**Executive Summary**
This report details the Indian government's strategic initiatives, including the Bio-RIDE scheme and BioE3 Policy, aimed at growing the national bioeconomy to $300 billion by 2030. Key developments include the launch of the India Biofoundry Network, the ₹10,000 crore Biopharma SHAKTI scheme, and the continued success of the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) programme. As of March 2026, the bioeconomy has reached $195.3 billion, driven by infrastructure development and support for early-stage innovation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Strategic Growth and Policy**
* Target: Achieve a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030.
* Current Status: The sector reached $195.3 billion in 2025, reflecting an 18% annual growth rate.
* Foundational Policies: Bio-RIDE and BioE3 (Biotechnology for Environment, Economy & Employment) are the primary frameworks driving biotechnology research and biomanufacturing.
* **India Biofoundry Network**
* Infrastructure: A national platform comprising 15 BIRAC-supported bio-enabler facilities offering shared infrastructure.
* Scope: Supports startups, SMEs, and academia in sectors such as microbial biomanufacturing, smart proteins, precision biotherapeutics, and carbon capture.
* Objectives: Transition to green technologies, reduce import dependence, and produce high-value indigenous bio-products.
* **Biopharma SHAKTI Scheme**
* Funding: Allocated ₹10,000 crore over a five-year period.
* Focus: Strengthening the domestic ecosystem for biologics and biosimilars to enhance global competitiveness.
* Goal: Support affordable healthcare and establish India as a global biopharma manufacturing hub.
* **Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) Programme**
* Financial Support: Offers up to ₹50 lakh for 18 months to establish proof-of-concept for innovative biotech ideas.
* Mentorship: Implemented through 8 BIG Partners (BioNEST incubators) providing technical, IP, and business handholding.
* Impact (as of March 2026): Supported 1,000+ startups, facilitated 800+ IP filings, and generated 3,500+ skilled jobs.
**Impact Analysis**
**Start-ups and SMEs**
**Impact**
These entities benefit from de-risked early-stage investments through BIG grants and access to high-end shared infrastructure via the Biofoundry Network, which reduces the capital expenditure required for pilot-scale technologies.
**Action Required**
Apply for grant-in-aid support through BIRAC and leverage the 15 bio-enabler facilities for product development and commercialization.
**Academic Institutions**
**Impact**
Academia gains a platform for translating research into commercial products and receives support for science-led entrepreneurship.
**Action Required**
Collaborate with the Biofoundry Network to utilize shared infrastructure for research translation and participate in incubator-led mentorship programs.
**Biopharmaceutical Industry**
**Impact**
The industry receives significant financial backing through the Biopharma SHAKTI scheme, aimed at boosting global competitiveness in biologics and biosimilars.
**Action Required**
Align R&D and manufacturing capabilities with the SHAKTI scheme’s objectives to foster a globally competitive domestic ecosystem for affordable healthcare.
**Women Entrepreneurs and Regional Innovators**
**Impact**
Targeted support has enabled over 250 women entrepreneurs and increased participation from Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions in the biotech sector.
**Action Required**
Utilize the expanded incubator network and BIG programme resources to scale innovations within regional ecosystems.
Key Entities Referenced
BioE3 Policy: The overarching national policy (Biotechnology for Environment, Economy & Employment) aimed at transforming the biotechnology landscape through advanced biomanufacturing.
Bio-RIDE scheme: A primary initiative focused on biotechnology research, innovation, and infrastructure to help achieve a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030.
Biopharma SHAKTI scheme: A ₹10,000 crore scheme designed to strengthen the domestic biopharmaceutical sector and enhance global competitiveness in biologics and biosimilars.
Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) programme: A flagship funding initiative that supports early-stage startups and entrepreneurs in the biotechnology sector with grant-in-aid for proof-of-concept development.
Biofoundry Network: India's first national platform of 15 bio-enabler facilities providing shared infrastructure to accelerate biomanufacturing for industry and academia.
