From 50 to 11,000 biotech start-ups in 11 years: India accelerates towards a $300 billion bioeconomy

India’s biotechnology sector has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade, with the number of biotech start-ups surging from around 50–70 in 2014 to more than 11,000 in 2026 — a shift that signals the country’s decisive move towards a bio-driven economy, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said.

Addressing scientists and industry leaders on National Science Day at the BRIC–Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB) in Thiruvananthapuram, the Minister underscored biotechnology’s central role in shaping India’s manufacturing, healthcare and sustainable growth ambitions.

Bioeconomy Expands 16-Fold in a Decade

Highlighting the scale of transformation, Dr Jitendra Singh noted that India’s bioeconomy has grown nearly sixteen times in the last ten years — from approximately $10 billion in 2014 to nearly $166 billion today. The government has set a target of reaching $300 billion in the coming years, positioning biotechnology as a core pillar of India’s economic strategy.

He attributed this growth to sustained policy support, targeted funding mechanisms, and reforms aimed at strengthening the deep-tech ecosystem. The recently launched BioE3 Policy — focusing on economy, environment, and employment — is designed to anticipate and capitalise on the global shift toward biomanufacturing and bio-based industries.

“India is among the few countries to bring out a dedicated biotechnology policy aligned with future economic transitions,” the Minister said, adding that biotechnology is set to drive next-generation manufacturing and healthcare solutions.

New Infrastructure to Boost Drug Discovery and Advanced Therapies

During the visit, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the state-of-the-art Central Facility for Recombinant Cells and Sensors at BRIC-RGCB, developed with an investment of approximately ₹60 crore by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

The facility houses an extensive panel of engineered recombinant cells and advanced screening systems aimed at accelerating target-specific drug discovery, medical genomics, and agricultural genomics. It is expected to serve researchers, healthcare innovators, and industry stakeholders nationwide.

The Minister also announced the establishment of a dedicated Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility at BRIC-RGCB, to be developed in two phases with a total DBT investment of ₹80 crore.

The GMP facility will enable pre-commercial production of biologics and advanced cell-based therapies, including CAR-T therapy, in collaboration with clinical centres in Kerala. Designed as a bridge between laboratory research and industrial-scale manufacturing, the facility will operate on a “pay-and-use” model, allowing biotech companies and start-ups to access high-end production infrastructure.

This development is expected to strengthen India’s capabilities in advanced therapeutics and precision medicine, particularly in oncology.

Addressing Emerging Health Challenges

Dr Jitendra Singh also flagged the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, fatty liver disease, and cancer. With cancer incidence projected to rise significantly by 2030, he stressed the need for integrating preventive healthcare with advanced research.

He highlighted India’s scientific contributions to global HPV vaccination evidence and appreciated BRIC-RGCB’s research in colon, oral, breast and cervical cancers.

“Science must translate into better public health outcomes and economic growth,” he said, calling for stronger synergy between laboratory research and community-level healthcare delivery.

Policy Backing and Ecosystem Expansion

The Minister emphasised that India’s biotechnology expansion has been underpinned by unprecedented policy support over the past decade. Alongside BioE3, initiatives such as targeted funding for deep-tech start-ups and the strengthening of translational research institutions have helped build a robust innovation ecosystem.

He called for deeper collaboration between research institutions, private industry, and emerging sectors like nuclear medicine and deep-ocean research, particularly in coastal states such as Kerala. Aligning biotechnology capabilities with national missions on marine biodiversity and fisheries innovation could unlock new growth avenues, he added.

From Innovation Hub to Bio-Manufacturing Powerhouse

The sharp rise in biotech start-ups — from under 100 in 2014 to over 11,000 today — reflects not just entrepreneurial growth, but a structural transformation in India’s research-commercialisation pipeline.

With expanding infrastructure, regulatory backing, increased investment, and global demand for cost-effective biologics, India is positioning itself as a future global biomanufacturing hub.

Also Read: From public health to global health power: How India’s National Health Mission is reshaping healthcare

As the country moves toward its long-term economic vision, biotechnology is no longer seen as a niche research domain. Instead, it is emerging as a strategic driver of manufacturing competitiveness, public health resilience, and sustainable economic growth.

The message from National Science Day was clear: India’s shift towards a bio-driven economy is no longer aspirational — it is underway.