Pact signed to integrate biotech, AI

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) have signed an MoU to integrate biotechnology and artificial intelligence.

Explaining the relevance of the MoU to The Tribune, DBT Secretary Dr Rajesh Gokhale said, “The convergence of biotechnology and artificial intelligence is really going to be transformative. MeitY is setting up infrastructure for AI work across the country. Under this collaboration, we will provide MeitY with closed-loop projects. Any idea generated through AI-driven analysis can be tested in our labs in partnership with them.”

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said more MoUs would soon be signed. “The age of interdisciplinarity has set in. We cannot be working in silos. AI, communication and quantum are with MeitY, and all of these will be handy,” he said.

Singh also highlighted a memorandum of understanding signed between DBT and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for cooperation in space biotechnology and biomanufacturing, along with a joint working group to identify priority projects.

Marking a year of the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy, Singh launched the “BioE3 Challenge for Youth” and the country’s first National Biofoundry Network, calling it a step towards making biotechnology a driver of India’s economy, environment and employment.

A biofoundry is a cutting-edge facility that integrates automation, synthetic biology, AI and high-throughput experimentation.

“India’s bioeconomy has grown from just $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024, and we are now working towards a target of $300 billion by 2030,” Singh said.

The “BioE3 Challenge for Youth” invites school students (Classes 6 to 12), university students, researchers, faculty, startups and Indian nationals to design safe-by-default biological solutions addressing challenges in health, agriculture, environment and industry.

Under the initiative, cash rewards will be offered to convert ideas into proof-of-concept solutions. These projects will also gain access to facilities and incubation support at BRIC+ institutions across India.

Under the National Biofoundry Network, the DBT has established six biofoundries across the country — at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi; BRIC-National Agri-Food Bio-manufacturing Institute (NABI), Mohali; Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology (IPFT), Gurugram; BRIC-Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad; National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune and the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai. These facilities, which will be made available to startups, are working in areas such as cell therapy and agricultural research.