India Hosts 31st ICGEB Board of Governors Session in New Delhi
Dr. Jitendra Singh hails ICGEB’s role in South-South scientific cooperation
New Delhi, May 14: India is hosting the 31st session of the Board of Governors of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in New Delhi, bringing together representatives from 69 member countries to deliberate on global scientific cooperation and innovation in life sciences.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the high-level session on Wednesday morning.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Singh highlighted the growing role of ICGEB in advancing biotechnology research and promoting scientific excellence, especially in the Global South.
Dr. Singh also virtually inaugurated India’s first publicly funded Biofoundry, established at ICGEB New Delhi. The facility, supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, marks a major leap in the country’s synthetic biology and biotechnology capabilities.
“ICGEB has been instrumental in fostering innovation and capacity-building in life sciences. With the inauguration of the Biofoundry, India reaffirms its commitment to cutting-edge research and bioeconomy growth,” the Minister said. He welcomed the delegates and emphasized the timeliness of the session, calling it “the right time and the right location for a brainstorming of this magnitude.”
An official spokesperson said the Biofoundry is envisioned as a next-generation facility to accelerate the design-build-test-learn cycle in synthetic biology, crucial for innovations in health, agriculture, and environment sectors. It will serve as a hub for research, technology development, and translational science.
The ICGEB Board of Governors is the organization’s highest decision-making body, responsible for reviewing ongoing programmes, evaluating projects, and setting future directions.
The current President of the Board is Dr. Jelena Begović, former Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of Serbia.
ICGEB operates through three advanced research centres located in New Delhi (India), Trieste (Italy), and Cape Town (South Africa), and plays a key role in tackling global health and environmental challenges through biotechnology, especially in developing countries.
Spokesperson further state that ICGEB New Delhi continues to lead biotechnology research in Asia and remains central to India’s scientific aspirations, bridging the gap between foundational research and industry applications.
