BRIC – Building the Future of Biotechnology in India
Welcome to a historic moment in India's biotechnology landscape. Today marks the launch of the
Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council, known as BRIC, by which we take a monumental
step in advancing our nation's biotech research and development.
Under the esteemed guidance of the Government of India and the Department of Biotechnology,
BRIC consolidates 14 elite autonomous institutions, uniting their efforts under one apex autonomous
society.
Initiated by the Department of Biotechnology, this restructuring is aligned with the directives on
"Rationalization of Autonomous Bodies.” It's a visionary overhaul to synergise and consolidate
research efforts across these institutions for greater impact.
BRIC envisions improved governance, efficiency, and increased collaboration through
interdisciplinary interactions, democratizing resources to achieve "Minimum Government, Maximum
Governance."
In the last eight years, the biotech sector has grown eightfold. As our Hon'ble Prime Minister
envisions, "India is not too far from reaching the league of top-10 countries in Biotech's global
ecosystem." BRIC is a testament to this vision.
Some significant aspects of BRIC include, maintaining distinct research mandates for each institution,
while fostering inter-institutional missions to address national priorities, and allowing collaborative
utilization of laboratory space for start-ups.
BRIC and its institutes, namely, the National Institute of Immunology, National Centre for Cell
Science, Institute of Life Sciences, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Centre for DNA
Fingerprinting & Diagnostics, National Brain Research Centre, National Institute for Plant Genome
Research, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, National Institute of Animal
Biotechnology, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, National Institute of
Biomedical Genomics, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, National Agri-Food
Biotechnology Institute, and Centre of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing, are now empowered to
engage in public-private partnerships, receive endowments, and establish new Ph.D. programs with
immersive training, further enhancing scientific capabilities with 120 additional scientific positions.
BRIC is not just an organization; it's a commitment to scaling biotechnology research and innovation,
achieving the Bio-Vision for Bharat, and fulfilling the Prime Minister's vision for being Atmanirbhar in
healthcare, food, and energy.
Today, we embark on a journey towards a brighter, more innovative future. BRIC – Building the
Future of Biotechnology in India.
