**Executive Summary**
The 9th India Pharma 2026, held on April 13, 2026, convened policymakers and industry leaders to chart the future of India's pharmaceutical ecosystem through four high-impact plenary sessions. The event focused on accelerating innovation through policy reform, regulatory alignment with global standards, and the integration of next-generation technologies like AI. Key objectives include positioning India as a global innovation hub under the "Discover in India" initiative and scaling the $8 billion CRDMO sector.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Policy and Research Development**
* **Execution Gap:** There is an urgent requirement to bridge the gap between policy intent and on-ground execution to foster a "Bharat model" of R&D.
* **Collaborative Funding:** Experts called for increased venture capital participation and co-funding mechanisms to support research-driven enterprises.
* **Infrastructure:** Emphasis was placed on strengthening government laboratory networks and fostering greater trust between industry and academia.
**Regulatory Transformation**
* **Global Alignment:** Plans include attuning the Indian regulatory model to European systems and pursuing global harmonization to reduce duplication.
* **Efficiency Mechanisms:** The industry is moving toward expedited approval pathways, single-window clearance, and stakeholder-driven responsive regulatory systems.
* **Digital Enablement:** Continuous collaboration between regulators and industry is required to unlock next-generation therapies through digital tools.
**AI and Technological Innovation**
* **Process Reimagining:** Leaders emphasized reimagining pharmaceutical processes through technology rather than merely digitizing existing systems.
* **Clinical Efficiency:** AI and automation are identified as critical tools for improving clinical efficiency, drug discovery, and precision medicine.
* **Data Foundations:** Establishing strong data foundations is essential for scalable AI adoption across the pharmaceutical value chain.
**CRDMO Sector Potential**
* **Market Growth:** India’s Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) sector is currently valued at $8 billion, growing at 10–12% annually.
* **Competitive Differentiators:** Speed and the adoption of technologies like "digital twins" are viewed as critical for scaling manufacturing and R&D capabilities.
* **Strategic Priorities:** Focus is shifting toward leading in complex modalities and outsourced pharma services to meet global demand.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government and Regulators**
**Impact**
Regulatory bodies are tasked with transitioning toward a more predictable, efficient, and globally aligned framework to enhance India’s competitiveness.
**Action Required**
Implement single-window clearances, expedite approval pathways, and attune local regulatory models to international standards (e.g., European systems).
**Pharmaceutical Industry and CRDMOs**
**Impact**
Companies face a shift toward an innovation-led model requiring the adoption of disruptive technologies to maintain a 10–12% growth rate.
**Action Required**
Invest in AI, automation, and digital twins to improve clinical efficiency; prioritize speed as a differentiator in R&D and manufacturing.
**Academic and Research Institutions**
**Impact**
There is a heightened emphasis on industry-academia integration to translate early-stage discoveries into global solutions.
**Action Required**
Engage in co-funding mechanisms and collaborative research models to bridge the gap between academic research and market-ready innovation.
**Investors and Venture Capitalists**
**Impact**
The "Discover in India" initiative creates new opportunities for financing research-driven enterprises.
**Action Required**
Increase participation in venture capital and co-funding ecosystems to nurture high-impact pharmaceutical innovation.
Key Entities Referenced
India Pharma 2026: A sectoral summit and platform focused on charting the future of India’s pharmaceutical and life sciences ecosystem through policy support and regulatory transformation.
Department of Pharmaceuticals: The nodal department responsible for accelerating innovation through policy intent, industry-led R&D models, and the strengthening of government lab networks.
Drug Controller General of India: The primary regulatory authority responsible for creating a predictable, efficient, and globally aligned regulatory framework for pharmaceutical approvals.
Discover in India: A strategic initiative and call to action aimed at positioning the country as a global innovation hub for pharmaceutical solutions.
Department of Health Research: The department leading the development of a 'Bharat model of R & D' to increase trust between industry and academia and enhance research funding.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers :
Department of Pharmaceuticals
India Pharma 2026 Showcases Sectoral
Transformation Through Four Key Plenary
Discussions
Spotlight on Policy, Regulation, AI and CRDMO at India
Pharma 2026
Posted On: 13 APR 2026 8:34PM by PIB Delhi
The first day of the 9th India Pharma 2026 witnessed four high-impact plenary sessions that brought
together policymakers, industry leaders, regulators and technology experts to chart the future of India’s
pharmaceutical and life sciences ecosystem. The discussions reflected a strong consensus on accelerating
innovation through policy support, regulatory transformation and adoption of next-generation
technologies.
The inaugural plenary session on “Policy Thrust for Catalysing Innovation”, highlighted the urgent need
to bridge the gap between policy intent and on-ground execution. Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary,
Department of Pharmaceuticals, emphasised industry-led model for Research and Development,
importance of strengthening government lab networks and attuning regulatory model to that of European
systems. Shri Rajiv Bahl, Secretary Department of Health Research said though research funding has
increased manifold over the last few years, the country needs a Bharat model of R & D with confidence of
the market in the innovators and increased trust between industry and academica. Industry leaders echoed
the need for increased venture capital participation and co-funding mechanisms to nurture research-drivenenterprises, stronger industry-academia integration and underscored the importance of integrated
ecosystems to translate early-stage discoveries into global solutions. The session concluded with a strong
call to “Discover in India” and position the country as a global innovation hub.
The second plenary session on “Enabling Regulatory Ecosystem to Foster Innovation” focused on
creating a predictable, efficient and globally aligned regulatory framework. Dr. Rajeev Singh
Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India highlighted the importance of stakeholder consultations in
shaping responsive regulatory systems. Industry Experts called for expedited approval pathways, single-
window clearance mechanisms and greater global harmonisation to reduce duplication and accelerate
patient access. Industry leaders further underlined the need for digital enablement and continuous
collaboration between regulators and industry. The session underscored that a future-ready regulatory
ecosystem will be critical to unlocking next-generation therapies and strengthening India’s global
competitiveness.The third plenary session on “Harnessing AI and Next-Gen Technologies for Disruptive Innovation”
explored the transformative potential of artificial intelligence across the pharmaceutical value chain.
Pharma leaders emphasised reimagining processes rather than merely digitising existing systems. They
highlighted the growing importance of strong data and technology foundations to enable scalable AI
adoption and stressed the immediate benefits of automation in improving clinical efficiency. The session
concluded on a forward-looking note, with experts agreeing that AI will play a pivotal role in accelerating
drug discovery, enabling precision medicine and shaping a smarter, innovation-led healthcare ecosystem.
The fourth plenary session on “Unleashing India’s CRDMO Potential” brought focus to India’s growing
role in the global Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) landscape.
The panel noted that India’s CRDMO industry, currently valued at around $8 billion, has been growing at
a robust pace of 10–12 percent, reflecting strong global outsourcing demand. Industry leaders stressed that
speed will be a critical differentiator in scaling India’s R&D and manufacturing capabilities, and
highlighted the transformative role of AI and digital technologies, including digital twins, in reshaping the
CRDMO ecosystem. The session concluded by outlining the strategic priorities required for India to lead
the next phase of global growth in complex modalities and outsourced pharma services.
Overall, the plenary sessions on Day 1 of India Pharma 2026 reinforced India’s readiness to lead the next
phase of global pharmaceutical innovation, driven by policy intent, regulatory agility and technological
advancement.
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