New Delhi, Feb 24 (.) Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said India’s bioeconomy is on a rapid growth trajectory and is poised to become a USD 1 trillion sector by 2047, as he unveiled a new AI-driven biotech data portal aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and research.
Speaking at the 40th Foundation Day of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Minister launched “SUJVIKA” — a Biotech Product Data Portal designed to provide structured and authenticated trade data on biotechnology products, industrial enzymes and biochemical imports.
The platform is expected to help startups, researchers and industry players identify import dependencies and explore opportunities for indigenisation and innovation.
Dr Singh said India’s bioeconomy has witnessed a 16-fold rise over the past decade, reflecting the government’s sustained push for innovation-led growth.
“India is steadily moving towards becoming a global biotechnology powerhouse, and our vision is to build a USD 1 trillion bioeconomy by 2047 in line with the goal of Viksit Bharat,” he said.
Highlighting the expansion of the biotech startup ecosystem, the Minister noted that the number of biotech startups has grown from fewer than 100 in 2014 to more than 11,000 today.
He said this transformation has been driven by targeted policy support, research incentives and stronger industry-academia partnerships.
Referring to the recently launched BioE3 Policy — Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment — Dr Singh said it aims to accelerate high-performance biomanufacturing and promote sustainable development.
He also announced the first national call under the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) initiative, with Rs 2,000 crore earmarked to support enterprises ready for scale-up.
The Minister further highlighted initiatives such as the National Biofoundry Network and a nationwide network of bio-incubators across states and union Territories to facilitate translation of research into commercial applications.
Touching upon frontier areas, Dr Singh said India is making strides in emerging domains such as space biotechnology and precision medicine. He pointed to the GenomeIndia Project, which has completed whole-genome sequencing of 10,000 individuals from diverse populations, calling it a major step towards advancing personalised healthcare solutions.
Emphasising the growing integration of artificial intelligence with biotechnology, Dr Singh said digital tools will significantly enhance research efficiency, diagnostics and drug discovery. “The convergence of biotechnology and digital innovation will define the next phase of India’s growth story,” he said, expressing confidence that India will emerge as one of the world’s leading bioeconomies in the coming decades.
. SAS KK