An esteemed gathering of scientists, industry leaders, policymakers, and academics convened at Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University (DPSRU) for the International Conference on Innovations in Advanced Drug Research. The event, which was co-organised by the DPSRU Innovation & Incubation Foundation (DIIF), highlighting the necessity of academia-industry partnerships to advance innovation in biotechnology and drug development. 

On December 9, 2024, the conference commenced with the theme "Industry Innovations and Commercialisation," which served as a forum for the exchange of ideas regarding the conversion of innovative healthcare research into practical solutions. The Inauguration Ceremony, a significant aspect of the day, emphasised the university's dedication to promoting advancements in pharmaceutical sciences.

Prof. Harvinder Popli, co-convenor of the conference, established a progressive tone in his welcome address by emphasizing the conference's objective to bridge the gap between industry requirements and innovation.  Prof. PK Sahu, the registrar of DPSRU, provided additional details regarding the university's critical involvement in initiating these developments. Prof. Ravichandiran V., Vice-Chancellor of DPSRU and Chairman of DIIF, underscored in his visionary address the transformative potential of partnerships between academic institutions and industry actors in shaping the future of healthcare.

Nevertheless, the keynote address by Dr. Manish Diwan, the Head of Biofoundry at the NCR Biotech Cluster and the Mission Director of the Make in India Biotech initiative, was the absolute highlight of the inaugural day. Dr. Diwan provided a comprehensive analysis of the biotechnological ecosystem in India and its future trajectory, drawing on his extensive experience in strategic leadership in biotechnology. 

Dr. Diwan initiated the discussion by highlighting India's significant accomplishments as a global leader in innovation: "India is the third largest startup ecosystem in the world and the top digital economy globally." 

He attributed this success to India's aspirations to improve its economic status and global influence in biotechnology: "Our objective is to transition from the fifth-largest economy to the third-largest and from being the leader in biotech volumes to generating more value." 

Dr. Diwan identified critical voids in innovation infrastructure, despite these accomplishments. He emphasized the need to increase the number of researchers and improve patent filings, urging stakeholders to tackle the innovation deficit: "We must boost the country's innovation quotient by increasing the number of researchers and improving patent filings."

He emphasized the recently approved bio-economy policy as a significant development with the objective of enhancing infrastructure, skill development, and research capabilities.  He referred to it as a cornerstone for the promotion of biotech manufacturing and innovation, stating that "The recently approved Bio-Economy Policy addresses deficits in infrastructure, skills, and research to strengthen manufacturing and innovation."

Dr. Diwan also emphasized the significance of developing novel therapies, advocating for a transition from incremental advancements to disruptive breakthroughs: "We must transition from incremental innovation to disruptive innovation—creating first-class novel therapies that significantly alter the ecosystem." 

To achieve this, he proposed the creation of mega biotech clusters, which would encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, cultivate public-private partnerships, and stimulate innovation. "Mega biotech clusters are necessary to drive innovation, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and foster public-private partnerships." 

The triple helix model, a framework that involves the convergence of institutions, infrastructure, and industry, is central to Dr. Diwan's vision. "The triple helix model—involving institutions, infrastructure, and industry—is essential for building a robust ecosystem." 

Dr. Diwan emphasized the importance of startups as "innovation champions" and the necessity of fostering synergy between these emerging enterprises and established industries: "Startups are our innovation champions."  To transition from pre-product development to commercialization, they must establish partnerships with major industries. 

He encouraged stakeholders to explore alternative sources of funding, including philanthropy, CSR contributions, and multi-stakeholder initiatives, in recognition of the financial requirements of promoting innovation. 

"To fund innovation, we must mobilize resources beyond public sector dependency—including CSR, philanthropy, and multi-stakeholder projects." 

Dr. Diwan concluded with a forward-thinking perspective on India's position in global innovation: "We must transition from service-based models to global leadership in disruptive innovation, with a long-term horizon and patient capital." 

Conference participants lauded the keynote speech for its clarity and vision, which sparked discussions about India's potential to become a global biotechnology juggernaut. Many of the audience members were startups, entrepreneurs, and academics,  anxious to contribute to the ecosystem, and the emphasis on creating disruptive innovation resonated with them. 

Using the occasion, Dr. Diwan invited attendees to visit the incubation centres and interact with the businesses represented at the conference, referring to them as the "champions of innovation."

Dr. Minakshi Garg, the conference coordinator, delivered a vote of thanks at the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony. She expressed her gratitude to all the presenters, participants, and organizers.  She reiterated the significance of collaborative endeavors in pursuit of the ambitious vision outlined by the keynote speaker. 

As the conference progresses, we anticipate that Dr. Diwan's insights will serve as a foundation for discussions and motivate the development of novel strategies for the advancement of biotechnology and drug research in India.