Bioprocessing India 2025 Concludes at IIT-BHU with a Strong Call for Innovation-Led Biologics
BioPatrika | Post-Event Press Release | Varanasi
The 10th International Bioprocessing India Conference (BPI 2025), held from 13–15 December 2025 at Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), concluded with a clear and collective message: India must now transition from leadership in generics and biosimilars to innovation-driven development of first-in-class biologics, advanced therapies, and next-generation biomanufacturing.
Organised by the School of Biochemical Engineering, IIT (BHU), Varanasi, in collaboration with the Bioprocessing India Society, BPI 2025 brought together regulators, global biopharma leaders, academic innovators, start-ups, and students to chart collaborative pathways for strengthening India’s bioprocessing ecosystem in alignment with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
From Biosimilars to Innovation-Led Biopharma
Reflecting on the conference outcomes, Dr. Sumit Kumar Singh, Chairman, BPI 2025, emphasised that India is now scientifically and technologically positioned to move beyond biosimilars toward novel biologics, cell and gene therapies, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) through deep academia–industry integration.
Dr. Pranjal Chandra, Co-Chairman, BPI 2025 and Coordinator, School of Biochemical Engineering, IIT (BHU), highlighted that engineering-driven translational research, workforce skilling, and GMP-aligned academic culture will be foundational to building a future-ready bioprocessing workforce.
Inaugural Prof. K.B. Ramachandran Memorial Lecture
A key milestone of BPI 2025 was the inaugural Prof. K.B. Ramachandran Memorial Lecture, delivered by Prof. Guhan Jayaraman, who underscored the enduring importance of rigorous bioprocess engineering, perseverance, and problem-depth understanding—noting how meaningful industry-linked challenges have led to multiple doctoral theses and translational outcomes.
Panel Discussion: Taking Indian Biopharma to the Next Level
One of the most impactful sessions at BPI 2025 was the high-level panel discussion titled:
“Taking Indian Biopharma to the Next Level: Overcoming Roadblocks and Building Collaborative Pathways”
Moderated by Arvind Srivastava, the panel featured:
- Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi
- Sanjaya Singh
- Shilpa Gadgil
- Narendra Chirmule
- Vibha Jawa
- Rahul Purwar
The discussion candidly addressed roadblocks such as:
- Risk appetite
- Quality culture
- Talent management
- Mentorship gaps
- Data integrity and dossier quality
and highlighted opportunities including:
- Regulatory pathway clarity
- Scale-up and GMP integration
- Skill development
- Compliance management
- Trust-based academia–industry alignment
A hotly debated theme was whether India truly has a culture of innovation and quality, and what systemic changes are required to strengthen ethical, data-driven biomanufacturing.
Day-Wise Highlights
Day 1 – Setting the Innovation Agenda
The conference opened with an energetic start, featuring Padma Shri Dr. Rajni Kant, who stressed the importance of Geographical Indications (GI) and community-owned intellectual property to ensure inclusive and locally rooted innovation.
Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi (DCGI) called for a mindset shift toward innovation, while Dr. Sanjaya Singh (Third Arc Bio) demonstrated how biologics development can be fast-tracked in India.
Prof. Anurag S. Rathore, Founding President of the Bioprocessing India Society, highlighted that continuous process innovation is key to affordability.
Day 2 – Translational Success & Workforce Futures
Talks by Prof. Rahul Purwar (IIT Bombay, ImmunoACT) showcased India’s first CAR-T therapy, while Dr. Narendra Chirmule emphasised immunogenicity as a central challenge in biologics development.
A dedicated panel on Academia–Industry Workforce Futures highlighted:
- No single career path to success
- Fluid movement between academia and industry
- Need for better administrative policies
- Opportunities for GATE-qualified professionals in government roles
- Importance of industry co-op programs
- Mentorship and networking as critical enablers
Day 3 – Culture, Community, and Collaboration
The final day featured regulatory-focused discussions on quality, data integrity, compliance, and dossier preparation, alongside sessions on smart upstream processing, emphasising media selection and vendor quality to minimise product variability.
Beyond science, participants experienced Kashi darshan, Ganga aarti, local cuisine, poster sessions, and informal networking, reinforcing BPI’s unique blend of scientific depth and cultural connection.
Looking Ahead
Concluding the conference, Prof. Amit Patra, Director, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, congratulated the organising committee and noted that BPI 2025 set a high benchmark for academic–industry engagement, reflecting IIT (BHU)’s commitment to nationally relevant and globally competitive bioprocessing research.
With strong consensus that India must move beyond monoclonal antibodies toward advanced modalities such as ADCs, cell therapies, and innovation-led biologics, BPI 2025 marked a defining moment in India’s biopharma journey.
📍 Bioprocessing India Conference 2026 will be hosted at Mahindra University.
Stay tuned as India’s bioprocessing ecosystem continues to evolve—from scale to science, and from capability to innovation.
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