Guwahati: An international conference focused on transforming the northeast from a biodiversity hotspot into a bio-manufacturing hub was held recently at The Assam Royal Global University (RGU) in the city.The two-day event brought together leading scientists, academicians and industry experts to discuss the BioE3 Policy — Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment.
During the inaugural session, Srinivas V Kaveri, the director of research at INSERM (French National Centre for Scientific Research) in Paris, said the biodiversity of the northeast carries the future for the bioeconomy. “The immense biodiversity of Northeast India holds strong potential to drive the region’s bioeconomy through the growth of biomanufacturing industries across multiple sectors,” he said.Srinivas spoke on the immune response and adaptive immune system, highlighting the expanding role of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in treating a wide range of diseases. He said the development of a robust plasma industry is crucial for advancing immunotherapy and biotechnology, and stressed the importance of regular blood donation to support future medical innovations.He said immunotherapy represents a frontier of modern medicine and biotechnology will play a decisive role in shaping future healthcare solutions. Referring to the immense untapped potential of the northeast, he said the biodiversity of the region carries the future for the bioeconomy.Prof. AK Buragohain, vice-chancellor of RGU, said the northeast, being a biodiversity hotspot, must strategically harness its ecological wealth for sustainable bioeconomic growth, adding that “future technology will be biotechnology.”
