Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre at "Central Food Technology & Research Institute" (CFTRI) and reviewed an exhibition of Startup-driven technologies and products, positioning the institute’s incubation ecosystem as a key platform for bridging laboratory research with commercial applications.

Designed as a state-of-the-art facility with dedicated incubation suites and shared infrastructure, the BioNEST Incubation Centre is expected to boost Food Startups, support advanced research, scale-up validation and regulatory facilitation in food bioprocessing and biotechnology, enabling conversion of scientific ideas into market-ready solutions.

As of March 2026, the BioNEST facility has supported 26 Startups, including physical and hybrid incubates as well as graduated ventures — with several already achieving product commercialisation. Incubated companies have collectively filed 12 patents and contributed to research publications, reflecting a growing emphasis on innovation aligned with market outcomes.

The Startups operate across emerging domains such as nutraceuticals, precision fermentation, probiotics and postbiotics, CRISPR-based technologies and botanicals, indicating a shift towards high-value, science-driven segments within the food and biotechnology sectors.

During his interaction with entrepreneurs and stakeholders, Dr. Jitendra Singh underlined that while starting a venture has become easier, sustaining it requires continuous value addition, market access and stronger industry linkage. He called for deeper engagement between research institutions and the private sector, and emphasised aligning innovation with consumer demand, including in ready-to-eat and convenience food segments.

The Minister also highlighted the government’s push to expand private sector participation in emerging technology areas, pointing to new funding mechanisms and institutional support frameworks aimed at accelerating research, development and innovation. He stressed that scientific institutions must enhance outreach through digital platforms and targeted communication strategies to improve awareness and adoption of technologies, while also encouraging convergence across sectors such as biotechnology, space and specialised nutrition.

The event also saw the signing of four Memoranda of Understanding and the launch of two products developed at CFTRI, signalling continued industry engagement and commercialisation of in-house technologies. Officials said such collaborations are critical for scaling innovations and strengthening linkages with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Marking the institute’s 75th year, a set of publications documenting its research legacy and technological contributions was released, including a coffee table book, a compendium of research and development achievements, a photo journey and a collection of traditional recipes. A commemorative postal cover and picture postcard were also unveiled to mark the milestone.

The exhibition functioned as a live demonstration of the institute’s lab-to-market pipeline, showcasing technologies, processed food products and startup innovations developed at CFTRI and by its licensees. With over 450 technologies developed and transferred to thousands of licensees, the institute has emerged as a key national hub for food research, industry collaboration and enterprise development.

Officials said the BioNEST ecosystem is increasingly drawing national and international interest, with startups participating in global programmes, achieving commercial milestones and technology transfers, and attracting attention from strategic sectors such as defence for specialised food applications.

The developments collectively signal a shift from a research-led approach to a market-linked food innovation ecosystem, with CSIR-CFTRI positioning itself as an integrated platform combining scientific research, incubation support and industry collaboration to drive the next phase of growth in India’s food processing sector.

*****

NKR/AK