New Delhi, March 2 (IANS). Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Monday said that science, technology and biotechnology are key pillars of the India-US comprehensive strategic partnership.
During this, the Union Minister said that India and the United States should move towards a structured India-Delaware partnership in advanced bio-manufacturing. Also proposed to form a small working group to translate the discussions into results on concrete collaboration in research, manufacturing and startup ecosystem.
The Ministry of Science and Technology said that this proposal came up during the meeting of the US delegation led by Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, who called on Dr. Jitendra Singh at Seva Tirtha here today. Both sides focused on bilateral cooperation in pharma, biotechnology, clean energy and innovation-led industrial development.
The Union minister said India sees “good potential for deeper engagement” with US states that have strong innovation ecosystems. He highlighted India’s emergence as a global hub of innovation in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, with capabilities spanning research and development to large-scale, affordable manufacturing.
Pointing to India’s integrated innovation architecture linking government, academia, industry and startups, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with 37 laboratories and over 7,500 scientists forms the backbone of most of the country’s industrial R&D efforts. He explained the role of CSIR in national missions ranging from green hydrogen and quantum technology to biology and biopharmacology and its contribution in process development for key drugs.
Referring to Delaware’s bio-science ecosystem, Dr Jitendra Singh said there is strong potential for collaboration in advanced bio-manufacturing, AI-enabled processes, rapid scale production technologies and next generation biologics and vaccines, including the National Institute for Innovation in Bio-Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (NIIMBL). He suggested that India’s capability in affordable manufacturing, and Delaware’s proximity to major US pharmaceutical companies, could be helpful in the development of affordable biologics, biosimilars and vaccines for global health needs.
Governor Meyer described Delaware as a state with a rich heritage in science and industry and highlighted its biopharmaceutical manufacturing base, growing port infrastructure and business-friendly environment. The delegation included representatives from government, universities and industry, who discussed opportunities in clean hydrogen, workforce development, startup incentives and corporate incorporation framework.
–IANS
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