Bhubaneswar: The three-day flagship event ‘Global Bio-India 2024,’ organized by the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, commenced today at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The event, aimed at highlighting the growing Indian bio-economy, features a special Odisha Pavilion showcasing the state’s biotechnology potential.
The Odisha Pavilion, inaugurated by Krushna Chandra Patra, Minister of Science and Technology, Government of Odisha, highlights the state’s innovative biotechnology startups, attracting national and international investors. The Department of Science and Technology, Odisha, is participating in the event to emphasize the state’s commitment to fostering growth in the biotechnology sector.
“Odisha possesses immense potential in biotechnology, supported by its natural resources like dense forests, diverse medicinal plants, water resources, and a long coastline. The focus is on harnessing these resources to drive biotechnology enterprises in the coming years,” said Minister Patra during the inauguration.
Patra also toured the pavilion, interacting with the participating startups and showcasing Odisha’s strengths in biotechnology. He encouraged global investors to consider Odisha as a prime destination for the biotechnology industry, emphasizing the state’s supportive policies.
Chithra Arumugam, Principal Secretary of the Science & Technology Department, also toured the Odisha Pavilion. She highlighted the state’s proactive approach under the Odisha Biotechnology Policy 2024. “Our aim is to foster innovation by supporting startups, connecting them with investors, and helping to industrialize their ideas. The Global Bio-India event offers an opportunity for Odisha’s startups, researchers, and academicians to engage with the latest trends in biotechnology,” she said.
The Odisha delegation, comprising senior officials, heads of higher education and research institutions, and researchers, is participating in various sessions during the event. On September 13, Principal Secretary Chithra Arumugam will take part in the State Round Table Conference, where she will present Odisha’s initiatives to promote the biotechnology sector.
On September 14, a technical session on ‘Blue Economy’ will explore India’s maritime resources. Minister Patra will deliver a keynote address during the session, emphasizing the role of biotechnology in strengthening Odisha’s blue economy and its potential for further development.