The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) New Delhi hosted the curtain raiser event for the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC 2026), featuring a special session on System and Synthetic Biology and their transformative potential in advancing scientific research, biotechnology and innovation in India. The event was attended by Prof. Gobardhan Das, Member of NITI Aayog as Chief Guest, along with Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary of Department of Biotechnology (DBT); Dr. Dhananjay Kumar Tiwary, Scientist-H at DBT; and Dr. Ramesh V. Sonti, Director of ICGEB New Delhi.
Dr. Ramesh V. Sonti provided an overview of ESTIC 2026, which will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from October 27-29, 2026. He highlighted that DBT will be steering a session on "Systems and Synthetic Biology" at the conclave, noting that these emerging fields touch virtually every aspect of life and offer considerable opportunities for scientific advancement. The session emphasized interdisciplinary approaches to understanding complex biological systems and engineering biological processes for applications in healthcare, agriculture, industrial biotechnology and sustainable development.
Dr. Dhananjay Kumar Tiwary, MD BIRAC and Scientist-H at DBT, highlighted the transformative potential of System and Synthetic Biology, emphasizing their applications in healthcare, biomanufacturing and biodesign. He also underscored the role of Artificial Intelligence in accelerating biological research and highlighted the BioE3 Policy's potential to create new opportunities for India's biotechnology sector.
Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary of DBT, emphasized the growing significance of biology as a powerful platform for innovation, noting that biotechnology is entering its second revolution with potential to shape multiple aspects of human development. He stressed the need to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into practical applications by strengthening research, development and scale-up.
Prof. Gobardhan Das highlighted India's growing scientific capabilities and the immense potential of biotechnology to drive national development, strengthen the innovation ecosystem and address emerging global challenges. He expressed confidence in India's potential to emerge as a global biotechnology leader and emphasized the importance of translating fundamental research into practical applications, citing the development of COVID-19 vaccines as an example of how fundamental biological research can lead to life-saving innovations.
ESTIC 2026 is a flagship national platform organized by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the guidance of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The conclave aims to bring together leading scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, researchers and deep-tech innovators to showcase scientific breakthroughs, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and accelerate research translation into impactful technologies. It will cover 12 key thematic areas including System and Synthetic Biology, advanced manufacturing, energy technologies, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and advanced healthcare, supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.