**Executive Summary**
This document outlines India's priority focus on Marine and Space Biotechnology under the BioE3 policy. Key initiatives include developing a biomanufacturing ecosystem for oceanic resources and advancing space biomanufacturing through collaborations. Deadlines and specific action items are not explicitly mentioned, but the document details ongoing and planned research and development efforts.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Marine Biotechnology Initiatives**
* **BioE3 Policy Focus:** The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is developing a biomanufacturing ecosystem based on futuristic marine research to harness oceanic resources for food, energy, chemicals, and materials.
* **Research and Development:** National institutes and universities are involved in screening marine resources for bioproducts.
* **Marine Biofoundry:** India's first marine biofoundry, supported by BIRAC, is producing cattle feed additives, pharma-grade collagen, and seaweed-based biostimulants.
* **Deep Ocean Mission:** The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is inventorising deep-sea fauna and flora, building capacity, and conducting bioprospecting of deep-sea microbes.
* **Ocean Technology:** The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) is developing and demonstrating technologies for micro-algal culture, open-sea fish culture, and seaweed cultivation.
* **Fisheries Sector Support:** The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is promoting the seaweed industry.
* **Seaweed Cultivation R&D:** Research focuses on breeding for high yield, disease resistance, climate tolerance, strain improvement, scalable farming techniques, and developing value-added products like biofuels, animal feed, agri inputs, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and biodegradable plastics from algae.
* **CSIR and ICAR Contributions:** CSIR-CSMCRI is involved in seaweed cultivation, and ICAR-CMFRI is designated as a Centre of Excellence for seaweed cultivation, focusing on indigenous production and value-chain development.
**Space Biotechnology Initiatives**
* **Priority Areas:** Key areas include microgravity research, space bio manufacturing, bioastronautics, and space biology.
* **Space Bio-manufacturing Focus:** Research is characterizing microorganisms for potential space biomanufacturing applications.
* **ISRO-NASA Collaboration:** Three experiments from DBT institutions were shortlisted for a recent ISRO-NASA mission to the International Space Station.
* **Future Collaborations:** Collaborative efforts are underway for demonstrating space biomanufacturing processes.
* **DBT Funding:** The Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme provides funding for futuristic marine and space biotechnology sectors.
* **DBT-ISRO MoU:** A Memorandum of Understanding with ISRO aims for cooperation in space biotechnology, including joint space biomanufacturing and establishing ground-based infrastructure for experiments.
* **Biomanufacturing Implementation Plan:** A plan has been prepared for the effective implementation of the BioE3 policy, including futuristic marine and space research.
**Implementation Strategy**
* **Public-Private Co-creation:** The BioE3 policy incorporates a public-private co-creation model, combining expertise from academia, startups, and industry.
* **Technology Transfer:** CSIR-CSMCRI is transferring seaweed-based technologies to industries, and CSIR-NIO is collaborating with industries for scale-up and product development.
* **Private Sector Participation:** MoES is encouraging private sector participation in marine bio-based products and facilitating technology transfer.
* **Industry Engagement:** ICAR-CMFRI supports industry engagement through licensing, collaborative research, and incubation for start-ups.
**Impact Analysis**
**Academia and Research Institutes**
* **Impact:** These institutions are actively involved in research, development, and screening of marine and space biotechnology applications. They are conducting experiments, developing technologies, and contributing to national priority sectors.
* **Action Required:** Continue and expand research efforts, engage in collaborative projects, and pursue funding opportunities under schemes like Bio-RIDE.
**Industries**
* **Impact:** Industries have opportunities to commercialize new products derived from marine resources and space biomanufacturing. They can benefit from technology transfer and develop scalable production methods.
* **Action Required:** Engage with research institutes for technology licensing, participate in collaborative research projects, and explore commercialization of marine bio-based products and seaweed-derived products.
**Start-ups**
* **Impact:** Start-ups can leverage incubation support and access technologies for developing innovative products and services in marine and space biotechnology.
* **Action Required:** Seek incubation support and licensing opportunities from institutes like ICAR-CMFRI to develop and commercialize new ventures.
**Government Departments (DBT, MoES, DoF, ISRO)**
* **Impact:** These departments are driving the policy initiatives, providing funding, facilitating collaborations, and creating frameworks for the advancement of marine and space biotechnology.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement and support the BioE3 policy, allocate necessary funding, foster inter-agency and international collaborations, and develop comprehensive implementation plans.
Key Entities Referenced
BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy: A policy that identifies futuristic marine and space biotechnology as priority sectors.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT): The government department responsible for the BioE3 policy and advancing marine and space biotechnology.
