Lok Sabha Question No. 359 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Research Publications in Biotechnology and Biology
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 359 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

Research Publications in Biotechnology and Biology

359 SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY और be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  there  has  been  an  increase  in  research  publications  in biotechnology and biology;
- (b) if so, details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  promoting  patenting  and  technology transfer activities in the field of biotechnology and biology; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योविकी मंत्रालय क े राज्यमंत्री ( स्वतंत्र प्रभार ) ( डॉ . वितेंद्र व ंह )

- (a) & (b) Yes, over the years there has been a notable increase in research  publications  from  India  in  the  field  of  biotechnology  and biology. According to the following SCImago Country Rank data, the number of research articles published from India in the biotechnology allied research fields has been consistently rising:
- (c) &  (d) Yes, the Government  has  been  actively promoting patenting and technology transfer activities in the field of biotechnology and biology. Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has been instrumental in funding research and development in biotechnology. DBT supports initiatives that aim to enhance patenting  culture  and  technology  transfer  in  the  biotechnology sector.  Also,  Biotechnology  Industry  Research  Assistance  Council (BIRAC)  a  Public  Sector  Enterprise,  set  up  by  DBT,  promotes  and nurtures innovation research in biotech enterprises, particularly in areas  where  government  intervention  is  needed.  BIRAC  facilitates technology transfer and supports patenting activities among biotechnology  startups  and  researchers.  In  the  year  2023,  DBT notified  'DBT  Intellectual  Property  Guidelines  2023',  outlining  the principles and procedures for managing and transferring intellectual property  (IP)  generated  through  publicly  funded  research  in  India. The guidelines emphasize the importance of disseminating research knowledge for  the  public  good  and  aim  to  facilitate  the  seamless transfer of IP from academic institutions and research laboratories towards technology transfer & commercialization for broader societal impact. Following data from the 2022-23 Annual Report of the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, Trademarks,  and  Geographical  Indications,  Government  of  India shows  that  over  the  years,  there  has  been  significant  growth  in filing of patent applications in the areas of Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Microbiology:

| Year / Field of Research          |   2019 |   2020 |   2021 |   2022 |   2023 |
|-----------------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Agriculture & Biological Sciences |  12648 |  14661 |  16376 |  17814 |  17929 |

| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology   |   15257 |   19615 |   21848 |   23121 |   25130 |
|------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
| Immunology & Microbiology                      |    3600 |    4378 |    5773 |    6114 |    5907 |

| Field of Invention / Year   |   Biotechnology |   Biochemistry Microbiology | and   |
|-----------------------------|-----------------|-----------------------------|-------|
| 2018-19                     |             882 |                         583 |       |
| 2019-20                     |            1065 |                         459 |       |
| 2020-21                     |            3368 |                         820 |       |
| 2021-22                     |            3530 |                         907 |       |
| 2022-23                     |            3758 |                        1697 |       |

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