From Bench to Billions: Nurturing biotech to mega scale

India is among the top 12 destinations for biotechnology globally, with the sector targeted to reach $150 bn by 2024-25. On November 11 - Day 2 of the Smart Protein Summit 2021 - we discussed how India's biotechnology industry offers specific value to the international alternative protein ecosystem as a world-class bio-manufacturing hub. The panel brought together different perspectives across the biotech landscape - academic, incubation, startups, large suppliers, and industry builders, to share insights on the requirements for moving smart protein into the mass market. Panelists dissected the sector's critical needs, such as the dearth of a specialized talent pool, infrastructure vs. the scale, and regulatory challenges. Panelists concurred that industry-academia collaborations, government support through conducive regulations, land subsidies, and ramping up bioengineering capacities would underpin the growth of this sector in India. Speakers include:

- GS Krishnan (Hon. President, Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE))
- Rajesh Krishnamurthy (Director & Chief Scientific Officer, Laurus Bio)
- Vinod Kumar (Managing Director & Co-Founder, String Bio)
- Gabriella Meyer (Executive Chairperson, Bioengineering)
- Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed (CEO and Director, Centre for Cellular & Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP))