# Department of Biotechnology

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is an Indian government department, under the Ministry of Science and Technology responsible for administrating development and commercialisation in the field of modern biology and biotechnology in India. It was set up in 1986.

## Institutes

Source:

### Autonomous Institutions

* Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC)
** National Institute of Immunology (NII), Delhi
** National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune
** National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar
** Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad
** Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB), Mohali
** National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Delhi
** Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar
** Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal
** Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram
** Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bangalore
** Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad
** National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBG), Kalyani
** National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NIBI), Mohali
** National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad
* Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad
International Organization
* International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi
Public Sector Undertakings
* Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corporation Limited, Bulandshahr
* Indian Vaccine Corporation Limited (IVCOL), Delhi
* Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), New Delhi
Supported Institutes and laboratories
* Kalam Institute of Health Technology (KIHT), Visakhapatnam
* NIMHANS-IOB Laboratory, the Institute of Bioinformatics (IOB) and NIMHANS collaborative laboratory

## Leadership

| Name | Designation | Department |
| Dr. Jitendra Singh | Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) | Ministry of Science and Technology & Earth Sciences |
| Dr. Rajesh Sudhir Gokhale | Secretary | Department of Biotechnology |
| Abhinav Gupta | PS to Hon. Minister of Science & Technology | Minister’s Office |

## National Biotechnology Development Strategy

In December 2015, the Department of Biotechnology launched the National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015–2020 programme. The stated aim of the programme is to intensify research in the fields of vaccines, humane genome, infectious and chronic diseases, crop science, animal agriculture and aquaculture, food and nutrition, environmental management and technologies for clean energy. The mission, through stakeholders in the biotechnology and technology domains is backed with significant investments to create new products, creating a strong infrastructure for research and development, commercialization, and empowering human resources scientifically and technologically.

## Collaboration

With an emphasis on microgravity research, space biomanufacturing, bioastronautics, and astrobiology, the Department of Biotechnology and the ISRO have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 25 October 2024 to collaborate on space biotechnology research. The application will be in ISRO's human space flight project, Gaganyaan. The MoU will address problems like food storage, radiation, microgravity, and constant nutrient supply, as well as health risks like cancer, cataracts, and loss of bone and muscle.