Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates BioNEST at “Central Food Technology & Research Institute

Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre at “Central Food Technology & Research Institute” (CFTRI) and reviewed an exhibition of Startup-driven technologies and products, positioning the institute’s incubation ecosystem as a key platform for bridging laboratory research with commercial applications.

Designed as a state-of-the-art facility with dedicated incubation suites and shared infrastructure, the BioNEST Incubation Centre is expected to boost Food Startups, support advanced research, scale-up validation and regulatory facilitation in food bioprocessing and biotechnology, enabling conversion of scientific ideas into market-ready solutions.

As of March 2026, the BioNEST facility has supported 26 Startups, including physical and hybrid incubates as well as graduated ventures — with several already achieving product commercialisation. Incubated companies have collectively filed 12 patents and contributed to research publications, reflecting a growing emphasis on innovation aligned with market outcomes.

During his interaction with entrepreneurs and stakeholders, Dr. Jitendra Singh underlined that while starting a venture has become easier, sustaining it requires continuous value addition, market access and stronger industry linkage. He called for deeper engagement between research institutions and the private sector, and emphasised aligning innovation with consumer demand, including in ready-to-eat and convenience food segments.(updated on 4th April 2026)