On May 28, 2025, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) convened the first meeting of their Joint Working Group (JWG) to advance collaboration under the BioE3 Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment Policy. This meeting follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 25, 2024, between ISRO and DBT. The JWG discussed opportunities in space biotechnology and biomanufacturing, including a joint Announcement of Opportunity and the potential for extraterrestrial biomanufacturing to support long-term space missions. Institutions such as ICGEB and BRICinStem are currently exploring potential experiments in these fields under the ISRO-DBT collaboration.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Science Technology: A government ministry involved in science and technology, mentioned as a party involved in the BioE3 policy and MoU.
Indian Space Research Organization ISRO: India's national space agency, a key organization involved in the Joint Working Group and collaboration with DBT.
Department of Biotechnology DBT: A government department focused on biotechnology, collaborating with ISRO.
BioE3 policy: Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment Policy for fostering high performance Biomanufacturing in the country.
ISRODBT JWG: Joint Working Group between ISRO and DBT.
Shri. M Ganesh Pillai: Scientific Secretary, ISRO, and Chairman of the ISRODBT JWG meeting.
Dr. Alka Sharma: Senior Adviser SciH DBT, and Co-Chair of the ISRODBT JWG meeting.
MoU: Memorandum of Understanding between Department of Biotechnology DBT, Ministry of Science and Technology and Indian Space Research Organization ISRO, Department of Space DoS, signed on 25 October 2024.
25 October 2024: Date the MoU was signed between Department of Biotechnology DBT, Ministry of Science and Technology and Indian Space Research Organization ISRO, Department of Space DoS.
Department of Space DoS: A department mentioned in relation to the MoU signed with DBT and ISRO.
Union Cabinet: The decision-making body of the Indian government that approved initiatives in human space programs and biotechnology.
Bharatiya Antariksh Station: An Indian space station, establishment of which has been approved by the Union Cabinet.
Department of Biotechnology DBT Institutions International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology ICGEB, New Delhi: Institution of DBT involved in space biotechnology research
BRICinStem Bangalore: Institution involved in space biotechnology research
Space Biotechnology: A field of study involving biotechnology research in space.
Space Biomanufacturing: A field of study involving biomanufacturing processes in space.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) -
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) convenes Joint
Working Group meeting under the BioE3 policy
Posted On: 29 MAY 2025 5:49PM by PIB Delhi
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The 1 ISRO-DBT JWG meeting was convened on 28 May 2025 (through online mode) under the
Chairmanship of Shri. M Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary, ISRO and Co-Chairmanship of Dr. Alka
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Sharma, Senior Adviser/ Sci-H DBT. The JWG meeting is follow-up to the MoU signed on 25 October
2024 between Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology and Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO), Department of Space (DoS).
The Union Cabinet has approved path breaking initiatives in the field of human space programme and
biotechnology with the announcement of establishment of a Bharatiya Antariksh Station and the unveiling of
‘BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy for fostering high performance
Biomanufacturing’ in the country, respectively. Under the initiative on fostering high performance
biomanufacturing, futuristic space biotechnology/biomanufacturing is one of the Thematic areas.
An ISRO-DBT joint working group (JWG) has been constituted to take collaboration forward. Under the
aegis of this ISRO-DBT collaboration, currently the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Institutions-
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi and BRIC-inStem
Bangalore are exploring the possibility of experiments in the field of Space Biotechnology and Space
Biomanufacturing. The JWG discussed the ISRO-DBT joint “Announcement of Opportunity” in Space
Biomanufacturing and Space Biotechnology. Several opportunities and challenges were discussed. The JWG
also discussed the opportunities for both ISRO and DBT in the area of extra-terrestrial biomanufacturing or
in-Space Biomanufacturing for futuristic long term space missions.*****
NKR/PSM
(Release ID: 2132399)