How does the government plan to take the Indian biotech sector to the global stage through its annual event- Global Bio India 2023?

BIRAC is organizing Global Bio-India 2023 focusing on ‘Biotech Innovation’ and ‘Bio-manufacturing’ and its impact on the BioEconomy of the country. This business event would showcase Bio-Pharma, Bio-Agri, Bio-Industrial, Bio-Energy and Bio-Services sectoral prowess at the national level and to the international community.

Previously two editions of GBI have been conducted in the Year 2019 and 2021 and have been very well received by the National and International stakeholders.  

Global Bio-India 2023 would provide confidence to the international community about the Government of India Policies and continued support for the sectoral growth. This would provide a boost to both Make In India and Startup India for the biotech sector. Sentiments for India Growth Story and Destination India would also be augmented.

Global Bio-India 2023 is positioned as a business meeting that would provide an engagement platform for Industry, Startups, Entrepreneurs, Investors, Regulators, Incubators, Public & Private Enablers, Philanthropic organizations and relevant stakeholders to promote innovative products and technologies, manufacturing, capacity building, networking, collaborations and investments. The event will also provide a platform for Indian biotech companies to showcase their innovations, products, and capabilities to a global audience. While India is still to emerge as epicentre for capital access for Biotech Innovations, it definitely can be showcased as Innovation hub and a large market at the global level. The events like this can effectively facilitate not only the capital inflow to India from global players but also attract large global corporates to set up their R&D and manufacturing base in India. This coupled with DBT-BIRAC’s plan for setting up Biofoundries will have a combined effect of augmenting India's position leadership position in Biotechnology.

Highlights of the Global Bio-India event:

• 300+ exhibits by successful Biotech Startups/SMEs
• 100+ Biotech Incubation centres
• 30+ Large Industries, Services and CROs
• 10 States representation for promoting their Biotech policies
• 25 Universities and Research Institutions
• 30+ Country representation
• 40+ Startup pitches to Investors
• 100 Investors, Angels, VCs, HNIs
• Masterclass for Startups- Art of Pitching
• Public sessions on Science connect with society
• Public hours for Exhibition
• CEO Round tables – MNCs representing Biopharma, Medtech, Diagnostics, Industrial Biotech, Bio-Agri
• Stakeholder discussion on National and Global Regulatory Trends
• Supersessions on Biomanufacturing and Biotech Innovation ecosystem
• Industry Academia interactions
• Representation from Major Industry Associations, Investor Associations, Global Entrepreneurship Organizations
• Biopartnering and B2B meetings
• Help desks - Startup India, Regulatory facilitation, Funding and Investment, Technology Management, etc.

What major biotech innovations are to be seen at the event? Please share some details.

The event showcases a diverse range of biotechnological innovations, featuring a total of around 300 entrepreneurs/start ups who are presenting their cutting-edge products and technologies.

While the list is exhaustive, few indicative innovations are mentioned below as per different thematic areas:

Devices

• Devices for mental health, migraine relief, visually impaired,
• Remote Patient Management solutions, screening tool for osteoporosis, dyslexia
• Multi-parameter detector for Anemia, robotic ultrasound system
• Bio-based wound care management, voice prosthesis for throat cancer patients

Industrial Biotechnology

• Microbial based Natural Dyes
• Green fuels
• Industrial effluent treatment, Bioremediation and Valorization of organic wastes
• Insect based animal feed ingredients
• Nutri health drinks, millet based beverages
• Self cleaning solar panels
• Bioplastics
• Enzyme inhibitors

Agriculture

• Ecofriendly pest management
• Bio-fertilizers
• IOT based device for Rapid Quality Assessment of Food Grain

Therapeutics

• Bioreactor system for Adherent Cell culture
• Drug candidate for vitiligo
• Chikungunya, Hepatitis-E VLP based Vaccine
• Bacterial expression platform for recombinant vaccine

What opportunities are in store for the biotech startups at the event? Which new policies or funding opportunities are being discussed for the biotech startup ecosystem at Global Bio India 2023?

The event will feature super sessions addressing a wide array of cutting-edge biotechnology areas, including cell and gene therapy, bioenergy, smart proteins, and Bio-Economy for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat.' Additionally, the event will explore the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in propelling future biotech innovations and harnessing the power of Genomics for personalized medicine. Emerging Agri-technologies for a Sustainable Future will also be discussed.

Startups participating in the event will have a unique opportunity to showcase their Product, Technology or Services. With a diverse range of investors and venture capitalists in attendance, the event promises numerous networking and business prospects for these startups. The startups will also get valuable insights into national & global regulatory trends for biotech areas and Entrepreneurs & Investor’s View from India and Abroad for raising funds.

The startups will be able to engage in Bio-partnering which involves in person meetings in special Bio-partnering booths at the meeting venue in the three days of Global Bio-India and virtual meeting post event for two days.

The event also includes recognition of the startups through various awards and felicitations.

The event also includes Masterclass for Startups wherein art of pitching will be organized. Selected startups will get an opportunity to pitch their technology in front of a range of investors.

The event also boasts of public lectures called “Science Connect Series with Society” where global experts from Healthcare, AI, Life Science, Space and more would engage with the public through debates, dialogues, and audience interactions. This series would be an opportunity to learn about the discourses that change the contours of science and also enable interactions with top innovators across sectors.

Dr Manbeena Chawla

(manbeena.chawla@mmactiv.com)