Programme Overview

On 15 October 2026, Herbalife International India Pvt. Ltd. and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) inaugurated the Herbalife–IIT Madras Phyto Innovation Accelerator Programme at the IIT Madras Research Park. The launch was officiated by Union Minister of Education, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, in the presence of Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, and Mr. Ajay Khanna, Managing Director of Herbalife India.

The accelerator builds on the Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology (HL‑IITM CoE PCFT), which was established in June 2026. It seeks to fuse India’s traditional botanical knowledge with modern deep‑technology, entrepreneurship, and the national research vision of Jai Anusandhan, while aligning with the BioE3 policy for sustainable biomanufacturing.

Vertical Structure

The three‑year programme operates through two verticals:

1. Phytothon – Innovation challenges and hackathons will be organised every six months to surface promising ideas in plant biotechnology, nutraceuticals, functional foods, botanical ingredients, and sustainable biomanufacturing.

2. Global University Innovation Network – This vertical will promote international collaboration via student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, webinars, seminars, workshops, short‑term courses, publications, and co‑organised conferences.

Support for Start‑ups

Each year, up to three start‑ups will be selected for intensive support. Selected ventures will gain access to shared scientific infrastructure and specialised laboratory facilities at the IIT Madras Bioincubator and the HL‑IITM CoE PCFT. Support includes:

  • Customized plant‑cell bioreactors for cell cultivation
  • Analytical equipment such as HPTLC
  • Cryogenic storage facilities
  • A high‑performance GPU workstation for bioinformatics and AI‑enabled research
  • Technical mentorship, pre‑incubation assistance, and proof‑of‑concept development.

International Collaboration

Through the Global University Innovation Network, the programme will bring together researchers, students, faculty, entrepreneurs, industry experts, and international academic institutions. The aim is to strengthen scientific capabilities in plant cell fermentation technology, AI‑enabled multi‑omics analysis, bioinformatics, and process modelling, thereby fostering ecosystem development via stronger academic‑industry collaboration and global knowledge exchange.

Infrastructure Enhancements

The Centre of Excellence will be expanded with advanced custom plant‑cell bioreactors, additional analytical instruments, cryogenic storage, and a high‑performance GPU workstation to support AI‑driven bioinformatics and multi‑omics studies.

Strategic Objectives

The accelerator is designed to translate plant‑biotechnology research into market‑ready technologies for health, wellness, nutrition, and sustainable biomanufacturing. It aims to nurture the next generation of innovators, enhance India’s leadership in biotechnology, and contribute to sustainable innovation and health‑focused research.

Statements from Leaders

Ajay Khanna, Managing Director of Herbalife International India Pvt. Ltd., emphasized that “innovation in health and wellness increasingly depends on strong collaboration between academia and industry… the programme will help nurture the next generation of innovators while contributing to India’s growing leadership in biotechnology, sustainable innovation and health‑focused research.”

Prof. Smita Srivastava, Faculty Coordinator and Head of the HL‑IITM CoE PCFT, added that “translating research into real‑world impact requires strong collaboration across academia, industry and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This initiative will enable scientific discoveries to evolve into real‑world applications and strengthen India’s capabilities in plant‑based biomanufacturing.”