On Bioproduct Day, Dr. Jitendra Singh reaffirms the $300 billion bioeconomy target by 2030, stressing the need for comprehensive involvement of all parties.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the nation during the celebration of World Bioproduct Day in July 2025, highlighting both the current achievements and future objectives for public engagement in India’s burgeoning biotechnology sector.
**Current Status**
India’s bioeconomy has experienced rapid growth, expanding from $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024, contributing 4.25% to the country’s GDP. This growth is attributed to the surge in biotech startups, which have grown from 50 a decade ago to nearly 11,000 today. Supportive government policies, such as the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), have played a significant role in this development, setting up 95 bio-incubation centres and administering multiple funding schemes.
**Future Goals and Public Engagement Strategy**
Dr. Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving a $300 billion bioeconomy by 2030, positioning India as a global leader in biotechnology. To achieve this goal, he emphasized the need for wider public engagement, calling for events such as the “Voices Across the Cities: A Synchronized National Hourly Dialogue Series,” which feature theme-based discussions across various cities, involving students, startups, industry leaders, farmers, fishermen, and non-scientist stakeholders.
The Minister described these efforts as part of a “beautiful hybrid model” and “more than a science event—an outreach movement.” The goal is to make biotechnology accessible to all, not just scientists, and to ensure the sector reflects and responds to the needs of diverse communities.
**The BioE3 Policy**
Recently launched, the BioE3 Policy aims to align environmental sustainability with economic growth and equity. The policy emphasizes the need for a decentralized and inclusive approach, focusing on regional innovation missions and bridging the gap between research and commercialization.
**Emphasis on Native Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge**
Dr. Singh urged greater appreciation of India’s native biodiversity and traditional knowledge, criticizing past policy frameworks, particularly in agriculture, for being modeled after western practices. He emphasized the need to leverage India’s unique biodiversity for sustainable development and economic growth.
**Summary**
Dr. Jitendra Singh’s vision is of a biotechnology sector that is inclusive, participatory, and integrated with India’s broader socio-economic development, ensuring that every citizen is a stakeholder in the country’s growing bioeconomy. The Minister’s emphasis on public engagement, decentralization, and inclusiveness is expected to foster a sustainable, innovation-driven bioeconomy that is rooted in real-world impact.
- The rapid growth of India's bioeconomy, from $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024, has been fueled not only by the surge in biotech startups but also by supportive government policies in the health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, education-and-self-development, finance, business, and technology sectors.
- Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh's vision for India's bioeconomy extends beyond science, aiming to make it accessible to all, reflecting and responding to the needs of diverse communities, including students, startups, farmers, fishermen, and non-scientist stakeholders.
- In line with this vision, the recently launched BioE3 Policy seeks to align environmental sustainability with economic growth and equity, adopting a decentralized and inclusive approach that focuses on regional innovation missions and bridging the gap between research and commercialization.
- Recognizing the importance of India's native biodiversity and traditional knowledge, Dr. Singh has criticized past policy frameworks, particularly in agriculture, for being modeled after western practices. He emphasizes the need to leverage this unique biodiversity for sustainable development and economic growth in the lifestyle, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, industry, finance, business, technology, and education-and-self-development sectors.
