Jammu and Kashmir Emerges as North India's Biotechnology Hub with Operationalisation of Industrial Biotech Park in Kathua
Key Insights
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the operationalisation of North India's first Industrial Biotech Park at Ghatti in Kathua, positioning Jammu and Kashmir as a major biotechnology destination.
The park features advanced infrastructure including herbal extraction units, fermentation facilities, and a BIRAC (search) BioNEST Incubator currently supporting 15 startups.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between JKST&IC and CSIR-IIIM Jammu, committing ₹15 crore over three years for project implementation.
Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that Jammu and Kashmir is rapidly emerging as a major biotechnology and innovation destination, with the operationalisation of the Industrial Biotech Park at Ghatti in Kathua district set to accelerate startup growth, entrepreneurship, and scientific research across the region.
Speaking at a function in Kathua, Dr. Singh, who holds independent charge of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, described the facility as North India's first Industrial Biotech Park, equipped with advanced infrastructure designed to foster innovation in the biotechnology sector.
State-of-the-Art Infrastructure and Capabilities
The Industrial Biotech Park houses a comprehensive suite of advanced facilities, including herbal extraction and fermentation units, analytical laboratories, distillation facilities, and micro-propagation and plant tissue culture laboratories. These capabilities position the park to support a wide range of biotechnology research and industrial applications, with particular emphasis on the medicinal and aromatic plants native to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The park already hosts a BIRAC (search) BioNEST Incubator, which is currently supporting 15 startups, demonstrating early traction in the region's biotechnology entrepreneurship ecosystem. Additionally, the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, is conducting job-oriented skill development programmes aimed at preparing young professionals and entrepreneurs for careers in biotechnology.
MoU Signed with ₹15 Crore Funding Commitment
A significant milestone was reached during the event with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Jammu and Kashmir Science, Technology and Innovation Council (search) (JKST&IC) and CSIR-IIIM Jammu for the operationalisation of the Industrial Biotech Park at Ghatti.
Under the agreement, the Industrial Biotechnology Parks Society and JKST&IC will provide ₹15 crore over three years to CSIR-IIIM for project implementation. CSIR-IIIM Jammu will serve as the Project Management Unit, providing scientific, technical, operational, and administrative support for managing the Biotech Park. The institute's responsibilities will encompass planning, execution, monitoring, scientific infrastructure development, incubation programmes, innovation initiatives, and capacity-building activities.
CSIR-IIIM Director Dr. Zabeer Ahmed briefed attendees on the progress made in establishing the Biotech Park and outlined future plans for the facility. He characterised the MoU as a major milestone in promoting biotechnology innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.
Regional Impact and Startup Ecosystem
Dr. Singh emphasised that the Industrial Biotech Park will serve as a hub for incubation of innovative ideas, providing world-class facilities to agri-entrepreneurs, startups, progressive farmers, scientists, researchers, and students from Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, as well as neighbouring states including Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
The Minister highlighted that the startup revolution has firmly taken root in Jammu and Kashmir, citing the success of enterprises developed under the Aroma Mission, which have evolved into nationally recognised entrepreneurial models. He stressed that the government's objective is to create an enabling ecosystem where innovation drives employment generation, economic growth, and sustainable development.
The park will promote research on medicinal and aromatic plants while encouraging environmentally sustainable, green-category industries. Dr. Singh expressed confidence that the partnership between JKST&IC and CSIR-IIIM would significantly strengthen biotechnology research and innovation in Jammu and Kashmir, promote technology transfer, and establish the Industrial Biotech Park at Ghatti as a premier centre for biotechnology-led industrial and scientific development.
The event was attended by MLA Rajiv Jasrotia, Commissioner/Secretary Science and Technology Department Babila Rakwal, Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma, Government Medical College Kathua Principal Dr. Surinder Kumar Atri, along with senior officials, scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, students, and members of civil society.