Policy Update
Ritu Mishra
Background
The DBT-BUILDER programme, launched by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, is a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening and modernizing life science education and research infrastructure in Indian universities. Recognizing that universities are critical hubs for capacity building, BUILDER provides financial and infrastructural support to create interdisciplinary departments in life sciences, thereby encouraging innovation and collaborative research.
The scheme aligns with the Biotechnology Sector Growth Strategy (2021–2025) by addressing the need for skilled manpower, cutting-edge laboratories, and translational research. BUILDER acts as a bridge between higher education and industry needs, ensuring universities produce graduates equipped to tackle national and global scientific challenges.
Functioning
Funding Support
- Universities are selected through a competitive process to ensure merit-based allocation.
- Grants cover infrastructure development (labs, classrooms, equipment), faculty strengthening, and research facilities.
- This funding helps institutions upgrade their teaching and research ecosystem, making them globally competitive.
Interdisciplinary Approach
- BUILDER promotes the integration of multiple life science disciplines, including biotechnology, bioinformatics, microbiology, and molecular biology. The idea is to break silos in higher education and create a holistic, collaborative research environment. This helps students gain broader exposure to both traditional and emerging fields in life sciences.
Core Components
- Advanced Teaching Labs: Establishment of modern laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment for hands-on learning.
- Fellowships: Provision of PhD and postdoctoral fellowships to attract and retain talent in academia and research.
- Faculty Training & Mobility: Opportunities for faculty to undergo specialized training, attend global workshops, and collaborate with international institutions.
- Industry–Academia Partnerships: Designed to bridge the employability gap by exposing students to real-world applications and industry challenges.
Governance
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) monitors progress through annual reports, independent monitoring committees, and performance-based reviews. Outcome-based evaluation ensures accountability, encouraging universities to deliver tangible results in research and innovation
Performance
Since its inception, the DBT-BUILDER programme has been implemented in select central and state universities, leading to the creation of model interdisciplinary centres in life sciences. It has significantly strengthened laboratory infrastructure, improved curriculum design, and enhanced research output in beneficiary institutions. Several BUILDER-supported centres have also managed to attract additional research grants and foster collaborations with industry as well as international research bodies, thereby amplifying their impact. However, performance assessments indicate uneven outcomes, with top-tier universities gaining disproportionately more benefits compared to smaller regional institutions, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity and balanced support.
Impact
The DBT-BUILDER scheme has played a crucial role in capacity building by strengthening the training of MSc and PhD students in frontier areas of life sciences, thereby nurturing the next generation of skilled researchers. It has contributed to a noticeable rise in research output, including publications, patents, and international collaborations from supported universities. By enhancing employability and developing industry-relevant skills, the scheme has prepared students to enter the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors with stronger competencies.
At the same time, it has supported regional development by helping universities in underserved areas upgrade laboratory facilities, although its coverage across such regions remains limited. Overall, BUILDER directly contributes to India’s ambitious target of achieving a USD 150 billion bioeconomy by 2025, by reinforcing the academic and research foundations of the biotechnology sector.
Emerging Issues and Suggestions
The DBT-BUILDER scheme, though impactful, faces some key challenges. A major issue is its limited coverage, as only a handful of universities benefit, leaving many institutions under-supported, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Another concern is sustainability, since the long-term continuation of upgraded facilities and laboratories after DBT funding ends remains uncertain. Weak industry linkages further limit the translation of academic research into real-world biotech and pharma applications. Lastly, evaluation mechanisms are not uniformly applied, with outcome-based monitoring still evolving across institutions.
To overcome these issues, several measures can be taken. The programme should expand support to more universities, ensuring balanced regional participation and strengthening biotech education nationwide. Public–private partnerships (PPPs) should be encouraged to maintain BUILDER-created infrastructure beyond DBT’s direct funding. Stronger industry–academia collaborations must be fostered to improve employability and translational research. Moreover, robust evaluation metrics should be adopted, tracking the number of trained researchers, patents, industry tie-ups, and innovation outputs, aligning the scheme with India’s biotech growth targets.
Way Forward
The DBT-BUILDER scheme remains a cornerstone of India’s biotechnology education and research ecosystem. To align with the Biotechnology Sector Growth Strategy (2021–2025) and future goals, it must expand its reach to more universities, strengthen integration with industry and innovation hubs, and ensure long-term sustainability through continuous monitoring and public–private partnership (PPP) models. With these measures, BUILDER can play a pivotal role in positioning India as a global leader in biotechnology education, research, and innovation.
References
- Department of Biotechnology (DBT) https://dbtindia.gov.in
- PIB Press Releases on BUILDER Scheme – https://pib.gov.in
- DBT Annual Reports (2015–2024)
- Policy documents: Biotechnology Sector Growth Strategy (2021–2025)
About the Contributor
Ritu Mishra is a Research Intern at IMPRI and Pursuing Master’s degree in Botany.
Acknowledgment: The author sincerely thanks the IMPRI team for their valuable support.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organization.
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