Union Cabinet approves proposal to bolster biotech manufacturing

Last Updated27/08/2024

Internships would be arranged for students in the 11th and 12th grades and fellowships for research at the graduate and post-graduate level

On August 24, 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) Policy to enhance biotechnology-based manufacturing in India.
Led by the Department of Biotechnology, the policy aims to catalyze a technological revolution similar to the IT boom of the 1990s.
The policy will focus on producing a wide range of bio-based products, from medicines to materials, and addressing national challenges in agriculture, environment, and manufacturing.

The BioE3 Policy will target six thematic sectors:
- High-value bio-based chemicals and enzymes
- Smart proteins and functional foods
- Precision biotherapeutics
- Climate-resilient agriculture
- Carbon capture and utilization
- Futuristic marine and space research
The policy aims to integrate advanced biotechnological processes to promote sustainable and high-performance biomanufacturing across these sectors.

In addition to the BioE3 Policy, the Cabinet also merged three existing schemes of the Ministry of Science and Technology into a single scheme called Vigyan Dhara. With a budget of ₹10,579 crore until 2025-26, Vigyan Dhara aims to strengthen India's science and technology landscape through institutional capacity building, research and development, and innovation.

Internships for students in grades 11 and 12
Fellowships for graduate and postgraduate research
Support for basic and translational research in areas like sustainable energy and water
Promotion of international and multilateral research collaboration
Focused interventions to increase women's participation in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI)
The scheme is designed to enhance collaboration between academia, government, and industry, and to promote innovation from the school level to higher education and startups.