India's Biotech Boom: Transforming Science into Economic Powerhouse

India's biotechnology sector is witnessing an unprecedented boom, expanding from $35.5 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024. Eyeing a $300 billion target by 2030, the sector is translating scientific advances into significant industrial and public health impacts, according to Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary of DBT.

At a press conference marking 11 years of achievements, Gokhale spotlighted initiatives such as GenomeIndia, which aims to sequence genomes from diverse population groups for personalized medicine. He also highlighted India's first in-human gene therapy trials and the nation's robust vaccine development efforts backed by DBT.

The biotechnology sector includes over 10,000 startups, contributing to the emergence of more than 800 biotech products. The dedicated infrastructure supports this growth, with Mohali's biomanufacturing institute and speed breeding facilities enhancing climate-resilient crop development, underlined by policies like BioE3 aligned with Net Zero targets.

(With inputs from agencies.)