As part of its Golden Jubilee Celebrations, the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, hosted a national conclave on “Emerging Trends in Biomanufacturing and Healthcare — 2025” on 25 July 2025. The event convened leading scientists, industrial experts, and young researchers from across the country to delve into the future of biomanufacturing and healthcare, and to spotlight India’s growing role in driving a sustainable and innovation-driven bioeconomy and healthcare research.
The conclave opened with an inspiring inaugural address by Dr Vinay K Nandicoori, Director, CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Hyderabad. Dr Nandicoori outlined CSIR’s integrated approach to tackling complex healthcare challenges, particularly the need to better understand infectious diseases in diverse Indian contexts — both urban and rural. He emphasised the importance of science-based policymaking and underscored the urgency of mapping the genetic landscape and health parameters of the Indian population to lay the foundation for personalised medicine and targeted therapies.
Delivering the presidential address, Dr C Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, stressed the critical need to transition bio-based innovations from laboratory research to industrial-scale production. He detailed the role of the national BioE3 policy — with its emphasis on Economy, Environment, and Employment — in building resilient and scalable biomanufacturing clusters. Dr Anandharamakrishnan reaffirmed CSIR-NIIST’s dedication to supporting India’s vision of “Viksit Bharat” through strategic research, innovation in strain and process development, and robust technology transfer mechanisms.
A key voice from the industry, Dr Eugene Raj Arulmuthu, Vice-President, Manufacturing Gene Therapy at Reliance Life Sciences Centre, Mumbai, served as the Guest of Honour. He provided insights into the transformative potential of biomanufacturing in democratizing gene therapy, highlighting how India’s biotech ecosystem can offer affordable and scalable solutions to meet growing healthcare demands.
The scientific programme featured a keynote address along with six invited lectures from eminent researchers and industry leaders. Topics ranged from synthetic biology and bioprocess engineering to clinical translation and sustainability in healthcare. The event also served as a dynamic platform for emerging talent, with over 20 poster presentations and flash oral talks by students and young researchers showcasing the next wave of innovation.
A significant milestone of the conclave was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CSIR-NIIST and Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur. This collaboration aims to accelerate translational research in cancer diagnostics and clinical biomarker development, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs more swiftly reach clinical settings and improve patient outcomes.
The conclave underscored CSIR-NIIST’s enduring legacy and future-forward outlook. As it celebrates 50 years of excellence, the Institute is poised to continue serving as a national hub for cutting-edge research, impactful industry partnerships, and science-based policymaking. With its focus on biomanufacturing, healthcare innovation, and sustainable development, the conclave reaffirmed India’s commitment to building a resilient and inclusive bioeconomy for the future.
