‘Quad countries do not cooperate enough in biotechnology; Nevertheless, today, there is an urgent need for cooperation, especially in emerging technologies. Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
In March 2021, the Quad (Australia, India, Japan and the United States) Establish a Critical and Emerging Technologies Working Group to facilitate collaboration, monitor trends and scout for opportunities related to developments in critical and emerging technologies, which include biotechnology. However, the potential of Quad collaboration in biotechnology has been insufficiently tapped. The establishment of a Quad-led biomanufacturing hub in India will provide the necessary impetus to scale up this collaboration. (The authors have investigated this proposition with researchers from the Australian National University.)
Biomanufacturing uses living systems, particularly microorganisms and cell cultures, to produce molecules and materials on a commercial scale. It has the potential to transform the global industrial system, with 60% of material inputs in the global economy expected to be produced using this technology. Many countries, including the United States and China, recognize the need to adapt to this ecosystem and have formulated specific policies to shape their bio-economy.
quad and supplement strength
India’s National Biotechnology Development Strategy also sees the country as a “Global Biomanufacturing Hub” by 2025. While the strategy sets a target of $100 billion for the hub, it is important to recognize that India’s ambitions require external support, particularly through its Quad partners, to enable its initial development.
Specifically, Quad should set up a bio-manufacturing hub in India to benefit from the country’s economic potential and address supply-chain weaknesses. The Quad nations have complementary strengths that can be used to build this hub. The US has significant funding potential, while all three (Japan, Australia and the US) also have advanced biotechnology innovation ecosystems and intellectual property. India has skilled manpower and the ability to provide affordable scale.
In fact, India is an ideal choice to host a biomanufacturing hub thanks to its existing infrastructure, pharmaceutical manufacturing expertise and available workforce. According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, India is one of the top performers in the field of bio-manufacturing, both in terms of quality of research output and share among research publications. India also has significant potential in low-cost biomanufacturing, particularly in the production of enzymes, reagents, research materials and equipment. According to at least one analysis, manufacturing costs about 33% less in India than in the US, however, India still needs significant capacity and capability enhancements to become a world leader.
strengthening physical infrastructure
India also aims to become a major bio-manufacturing hub, with plans to increase fermentation capacity tenfold to 10 million liters in the next three to five years. China has also expressed its intention to capture this market, just as it dominated small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). In fact, concerns about China’s dominance in APIs prompted India to launch a production-linked stimulus plan that allocated $2 billion to the pharmaceutical sector to make biopharmaceuticals, APIs, key starting materials and related products .
Such reliance in the bio-manufacturing sector would be detrimental to both India and the Quad. The proposed hub could help facilitate technology transfer, connect investors and set up a biomanufacturing fund administered through the Quad, to support India’s efforts to reduce dependence on China.
Enhancing the Workforce, Reducing the Barriers
To grow the biomanufacturing sector, India needs to improve the quality of its workforce. While there are many life science professionals in the country, they do not have access to state-of-the-art technology and training. To address this, permanent training facilities could be set up with experts from other Quad countries providing training at universities around the Quad hub. Recent policy changes in India allow the establishment of foreign universities and may encourage scholar exchange programs. Training should also focus on commercialization of research and development, a common challenge for non-US countries in the Quad.
To facilitate cross-Quad collaboration, the Biomanufacturing Hub could accommodate all existing bilateral government efforts and establish a Research Collaboration Office for this purpose. The hub could also harmonize language, regulations and data-sharing regarding bio-manufacturing to secure supply chains for the Quad nations and facilitate international collaboration. Such streamlining would encourage cooperation efforts within the Quad as well as create opportunities for cooperation with countries outside the Quad.
The proposed hub in India can leverage the economic potential of the biomanufacturing industry and address existing and potential weaknesses in the global system. India can become a leading player in the field of biomanufacturing and can help Quad compete in this key area.
Shambhavi Naik and Saurabh Todi are researchers at the Takshashila Institute