Ministry of Science & Technology: The ministry under which the Department of Biotechnology operates.
Deep Ocean Mission: A mission spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences focused on deep-sea research and bioprospecting.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A scheme of the Department of Fisheries that has boosted the seaweed industry.
Ministry of Science & Technology
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: MARINE AND SPACE
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Posted On: 11 MAR 2026 5:14PM by PIB Delhi
The Government has identified futuristic marine and space biotechnology as priority sectors under the
BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy of the Department of
Biotechnology (DBT). The key priority areas in space biotechnology include microgravity research, space
bio manufacturing, bioastronautics and space biology. On the other hand, DBT envisions developing a
biomanufacturing ecosystem based on futuristic marine research to tap the oceanic resources and oceanic
space for meeting the growing needs of food, energy, chemicals, and materials.
Several national institutes and universities have been involved in screening and identifying bioproducts of
utility in health and other commercial applications from marine resources. The DBT’s Public Sector Unit,
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has supported India’s first marine
biofoundry under the BioE3 Policy at KIIT-Technology Business Incubator, Bhubaneswar for production
of cattle feed additives, pharma-grade collagen, seaweed-based biostimulants. Ministry of Earth Sciences
(MoES), through the Deep Ocean Mission is spearheading the inventorisation of deep-sea fauna and flora,
capacity building and bioprospecting using deep-sea genetic material from microbes. National Institute of
Ocean Technology (NIOT) under MoES is engaged in activities related to technology development and
demonstration in the areas of micro-algal culture, open-sea fish culture in cages, and seaweed cultivation.
ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has also been contributing significantly to
the advancement of marine biotechnology. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) of the
Department of Fisheries (DoF) has given momentum to the seaweed industry.
In the area of space bio manufacturing, the current focus is to characterize the behavior of various
microorganisms for their potential space bio manufacturing applications. Towards this, three experiments
from DBT institutions were shortlisted in the recent ISRO-NASA mission to International Space Station.
In parallel, collaborative efforts are underway to undertake demonstration of space bio manufacturing
processes in future. DBT has provision for funding for futuristic marine and space biotechnology sectors
via the Cabinet approved ‘Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-
RIDE)’ scheme.
The Futuristic Marine Research vertical of the BioE3 policy is focused on R&D in Seaweed Cultivation:
breeding for traits such as high yield; disease resistance and climate tolerance; strain improvement through
genome assisted approaches for indigenous species of seaweed; developing scalable farming techniques
for large scale production of seaweeds/algae in offshore waters and onshore and sensors for in-situ
measurement of seaweed crop health and real time monitoring of farm integrity; development of value
added products such as biofuels; animal feed supplements for animal health and methane reduction; agri
inputs & fertilizers; pharmaceuticals such as drugs/immunomodulators; nutraceutical products;
biodegradable plastics etc. from micro & macro algae. These strategic initiatives will give a fillip to
indigenous production and help reduce import dependency. The cultivation of seaweeds and processing
them into value-added products is also being pursued by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) through its constituent laboratory, namely, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research
Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI), Bhavnagar. DoF designated ICAR-CMFRI as a Centre of Excellence for
Seaweed Cultivation to strengthen indigenous production, quality seed supply, farming protocols, and
value-chain development.
The DBT has signed a MoU with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for cooperation in Space
Biotechnology. The short-term goals consist of implementation of proposals under the ISRO-NASA
collaboration. On the other hand, mid-term and long term goals include DBT-ISRO joint space
biomanufacturing as well as establishment of ground based infrastructure for space biotechnology
experiments. Further, a Biomanufacturing implementation plan, for effective implementation of the BioE3
policy (including futuristic marine and space research) has been prepared.
Public-private co-creation model is an inherent part of the BioE3 policy where implementation of the
biomanufacturing initiative will combine the available expertise in academia, startups, and industry.
BIRAC has supported India’s first marine biofoundry under the BioE3 Policy at KIIT-TBI, Bhubaneswar.
CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, has transferred several seaweed-based technologies to the industries for
commercialization. Further, CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO), Goa is collaborating
with industries for scale-up and product development through the sustainable utilization of marine living
resources. MoES has also taken steps to encourage private-sector participation in marine bio-based
products, and transfer of technology for specific products has been carried out for interested industries.
ICAR-CMFRI supports industry engagement through licensing of technologies, collaborative research
projects, and incubation support for start-ups.
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/MJ/NM
(Release ID: 2238338) Visitor Counter : 86
Read this release in: ही