New Delhi, July 7 (UNI) Stating that every Indian is a stakeholder in the country’s bio-economy, Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh today called for a wider public understanding and inclusive participation in India’s biotechnology mission.
Speaking here during the nationwide celebration of World Bio-product Day – The BioE3 Way, the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to realising a USD 300 billion bioeconomy by 2030.
The Minister highlighted that India’s biotechnology ecosystem has grown from just around 50 startups a decade ago to nearly 11,000 today — a leap made possible by policy backing and institutional partnerships. Referring to the recently launched BioE3 Policy, he noted that it lays the groundwork for India to lead in sustainable biomanufacturing by aligning bioeconomy goals with environmental sustainability, economic growth and equity.
“Bioproducts aren’t limited to laboratories anymore. They’re about livelihoods — from biodegradable packaging to eco-friendly personal care, from rural employment to green jobs,” he said.
He also emphasised that the future industrial revolution will be driven by bioeconomy, and India, he believes, has taken the lead.
The Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by young scholars in biotech, pointing out the mismatch between parental expectations and individual aptitude in career choices.
He termed the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 a “game-changer” that would allow students to pursue disciplines of interest with flexibility. “We are seeing a new generation with real aptitude and capacity to learn,” he said, as per a government statement here.
Jitendra Singh also drew attention to the disparity in India’s past policy priorities, especially in agriculture, which he said was historically shaped by western models.
Stressing the untapped potential of India’s natural resources and traditional knowledge systems, he said, “Foreign researchers come to India for what they don’t have — our resources and diversity. We should learn to value them first.”
The event was organised by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and its agencies BIRAC and iBRIC+.
In his address, Secretary, DBT and Chairman of BIRAC, Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale outlined steps being taken to operationalise the BioE3 Policy. These include support for pilot manufacturing, region-specific innovation missions, and strengthening the pipeline from research to market.
He underscored DBT’s role in catalysing collaborations among academia, startups, and industries for scalable biotech solutions, said the statement.
