India’s biomanufacturing scale-up imperative

India’s bioeconomy grew from USD 10 billion in 2014 to USD 195.3 billion in 2025, according to NITI Aayog, yet a major gap remains in translating research into products. Countries leading the global biomanufacturing race invest not only in research but in pilot-scale facilities, industrial infrastructure, skilled talent, supportive regulation, and sustained funding—the combination that moves innovation from laboratory to market.

Biotechnology is entering a new phase in which engineered microorganisms, cells, and enzymes are becoming production platforms capable of yielding medicines, chemicals, fuels, food ingredients, and advanced materials. India’s BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) Policy and Biomanufacturing Initiative respond to this shift by moving beyond funding research towards building the ecosystem needed to manufacture products at scale. India can draw lessons from the United States, China, Singapore, and the European Union, which are investing heavily in engineering biology and precision fermentation on the premise that industrial capacity, not just scientific discovery, will determine who captures the value of these technologies. For India, converting policy ambition into industrial capability remains the central challenge.

At this stage, India must choose where to direct resources. BioE3 sets out six thematic areas—bio-based products, smart proteins, precision biotherapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, carbon capture and utilisation, and marine and space biotechnology—and India’s readiness differs sharply across them. Prioritising focus areas where India already combines scientific strength, resource access, manufacturing capability, and demonstrated market demand could help concentrate investment where it is most likely to deliver results.

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