Biotechnology in India

Biotechnology is globally recognized as a rapidly emerging, complex and far reaching new technology. Biotechnology can, over the next two decades, deliver the next wave of technological change that can be as radical and pervasive as that brought about by IT. The recent and continuing advances in life sciences clearly unfold a scenario energised and driven by the new tools of biotechnology.  The convergence of advances in biology – genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and information technologies is driving the emergence of a new bioeconomy.

A large number of therapeutic biotech drugs and vaccines are currently being marketed, accounting for a US$ 40 billion market and benefiting over a hundred million people worldwide. Hundreds more are in clinical development. In addition to these, there are a large number of agri-biotech and industrial biotech products that have enormously helped people. The global biotech industry recorded a turnover of US$ 64 billion during 2003. Employment generation, intellectual wealth creation, expanding entrepreneurial opportunities, augmenting industrial growth are a few of the compelling factors that warrant a focused approach for this sector.

It was way back in 1980s when Government of India considered the need for creating a separate institutional framework for strengthening biology and biotechnology research in the country. The scientific agencies like Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of Science & Technology, University Grants Commission and some others were supporting research in modern biology. However, it was with the establishment of the National Biotechnology Board in 1982 that the area got a systematic impetus. Human resource development, creation of infrastructure facilities and support to research and development in carefully identified areas were given the highest priority. Based on the success and impact of the activities of the National Biotechnology Board, Government of India in February 1986 established a separate Biotechnology Department under the Ministry of Science & Technology. There have been major accomplishments and the field has tremendously moved forward covering the areas of basic research, agriculture, healthcare, environment, bioinformatics, human resource development, industry, safety and ethical issues, etc.

Biotechnology industry in India has been growing at an average annual rate of 40 %during the last five years and its turnover during 2004-05 exceeded US$ 1 billion. Biotechnology as a business segment for India has the potential of generating revenues to the tune of US$ 5 Billion and creating one million jobs by 2010 through products and services. This can propel India into a significant position in the global biotech sweepstakes. Biopharmaceuticals alone have the potential to be a US$ 2 billion market opportunity largely driven by vaccines and bio-generics.  Clinical development services can generate in excess of US$ 1.5 billion whilst bioservices or outsourced research services can garner a market of US$ 1 billion over this time scale.  The balance US$500 million is attributable to agricultural and industrial biotechnology. 

India has many assets in its strong pool of scientists and engineers, vast institutional network, and cost effective manufacturing. There are over a hundred national research laboratories employing thousands of scientists. There are more than 300 college level educational and training institutes across the country offering degrees and diplomas in biotechnology, bio-informatics and the biological sciences, producing nearly 500,000 students on an annual basis. More than 100 medical colleges add 17,000 medical practitioners per year. About 300,000 postgraduates and 1500 PhDs qualify in biosciences and engineering each year.

India is reorganized as a mega bio-diversity country and biotechnology offers opportunities to convert our biological resources into economic wealth and employment opportunities. Innovative products and services that draw on renewable resources bring greater efficiency into industrial processes, check environmental degradation and deliver a more bio-based economy. Indian agriculture faces the formidable challenge of having to produce more farm commodities for our growing human and livestock population from diminishing per capita arable land and water resources. Biotechnology has the potential to overcome this challenge, to ensure the livelihood security of 110 million farming families in our country.

            The efforts in the last two decades have directed notable interventions in the public and private sectors to foster life sciences and biotechnology. There has been substantial progress in terms of support for R&D, human resource generation and infrastructure development. With the introduction of the product patent regime in January 2005, India has created the right environment for innovation.