Jammu, Feb 15: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is endeavouring to chart a futuristic roadmap for biotechnology, including a dedicated Union Territory Biotechnology Policy for J&K.
As per a statement issued here, in this regard, Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, chaired a comprehensive review meeting in which senior officers presented findings from their extensive study visits to India’s premier biotechnology clusters, including Genome Valley (Hyderabad), Guwahati Biotech Park and facilities at Lucknow, Vizag and Chandigarh. The delegation comprising Special Secretary Reyaz Ahmed Beigh, Director Finance Madan Lal, Additional Secretary JKSTIC Neelam Khajuria, Additional Director Dr Mushtaq Ahmed, Deputy Secretary Asif Chandel and others examined operational models, technology incubation frameworks and industry–academia linkages at these established biotech hubs.
Deputy Secretary Dr Abdul Khabir delivered a detailed presentation highlighting global best practices and sector-specific opportunities for J&K. Dr Shahid Iqbal directed the immediate formulation of a comprehensive J&K Biotechnology Policy, noting that the Union Territory sits at the confluence of extraordinary natural wealth and untapped scientific potential. With over 6,500 plant species, including more than 200 high-value medicinal and aromatic plants such as saffron, lavender, wild mushrooms and rare herbs along with unique climatic zones ranging from subtropical Jammu to alpine Kashmir J&K possesses inherent advantages that remain underexploited in India’s rapidly expanding $130-billion bioeconomy, projected to reach $300 billion by 2030 under the national BioE3 Policy.
The Secretary emphasised that the proposed policy will strategically target agricultural biotechnology for crop improvement and climate resilience; pharmaceutical manufacturing leveraging J&K’s phytochemical biodiversity; food processing and nutraceuticals from horticultural produce; dairy biotechnology for probiotic innovations; industrial enzyme production; and environmental bioremediation of water bodies such as Dal and Wular lakes.
The framework aims to move beyond raw material export towards high-value biotech products and bio-manufacturing value chains. Addressing the youth employment challenge, Dr Shahid Iqbal proposed a structured internship programme for biotechnology graduates from J&K institutions, creating direct pathways from academic training to industrial application and bridging the gap between qualifications and sector-relevant opportunities.
The Department is also operationalising two DBT-funded Industrial Biotech Parks at Kathua (Jammu region) and Handwara (Kashmir region), representing a combined Government of India investment of Rs 84.66 crore, as Centres of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology. These facilities are expected to evolve into active innovation hubs supporting start-up incubation, technology commercialisation and research in fermentation, enzyme technology, herbal extraction and analytical testing.
The recently announced budget outlay is set to activate the parks as magnets for scientific talent and entrepreneurial capital. Drawing lessons from Genome Valley’s public-private partnership model and Guwahati Biotech Park’s incubation success, the DST vision places J&K’s biotech ecosystem within a broader convergence framework. Strategic partnerships with SKUAST-Jammu and SKUAST-Kashmir, along with CSIR-IIIM’s pharmaceutical research capabilities, are expected to provide the intellectual infrastructure to translate indigenous knowledge into patents, products and economic growth.
