New Delhi [India], April 4 (ANI): Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Saturday inaugurated the BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre at Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), aimed at strengthening India’s food-tech startup ecosystem and accelerating the commercialisation of analysis.
The BioNEST Incubation Centre, arrange at CSIR-CFTRI, is designed as a state-of-the-art facility with devoted incubation suites and shared infrastructure to assist meals and biotechnology startups, based on the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The centre is predicted to spice up meals startups by enabling superior analysis, scale-up validation and regulatory facilitation, serving to convert scientific concepts into market-ready merchandise, the ministry stated.
As of March 2026, the incubation ecosystem has supported 26 startups, together with bodily and hybrid incubates in addition to graduated ventures, the ministry stated.
Several of those startups have already achieved product commercialisation.
The incubated firms have collectively filed 12 patents and contributed to analysis publications, reflecting a rising emphasis on innovation aligned with market outcomes, the ministry added.
The startups function in rising segments reminiscent of nutraceuticals, precision fermentation, probiotics and postbiotics, CRISPR-based applied sciences and botanicals, indicating a shift in the direction of high-value, science-driven sectors throughout the meals and biotechnology industries.
Dr Jitendra Singh, throughout his interplay with entrepreneurs and stakeholders, stated that whereas launching startups has develop into simpler, sustaining them requires steady worth addition and stronger trade linkages.
He emphasised the necessity for deeper collaboration between analysis establishments and the personal sector and referred to as for innovation to be aligned with evolving shopper demand, together with in ready-to-eat and comfort meals segments.
The minister additionally highlighted the federal government’s efforts to increase personal sector participation in rising expertise areas via new funding mechanisms and institutional assist frameworks aimed at accelerating analysis, improvement and innovation.
He additionally careworn that scientific establishments should improve outreach via digital platforms and communication methods to enhance consciousness and adoption of applied sciences, whereas encouraging convergence throughout sectors reminiscent of biotechnology, area and specialised diet.
The occasion additionally witnessed the signing of 4 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and the launch of two merchandise developed at CSIR-CFTRI, signalling continued trade engagement and commercialisation of in-house applied sciences, the ministry stated.
Such collaborations are important for scaling improvements and strengthening linkages with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), it added.
Marking the institute’s seventy fifth yr, CFTRI additionally launched a collection of publications documenting its analysis legacy and technological contributions, together with a espresso desk ebook, a compendium of analysis and improvement achievements, a photograph journey and a group of conventional recipes. A commemorative postal cowl and movie postcard had been additionally unveiled to mark the milestone.
An exhibition held alongside the occasion showcased applied sciences, processed meals merchandise and startup improvements developed at CFTRI and by its licensees, demonstrating the institute’s lab-to-market pipeline.
With greater than 450 applied sciences developed and transferred to 1000’s of licensees, CFTRI has emerged as a key nationwide hub for meals analysis, trade collaboration and enterprise improvement, based on the ministry.
The ministry additionally added that the BioNEST ecosystem is more and more attracting nationwide and worldwide curiosity, with startups taking part in international programmes, reaching industrial milestones and expertise transfers, together with functions in strategic sectors reminiscent of defence. (ANI)