The launch of India's first National Biofoundry Network and BioE3 Policy aims to revolutionize biomanufacturing, boost the bioeconomy to $300 billion by 2030, and position India as a global bioeconomy leader amidst challenges like talent gaps and scale-up barriers.

Why in the News?

India's first National Biofoundry Network was launched on August 25, 2025, which also marked the first anniversary of India's BioE3 Policy.

About National Biofoundry Network

Objectives: To aid in the scale-up of proof-of-concept projects into viable technologies.
- Proof of Concept (POC): A demonstration to test if an idea is feasible and viable, not to assess market demand or production methods.
Component of: BioE3 Policy and categorized as Bioenablers.
Biofoundry: It is an automated facility that rapidly designs, builds, and optimizes engineered organisms by integrating DNA synthesis, gene editing, and high-throughput biomanufacturing workflows.
Functions:
- Scaling up research activities across various thematic areas. Examples:
  - International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) working on engineering microbial strains for first and second-generation biofuels,
  - IIT-Madras advancing animal-free production of hyaluronic acid.
- The network offers shared infrastructure for startups, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), industries, and academic institutions.
- It also provides training and internships to build human resources with the necessary interdisciplinary and cross-functional technical skills for biomanufacturing.

About BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy

Approved in 2024, as India's first policy in Biotechnology.
Ministry: Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science & Technology.
Objectives:
- To revolutionize biomanufacturing for enhanced efficiency, sustainability, and quality, while accelerating the development and production of high-value bio-based products.
  - Biomanufacturing includes sectors like precision biotherapeutics, carbon capture and utilisation, functional foods and smart proteins, etc.
- To double India's bioeconomy to US$300 billion by 2030.
Key Features of BioE3 Policy:
- Innovation-Driven R&D & Entrepreneurship: Provides strong support to foster research and startups.
- Technology Development & Commercialization: Accelerates progress through Biomanufacturing, Bio-AI hubs, and Biofoundries.
- Green Growth Models: Prioritizes regenerative and circular bioeconomy practices.
- PPP-Based Implementation: Leverages Public-Private Partnerships to boost industry participation, expand skilled workforce, and generate employment.

Key Achievements of BioE3 Policy

Infrastructure: Established 21 advanced BioEnabler facilities, BRIC National Agri-Food Biomanufacturing Institute (BRIC-NABI).
Inter-Ministerial Cooperation: DBT- ISRO MoU for space biotechnology, leading to life sciences experiments on the International Space Station.
Centre-State Partnerships: Initiated a partnership with the Government of Assam to leverage regional biodiversity for biomanufacturing.
Human Capital Development: BioE3 Youth Challenge launched for grassroots innovation for healthcare, agriculture, environment, and industry.
Gene-Edited Crops: India became the first country to develop gene-edited rice varieties for nutritional security and climate resilience.

Challenges of BioE3 Policy

Lack of Milestones: Difficulty in tracking policy progress.
Human Capital Gaps: Critical expertise shortages, particularly in microbial strain engineering and bioprocessing, requiring stronger hands-on training and interdisciplinary programs.
Scale-up Bottlenecks: The "valley of death" challenge between discovery and commercialization due to limited funding and developmental stalls.
Commercialization Barriers: High capital investment for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) units, limited local supply chains for raw materials, dependence on costly imported materials, and fragmented logistics hinder the growth prospects.
Biosafety and Public Trust: Ongoing debates over biosafety concerns for gene-edited crops and the need for proactive, responsible science communication to build public trust.

Conclusion

The BioE3 Policy, with the National Biofoundry Network, marks a pivotal step in India's journey towards building a sustainable, self-reliant, and green bioeconomy. With an ambitious target of reaching a US$300 billion bioeconomy by 2030 and potentially US$2.7 trillion by 2050, India is poised to emerge as a global bioeconomy powerhouse, playing a critical role in achieving national and international net-zero carbon emission goals.