New Delhi: Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, during his visit to India, met with Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh to discuss strengthening private sector and startup participation in India’s growing biotechnology and innovation landscape. The meeting, attended by delegations from both sides, focused on advancing gene therapy, vaccine innovation, biomanufacturing, and India’s booming startup ecosystem.
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted India’s rapid biotech advancements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, citing the success of the Bio E3 initiative—which integrates biotechnology for economic growth, employment generation, and environmental sustainability. He underscored the role of private players and startups in driving India’s bio-revolution, facilitated by structured mechanisms like the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
Bill Gates acknowledged India’s global leadership in vaccine development, including collaborations that resulted in the HPV and COVID-19 vaccines. He expressed a keen interest in supporting India’s efforts in combating diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, recognizing the country’s robust research ecosystem as a gateway for major global health breakthroughs.
A key discussion point was India’s biotechnology startup boom, which now includes over 10,000 startups, with 70% focused on medical and health biotechnology. Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the government’s commitment to scaling up innovations through increased funding, policy reforms, and faster commercialization pathways.
The talks also explored opportunities for direct investments in Indian biotech startups via Gift City, India’s financial hub for global investments. While the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation primarily operates in the philanthropic sector, Gates indicated a willingness to explore new financial structures to support promising Indian biotech ventures.
As India continues its biotech expansion, Dr. Jitendra Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering public-private partnerships, boosting R&D funding, and enhancing international collaborations. With these efforts, India is poised to become a global biotechnology powerhouse, driving innovations in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
