Lok Sabha Question No. 2791 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-02
Subject: National Biopharma Mission
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: JANARDAN MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED Q.NO 2791

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 2/08/2017

## NATIONAL BIOPHARMA MISSION

## 2791.  SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has recently launched any National Biopharma Mission;
- b) if so, the details and the objectives thereof; and
- c) the details of improvements likely to be brought by the said mission in health sector?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI  Y.S. CHOWDARY)

(a & b) Yes  Madam,  the  National  Biopharma  Mission  has  been  recently  launched  by  the Department  of  Biotechnology  on  30 th June  2017  in  New  Delhi.  This  is  an  IndustryAcademia mission to accelerate biopharmaceutical development in India that has been approved by the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs in its meeting held on 17 th  May, 2017.  Further,  as  per  the  Cabinet  approval this  Mission  for  Accelerating  Discovery Research  to  Early  Development  for  Biopharmaceuticals  'Innovate  in  India (i3) ' Empowering  biotech  entrepreneurs  &  accelerating  inclusive  innovation will  be implemented at a total cost of Rs. 1500 crore for a period of five years and 50% of the grant will be arranged through the World Bank loan.

The following are the objectives of the Mission:

- i. Development of products from leads that are at advanced stages in the product development lifecycle and relevant to the public health.
- ii. Strengthening  and  establishing  shared  infrastructure  facilities  for  both  product discovery validation and manufacturing.
- iii. Developing  human  capital  by  providing  specific  training  to  address  the  critical skills  gaps  in  researchers,  nascent  biotech  companies  across  the  product development  value  chain,  including  in  business  plan  development  and  market penetration.
- iv. Creating and enhancing technology transfer and intellectual property management capacities and capabilities in public and private sector.
5. (c) The  Mission  Programme  of  Department  of  Biotechnology,  Ministry  of  Science  & Technology will be implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) a Public Sector Undertaking of the Department. BIRAC as an umbrella Product Development  Partnership  (PDP)  would  facilitate  this  program  by  bringing  together partners through existing frameworks for specific program goals and would facilitate this program  by  involving  established  organizations  with  relevant  expertise  in  product development

The  programme  will  specifically  focus  on  the  development  of  new  vaccines,  biotherapeutics,  diagnostics  and  medical  devices  to  better  address  the  rising  burden  of diseases  in  the  country.  It  will  also  bring  isolated  centres  of  excellence  together, enhance regional capabilities and strengthen the current bio-clusters network in terms of capacities as well as quantity and quality of output. The programme will help deliver 6-10 new  products  in  the  next  five  years,  create  several  dedicated  facilities  for  nextgeneration skills.

The  program  would  aid  in  preparing  India's  technological  and  product  development capabilities in the biopharmaceutical sector to a level so that it is globally competitive.