieve Net Zero Carbon emissions.
- Create a surge in employment, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities near biomass sources.
A Vision for a Sustainable Future
The BioE3 Policy positions India as a global biotechnology leader by providing a robust framework for sustainable biomanufacturing. By transitioning to greener processes, it aims to create an inclusive economy that benefits people, the environment, and the nation as a whole.
For further details, tune into the discussion at https://www.youtube.com/live/w9G5phQfUp0?feature=shared