Date: 2025-12-05Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) sign ‘Engagement Strategy’ for Cooperation on Vaccine Research, Development and Innovation
**Executive Summary**
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) have signed an 'Engagement Strategy' on September 18, 2025, to cooperate on vaccine and allied technology research, development, and innovation. This is a renewal of an earlier strategy executed in October 2019. The renewed strategy broadens the scope to include research and development for allied technologies like monoclonal antibodies.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Agreement Details:**
* The 'Engagement Strategy' was signed on September 18, 2025.
* It is a renewal of an earlier agreement from October 2019.
* The Union Cabinet has considered and noted the matter.
* **Purpose and Scope:**
* The goal is to accelerate vaccine development and associated technologies against emerging infectious diseases.
* The scope has been broadened to include R&D for allied technologies, such as monoclonal antibodies.
* Pathogens addressed will include those on the WHO Blueprint list of priority diseases.
* **Partnership and Collaboration:**
* CEPI is a partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil organizations.
* DBT and BIRAC have partnered with CEPI since 2019.
* **Achievements:**
* Early-stage development of vaccine candidates for Chikungunya, Coronavirus, and Monkeypox.
* Creation of shared infrastructure, including bioassay laboratories and animal facilities.
* The DBT-BRIC-THSTI bioassay laboratory and experimental animal facility have been recognized by CEPI.
* Capacity building/training programs have been conducted.
* **Resources and Capabilities:**
* Centralized Lab Network and CEPI Animal Lab Network serve as national resources.
* The Bioassay lab has supported development of Indian and global vaccine candidates.
* **Impact and Goals:**
* Renewal aims to advance India's R&D preparedness for pandemics.
* It leverages CEPI's expertise and strengthens India's R&D capabilities.
* It aims to enable timely and effective responses to health threats.
* It contributes to good health, well-being, national development priorities, and Sustainable Development Goals.
**Impact Analysis**
**DBT/BIRAC**
* **Impact:** Continued collaboration with CEPI to enhance vaccine research and development capabilities, access to CEPI's expertise and resources, and expansion of research scope.
* **Action Required:** Continue to actively participate in the engagement strategy, leverage CEPI's expertise, and contribute to the development of vaccines and allied technologies.
**CEPI**
* **Impact:** Strengthened partnership with DBT/BIRAC to accelerate vaccine development, access to shared resources and infrastructure in India, and broader collaboration on emerging infectious diseases.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with DBT/BIRAC to advance vaccine research, share technical expertise, and facilitate access to shared resources and infrastructure.
**Indian and Global Vaccine Candidates**
* **Impact:** Will be supported by the Bioassay lab and facilities for development and trials.
* **Action Required:** To take part in capacity building and training programmes.
Key Entities Referenced
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI): A global partnership to accelerate the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases.
Engagement Strategy: A cooperative agreement between DBT, BIRAC and CEPI for vaccine research, development and innovation.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT): A department within the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC): A Public Sector Undertaking of the Department of Biotechnology.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government
of India, Biotechnology Industry Research
Assistance Council (BIRAC), and Coalition for
Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) sign
‘Engagement Strategy’ for Cooperation on
Vaccine Research, Development and Innovation
प्रव तथ: 05 DEC 2025 11:40AM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India,
along with its Public Sector Undertaking, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)
have signed the ‘Engagement Strategy’ with Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) on
18th September, 2025 for cooperation on vaccine and allied technology research, development and
innovation. This is a renewal of the earlier Engagement Strategy which was executed in October 2019 for
a period of five years. The matter has been considered and noted by the Union Cabinet.
CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organisations to
stimulate and accelerate the development of vaccines and associated competencies/technologies against
emerging infectious diseases and enable access to people during outbreaks. As of March 2025, several
national governments, the European Commission and philanthropic organisations, such as Gates
Foundation and Welcome Trust are involved with CEPI.
DBT and BIRAC have partnered with CEPI since 2019, for cooperation on vaccine development for
diseases of epidemic potential. Key achievements of this cooperation include early-stage development of
vaccine candidates for Chikungunya, Coronavirus and Monkey pox; creation of shared infrastructure such
as bioassay laboratory and animal facility; and conducting capacity building/training programmes. The
DBT-BRIC-THSTI bioassay laboratory and the experimental animal facility have been recognized by the
global CEPI as part of their Centralized Lab Network Lab and CEPI Animal Lab Network, respectively.
These facilities serve as national resources for vaccine development. The Bioassay lab has so far
supported development of several Indian and global vaccine candidates at different stages, from pre-
clinical to phase-3 efficacy trials. In addition, training programmes on vaccine development and clinical
trials have been organized, contributing to capacity building in the domain.
Taking note of these achievements and also to continue this engagement further for cooperation on
vaccine and allied technology research, development and innovation, the ‘Engagement Strategy’ between
DBT, BIRAC and CEPI has been renewed. The scope of the renewed Engagement Strategy has been
broadened to encompass research and development for allied technologies, such as monoclonal antibodies.
The pathogens addressed by CEPI will include those identified in the WHO Blueprint list of priority
diseases.Renewal of the ‘Engagement Strategy’ with global CEPI is a significant step in advancing India’s R&D
preparedness to pandemics, leveraging CEPI’s technical expertise and our strong R&D capabilities. By
fostering collaboration and by strengthening critical infrastructure & skilled human resources, this
engagement aims to enable timely and effective response to emerging health threats, contributing to the
broader goals of good health and well-being, aligning with national development priorities and
Sustainable Development Goals.
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NKR/AK
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