Citizens Charter

Vision

"Attaining new heights in biotechnology research, shaping biotechnology into a premier precision tool of the future for creation of wealth and ensuring social justice – specially for the welfare of the poor."

Mission

Biotechnology is a Frontline area of science with immense potential for the benefit of the human kind. The Department shall devote wholly to achieve excellence in the promotion of biotechnology in the country within the ambit of the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961 as enumerated through the Government of India notifications No. CD-172/86 dated 27.2.86 and No. CD-87/87 dated 31.1.87. The Department shall provide services in the areas of research, infrastructure, generation of human resource, popularization of biotechnology, promotion of industries, creation of centers of excellence, implementation of bio-safety guidelines for genetically modified organisms and recombinant DNA products and biotechnology-based programs for societal benefits. Bioinformatics is a major mission to establish an information network for the scientific community, nationally and internationally. Our mission is:

  • Realising full potential of biotechnology
  • A well directed effort, significant investment for generation of products, processes and technologies
  • Enhance efficiency and productivity and cost-effectiveness of agriculture, nutritional security, molecular medicine, environmentally sustainable technologies, scientific and technological empowerment of human resource, a strong infrastructure for research and commercialization, enhance the knowledge base, nurturing the leads of potential utility, bringing the bio-products to the market place
  • Socio-economic development / applicants of biotech for Upliftment of women, rural, SC & ST population
  • Promote biotech industry

Mandate

  • Promote large scale use of Biotechnology
  • Support R&D and manufacturing in Biology
  • Responsibility for Autonomous Institutions
  • Promote University and Industry Interaction
  • Identify and Set up Centres of Excellence for R&D
  • Integrated Programme for Human Resource Development
  • Serve as Nodal Point for specific International Collaborations
  • Establishment of Infrastructure Facilities to support R&D and production
  • Evolve Bio Safety Guidelines, manufacture and application of cell based vaccines
  • Serve as nodal point for the collection and dissemination of information relating to biotechnology.

Strategy

National Biotechnology Development Strategy

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, announced the First National Biotechnology Development Strategy in September 2007. The implementation of Biotech Strategy 2007 has provided an insight into the enormous opportunities. Boundaries between disciplines once considered distant are now beginning to blur and as a consequence of their convergence given birth to newer opportunities and challenges. Thus, it was felt opportune to take a critical look at the Indian biotech sector as it will likely unfold over the next 5-6 years.

In year 2015, DBT announced “The National Biotechnology Development Strategy-2015-2020” (hereinafter referred to as ‘Strategy-II’), which was framed after a wider consultation with stakeholders. Strategy-II would seamlessly build on the earlier Strategy to accelerate the pace of growth of biotechnology sector at par with global requirements.

National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2021-2025

National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-2020

Key elements of Strategy-II are as follows:

Realizing that biotechnology has the potential to be a globally Transformative intellectual enterprise of humankind, our renewed mission is to:

  • Provide impetus to fulfillment of the potential for a new understanding of life processes and utilizing the knowledge and tools to the advantage of humanity;
  • Launch a major, well-directed effort backed by significant investment for generation of biotech products, processes and technologies to enhance efficiency, productivity, safety and cost-effectiveness of agriculture, food and nutritional security; affordable health and wellness; environmental safety; clean energy and bio-fuel; and bio-manufacturing.
  • Empower, scientifically and technologically, India’s incomparable human resource;
  • Create a strong infrastructure for research, development and commercialization for a robust bio-economy;
  • Establish India as a world class bio-manufacturing hub for developing and developed markets.

Guiding Principles that Will Drive the Strategy:

Consultations with stakeholders have identified the following 10 guiding principles that shall drive the renewed mission through Strategy-II.

  • Building a Skilled Workforce and Leadership
  • Revitalizing the Knowledge Environment at par with the Growing Bio-economy
  • Enhance Research Opportunities in Basic, Disciplinary and Inter-disciplinary Sciences
  • Encourage Use-inspired Discovery Research
  • Focus on Biotechnology Tools for Inclusive Development
  • Commercialization of Technology – Nurturing Innovation, Translational Capacity and Entrepreneurship
  • Biotechnology and Society – Ensuring a Transparent, Efficient and Globally Best Regulatory System and Communication Strategy
  • Biotechnology Cooperation – Fostering Global and National Alliances
  • Strengthen Institutional Capacity with Redesigned Governance Models
  • Create a Matrix of Measurement of Processes as well as Outcome

Sectoral Priorities:

The Department has identified following sectors to accelerate the pace of growth of biotechnology sector at par with global requirements.

  • Human Resource
  • Building Knowledge Environment
  • Research Opportunities: human genome research, vaccines, infectious & chronic disease biology, stem cells & regenerative medicine, basic research, translation research, human developmental and disease biology – maternal & child health, bio-engineering and bio-design
  • Agriculture, Animal Heath and productivity
  • Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
  • Food fortification and bio-fortification
  • Bioprospecting, value-added biomass & products
  • Marine biotechnology & biodiversity
  • Environmental management, Clean bio-energy
  • Nurturing Entrepreneurship – IP Landscaping, Technology Transfer, Incubators, Entrepreneurship, SME Support Systems
  • Biotechnology and society
  • Biotechnology Cooperation

Major initiatives of the National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-2020:

  • Launch four major missions in healthcare, food and nutrition, clean energy and education
  • Create a technology development and translation network across India with global partnership, including 5 new clusters, 40 biotech incubators, 150 TTOs, and 20 bio-connect Centre
  • Ensure strategic and focused investment in building the human capital by setting up a Life Sciences and Biotechnology Education Council