The Indian biotechnology
industry has set on its
biggest mission ever. And
it is to scale up itself to
a big $100 billion sector
by 2025. Policymakers
dealing with the subject
are hopeful of achieving
the target while citing
the number of programs
that have been launched
by government. One
may question them on
implementation but
of course the intent is
clearly visible in their
enthusiasm and energy.
However, it goes without
saying that while there
are opportunities and
efforts to tap them, there
are roadblocks too in
the way. Whether we
are doing enough on the
ground to reach this set
goal is the question one
may ask at the outset.
Let’s look at the current
situation. India is
the twelfth-largest
biotechnology market
in the world with a 2
percent share of the global
market. It ranks third in
Asia Pacific region after
Japan and China. As
per the BioVoice’s own
estimates, the Indian
biotech industry is
expected to have grown
approximately to be a
$8 billion sector during
2016-17, at a growth rate
of close to 12 percent.
However, according to a
special report prepared
by the Association of
Biotechnology-Led
Enterprises (ABLE), the
India’s fast-growing bio-
economy has crossed
the $35.1 billion in 2015.
The difference between
figures is due to the wider
inclusion of agriculture,
startups and services
sector in the latter. sector dominated the
industry, accounting
for 57 percent share of
the companies formed
followed by bioresearch
(16%), agribiotech
(10%), and bioindustrial
(9%). Overall nearly 40
percent of the companies
were involved in the
manufacture of products
and ingredients. About
16 percent start-ups
were each into medical
health instruments/
appliances and R&D
services respectively.
Now coming to the startup
ecosystem, we again refer
to the ABLE’s latest report
that suggested that there
are 1022 new startups
related to biosciences
that have come up in the
country. It mentioned
that over $2.8 billion (Rs
18,700 crore) investments
have happened in five
years from 2012 to
2016. According to the
study, private equity
investments into these
companies totaled around
$2.6 billion and the
balance came from own
investments, government
grants, and others like
HNIs. Year 2015 was the
best one attracting $851
million. The biopharma Bangalore is the biotech
start-up capital of India
hosting 190 of the 1022
biotech start-ups formed
in the last five years.
National Capital Region
(NCR) ranks second with
164 startups followed
closely by Mumbai (163)
and Hyderabad (160). Of
the 1022 new start-ups,
104 were formed in 2016;
367 during 2014 and 2015.
Another 551 companies
were established between
the years 2012 and 2014.
“This is good news and we
are aiming to double this
number with the ABLE
Start-Ups 2020 initiative
to take the count to 2020
companies by the year
BIOVOICENEWS.COM
17