HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Jan 10: The first International Biomanufacturing Summit 2025 commenced on Friday at the BKB Auditorium, Gauhati University Campus, under the joint auspices of the Northeast India Scientific and Entrepreneurial Diaspora (NEISED) and Gauhati University.
The summit brought together distinguished stakeholders, including experts from academia, industry leaders, government representatives, and funding agencies, to chart a roadmap for building a vibrant biomanufacturing ecosystem in the region.
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Discussions centred on establishing biomanufacturing industries, nurturing startups, and addressing the unique challenges faced by Northeast India.
Prof Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University, inaugurated the event with a warm welcome, highlighting the university’s legacy and commending NEISED for organising this significant international event in collaboration with Gauhati University.
Alka Sharma, senior adviser, department of biotechnology, government of India, delivered a keynote address on the BioE3 policy and its transformative potential for biomanufacturing in the Northeast region.
Dr Ravi Kota, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, emphasised the importance of biomanufacturing in the economic and developmental context of Assam and the broader Northeastern region. Being one of the organising partners, the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), a premier institution under the ministry of electronics and information technology (MietY), now recognised as a Deemed to be University, NIELIT takes a giant leap forward in higher education.
During the session, Ravi Kota, chief guest, inaugurated two NSQF-approved NIELIT’s Bioinformatics programs: Scientific Assistant in Data Science for Life Sciences (NSQF Level 4), a 450-hour program focused on Python, R, and basic omics data analysis; and Multiomics Data Analyst (NSQF Level 5.5), a 660-hour program designed to equip students with advanced bioinformatics skills for multiomics analysis.
These programs aim to build a skilled workforce to support the region’s growing biomanufacturing sector.
Following the inaugural session, a panel discussion titled “Application of Bioinformatics in Biomanufacturing” explored the integration of bioinformatics tools in industrial processes. Moderated by Anubhav Tiwari, chief innovation officer, NIELIT, the panel included renowned experts Prof Bhaben Tanti, department of Botany, Gauhati University; Dr Gautam Das, Co-founder & CEO, miBiome Therapeutics; Dr Paramananda Saikia, Entrepreneurial Scientist, MilliporeSigma, Boston, USA; Dr Hemanta Baruah, Founder & CEO, Akha Biologics; and Dr Saurov Mahanta, Senior Technical Officer, NIELIT Guwahati.
The engaging session provided valuable insights into the role of bioinformatics in biomanufacturing and concluded with a dynamic Q&A segment, allowing participants to exchange ideas and seek expert guidance.
The International Biomanufacturing Summit 2025 underscores the strategic importance of Northeast India in India’s biomanufacturing landscape. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders, the summit sets the stage for transformative growth and innovation in the region.
The event signals a major leap forward in fostering sustainable economic growth and innovation in Northeast India through biomanufacturing industries and entrepreneurship.
