The government is considering coordinated measures to address challenges faced by biopharma and biotechnology startups, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday.
The proposed measures include simplifying regulatory processes, improving access to funding, expediting patent approvals and strengthening indigenous procurement and research infrastructure.
Goyal held discussions with India’s biopharma and biotechnology startups in New Delhi to understand sectoral challenges and identify opportunities for growth.
“Stronger collaboration between government, industry and research institutions will help innovative startups scale and contribute to India’s growing bioeconomy,” he said.
India’s bioeconomy crosses USD 195 billion
India’s bioeconomy expanded from around USD 10 billion in 2014 to more than USD 195 billion in 2025, according to the India BioEconomy Report (IBER) 2026.
The sector grew from approximately USD 165 billion to USD 195 billion over the last year, recording annual growth of around 17-18 per cent.
The report estimates that the bioeconomy contributes approximately 4.8 per cent to India’s GDP. It also places the sector’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) at nearly 18 per cent.
India’s bioeconomy has more than doubled in size since 2020. The country now has more than 11,800 biotechnology startups, according to the report.
The government is targeting a USD 300 billion bioeconomy by 2030. A growing base of scientists, entrepreneurs and startups is expected to support this expansion.
BioE3 Policy targets advanced biomanufacturing
The Centre’s BioE3 Policy, or Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment, aims to strengthen bio-based industries and sustainable biomanufacturing.
The policy focuses on innovation across several areas, including precision biotherapeutics, smart proteins, climate-resilient agriculture, bio-based chemicals and carbon capture technologies.
Goyal said the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) was facilitating the transition by developing shared infrastructure.
This includes biofoundries, Bio-AI hubs and advanced biomanufacturing platforms. Such facilities are intended to support research and technology development across the biotechnology ecosystem.
Rs 1 lakh crore RDI Fund to support biotechnology ventures
The government has also established a Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund with an outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore.
BIRAC has been assigned a key role in supporting biotechnology ventures under the initiative.
The fund aims to channel long-term investment into projects that are ready for scale-up and technology translation. The initiative is also intended to strengthen India’s deep-tech ecosystem.
The proposed support measures, alongside research infrastructure and funding initiatives, form part of the government’s broader efforts to expand the country’s biotechnology sector.
