Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh on Wednesday (August 27, 2025) marked one year of the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy by launching the BioE3 Challenge for Youth and the country’s first National Biofoundry Network.
“India’s bioeconomy has grown from USD 10 billion in 2014 to USD 165.7 billion in 2024. We are now targeting USD 300 billion by 2030,” Dr. Singh said, highlighting the rapid progress of the sector under the BioE3 Policy. Over the past year, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has set up new institutions, launched joint research initiatives, and established national and international partnerships to strengthen India’s bioeconomy.
Major milestones include the inauguration of India’s first Biomanufacturing Institute in Mohali, creation of Bio-Artificial Intelligence hubs, biomanufacturing hubs, and biofoundries across the country. DBT has also launched more than a dozen research calls in areas such as cell and gene therapy, climate-smart agriculture, carbon capture, and functional foods, receiving over 2,000 proposals.
International collaborations have expanded as well, including an MoU with ISRO for space biotechnology and biomanufacturing, with three DBT-backed experiments already conducted on the International Space Station. At the state level, partnerships like the MoU with Assam aim to set up BioE3 Cells with actionable plans, while India’s missions in 52 countries have provided inputs on the BioE3 policy.
The BioE3 Challenge for Youth invites students, researchers, faculty, startups, and Indian innovators to design safe-by-default biological solutions addressing health, agriculture, environment, and industry challenges. Announced monthly from October 2025, the top 10 solutions will receive Rs 1 lakh each, with 100 selected awardees eligible for funding up to RS 25 lakh through BIRAC.
Participants will also gain access to facilities and incubation support at BRIC+ institutions nationwide. The challenge follows the DESIGN framework, guiding innovators to develop sustainable, evidence-based solutions with measurable societal impact.
National Biofoundry Network, involving six institutions, will help scale proof-of-concept developments, enhance indigenous biomanufacturing, and generate employment. Experts highlighted that the convergence of biology with engineering, space science, and emerging technologies like Artificial General Intelligence is opening new career avenues while driving India toward a sustainable, self-reliant bioeconomy.
