Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, visited the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) to inspect its Microbe Repository and assess ongoing projects. Singh emphasized microbial technology’s critical role in shaping future industrial revolutions, calling it a pillar of biotechnology.
He credited India’s biotech surge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s New BioE3 Policy, which focuses on biomanufacturing and bio-foundries. India’s bioeconomy has soared from $10 billion in 2014 to an estimated $130 billion in 2024, with projections of $300 billion by 2030. He also highlighted the launch of Nafithromycin, India’s first indigenous antibiotic to combat resistant infections.
Singh noted India’s biotech startup boom, growing from just 50 in 2014 to nearly 9,000, positioning the country among the top biotech innovators globally. He praised CSIR-IMTECH’s contributions to microbial genetics, infectious disease research, and bioinformatics, reinforcing India’s standing in global bio-manufacturing.
During his visit to CSIR-IHBT Palampur, Singh virtually inaugurated a tulip garden and backed agri-startups expanding tulip cultivation. He also launched facilities like the Autonomous Greenhouse and Heeng Seed Production Centre, aimed at leveraging Himalayan biodiversity for economic growth. Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to integrating scientific research with industry and agriculture, driving India’s scientific and economic progress.
