In News:

On the occasion of the 40th Foundation Day of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Union Minister of State for Science & Technology launched the SUJVIKA Portal, an AI-driven Biotech Product Data Portal. The initiative reflects India’s broader ambition to build a $1 trillion bioeconomy by 2047 under the vision of Viksit Bharat.

SUJVIKA Portal: Key Features and Significance

What is SUJVIKA?

• SUJVIKA is an AI-driven Trade Statistics Digital Intelligence Platform.
• Developed by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in collaboration with industry partner ABLE.
• It provides authenticated biotechnology product import data in a structured and accessible format.

Core Objectives

• Present sector-wise data on:
  • Biochemical products
  • Industrial enzymes
  • Other biotechnology imports
• Identify high-value and high-volume imports
• Assess import dependency
• Support indigenisation and R&D prioritisation
• Enable evidence-based policymaking
• Promote public–private partnerships (PPP) in domestic biomanufacturing

Importance for India

SUJVIKA strengthens:

• Strategic trade intelligence
• Domestic bio-manufacturing capacity
• Startup ecosystem planning
• Self-reliance in critical biotech inputs

It aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat by facilitating targeted import substitution in biotechnology.

Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

Establishment and Mandate

• Established in 1986
• Functions as a nodal agency for Life Sciences research and applications
• Promotes large-scale use of biotechnology across sectors
• Supports R&D in:
  • Advanced biofuels
  • Waste-to-energy technologies
  • Healthcare and vaccines
  • Genomics and gene therapy

Over four decades, DBT has evolved from a research-support body into a central driver of India’s bioindustrial ecosystem.

India’s Bioeconomy: Growth Trends and Targets

Rapid Expansion

• Bioeconomy size:
  • ~$10 billion (2014)
  • $165.7 billion (2024) → Nearly 16-fold growth in a decade
• Biotech startups:
  • Fewer than 100 in 2014
  • Over 11,000 startups today

India is now:

• Among the top biotech destinations globally
• One of the leading vaccine manufacturers in the world

Vision 2047

India aims to build a $1 trillion bioeconomy by 2047, positioning biotechnology as the backbone of the next industrial revolution.