Ministry of Science & Technology
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: BIO-ECONOMY
Posted On: 25 MAR 2026 2:46PM by PIB Delhi
Bio-RIDE scheme is aimed at transforming the country’s biotechnology landscape and to contribute
towards achieving a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030. Implementation of various programs on
biotechnology research, development and innovation, human resource and infrastructure development,
approval of BioE3 Policy and other Government of India reforms have contributed to maintain a
consistent growth of biotechnology sector during last decade. India’s bioeconomy has reached $195.3
billion in 2025, up from $165 billion in 2024, reflecting an 18% annual growth rate as detailed in the India
Bioeconomy Report 2026 released on 19.03.2026.
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, and it’s PSU Biotechnology Industry
Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) recently announced the launch of India’s first Biofoundry Network,
a landmark initiative aimed at transforming the country’s biotechnology landscape and achieving a $300
billion bioeconomy by 2030. Rolled out under the BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Environment,
Economy &Employment), the network will serve as a national platform to accelerate advanced
biomanufacturing.
The initiative brings together BIRAC supported 15 cutting-edge bio-enabler facilities across India,
offering shared infrastructure to start-ups, SMEs, industries, and academic institutions. These centers will
support pilot and pre-commercial scale technologies across diverse sectors, including microbial
biomanufacturing, sustainable agriculture, smart proteins, functional foods, precision biotherapeutics,
marine biotechnology, carbon capture, and next-generation cell and gene therapies.
The facilities range from biofoundries working on microbial strains, smart proteins, probiotics, and bio-
based chemicals to biomanufacturing hubs developing next-generation cell therapies, mRNA-based
medicines, marine bio-innovations, and sustainable biofuels. Collectively, these will act as bio-enablers of
innovation and commercialization, unlocking new opportunities for industry and academia alike. These
Bioenablers will drive advanced biomanufacturing, reduce reliance on imports, generate employment, and
position India as a global bioeconomy leader.
With its wide-ranging impact across health, agriculture, food, energy, and environment, the Biofoundry
Network is expected to play a pivotal role in India’s transition to clean and green technologies, reduce
import dependence, helpful in the production of high-value indigenous bio-products and establish the
country as a frontrunner in the global bioeconomy.
With a view to strengthen the domestic biopharmaceutical sector and enhance global competitiveness in
biologics and biosimilars, the Government has announced the Biopharma SHAKTI scheme with an outlay
of ₹10,000 crore over five years with an objective to build a globally competitive domestic ecosystem for
biologics and biosimilars to support affordable healthcare in India and enable India to emerge as a global
biopharma manufacturing and innovation hub.The Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) programme, implemented by the Biotechnology Industry
Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Section 8 Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of
Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, has played a pivotal role in strengthening early-stage
biotechnology innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
The Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) is BIRAC’s flagship programme designed to support early-stage
startups and entrepreneurs in the biotechnology sector. Launched in 2012, the scheme aims to nurture the
innovation ecosystem by de-risking initial investments through grant-in-aid support of up to ₹50 lakh for a
period of 18 months, enabling the establishment of proof-of-concept (PoC) for innovative ideas. Over
time, the programme has emerged as one of the largest early-stage biotech funding initiatives in India. It
serves as a launchpad for first-generation biotechnology entrepreneurs and has created a strong startup
pipeline, contributing to the growth of a self-reliant and globally competitive biotechnology innovation
ecosystem.
It is implemented through a network of 8 BIG Partners (BioNEST incubators) that provide end-to-end
handholding, thorough mentorship (technical, IP, business), and networking support from the pre-
submission stage to completion of the project (and even after).
As of March 2026, the programme has:
Supported more than 1,000 early-stage startups and innovators
Enabled translation of innovative ideas into 200+ developed products/technologies
Facilitated creation of 800+ intellectual property filings
Mobilized ₹3,500+ crore in follow-on funding
Supported 250+ women entrepreneurs
Generated 3,500+ skilled employment opportunities
Encouraged participation from Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions through an expanded incubator network
The programme has significantly contributed to de-risking early-stage innovation, strengthening the
startup pipeline, and fostering a culture of science-led entrepreneurship in the biotechnology sector,
thereby enabling the growth of a robust and self-reliant bio-economy.
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent charge) for the Ministry of Science and
Technology & Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
*****
NKR/MK/NM
(Release ID: 2244972) Visitor Counter : 178
Read this release in: ही