The session highlighted India’s pivotal moment in biotechnology, where biology and digital technologies are converging to create transformative opportunities in health, environment, and industry. Advances in synthetic biology, genome sequencing, and programmable biology signal a shift toward “living machines” and digital biology. At the same time, the discussions underscored the urgency of sovereign biotechnology and biosecurity to safeguard national interests. Drawing on India’s strong scientific legacy and vibrant ecosystem, the call was clear: to build bold, future-ready frameworks that position the country as a global leader in breakthrough biotechnology. He stressed that technology breakthroughs can emerge globally from unexpected places, pointing to DeepSeek and the fact that 31% of global pharmaceuticals originate from China, underscoring the need for India to strengthen its own biotechnology enterprise. Central to this vision is the idea of sovereign biotechnology, where biosecurity (biodefense, public health preparedness, and rapid response) is a national imperative.

• Breakthrough potential
Biotechnology is entering an era where health can be redefined, biology rewritten, and global challenges reimagined.

• Convergence of disciplines
True breakthroughs will come from blending biology, chemistry, engineering, AI, and digital technologies — “Moore’s law meets Mendel’s laws.”

• Living machines & digital biology
Tools like AlphaFold exemplify the shift to programmable biology, enabling future-ready innovations such as point-of-need diagnostics.

• Sovereign biotechnology
Biodefense and public health are intertwined; India must invest in biosecurity, microbial repositories, and sovereign testing platforms.

• Global competition
China and other countries are accelerating biotech innovation, reinforcing the need for India to scale rapidly and decisively.

• Ecosystem strength
India’s progress rests on visionary leadership, strong institutions, and entrepreneurship. Programs like BFI’s COVID-19 variant analysis showcase the catalytic power of collaboration.

• Future horizons
Emerging domains like quantum biology and new-generation platforms could redefine molecular research and accelerate discovery.