Staff Reporter, Guwahati: IIT Guwahati BioNEST, the region’s premier biotechnology incubator supported by BIRAC, Govt. of India, celebrated its 4th Foundation Day today with an showcase of deeptech startups and a bold vision for healthcare and biotech-driven transformation in North East India. The event witnessed participation from Central and State government officials, investors, startup founders, and academic leaders. Dr. Siddharth Singh, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Dept. of Medical Education & Research, Govt. of Assam, lauded BioNEST’s impact, calling it a “beacon of innovation” and emphasized its strategic alignment with the Assam Advanced Healthcare Innovation (AAHI) Institute to enhance rural healthcare access. The North Eastern Council (NEC), a major partner of the NEC-Ignite Program, reaffirmed its support for innovation in healthcare and agritech. Bamin Tarang, APCS, Director HRD&E, NEC, praised the resilience of North East’s youth-led startups, while Dr. Chhaya Chauhan, BIRAC, highlighted BioNEST’s role as a model incubator. Loken Das, CGM, NABARD, underscored BioNEST’s role in integrating biotech with rural livelihoods and promised deeper collaboration for agritech expansion. The event featured 40 startups showcasing innovations in biotechnology, health tech, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy. Prof. Dipankar Bandyopdhyay shared that over 70 tech companies have been supported, with several poised for market breakthroughs. Dr. Swapnil Sinha, CEO, BioNEST, outlined a roadmap to position the North East as a biomanufacturing hub, focusing on sustainable biotech and global competitiveness. The day concluded with a strong commitment to regional development through technology, aligned with the goals of Viksit Bharat and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
0 Comments