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.