Foundation stone laid for SAMARTH skill development centre in biotechnology at CDFD

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated two major biotech initiatives at Hyderabad’s CDFD, the SAMARTH Skill Development Centre and the iDeaNA Technology Incubator.

Hyderabad: In a major boost to the country’s biotechnology centre, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Friday laid the foundation stone for the SAMARTH Skill Development Centre and inaugurated the iDeaNA Technology Incubator at the Hyderabad-based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD).

The SAMARTH Centre (Skilling and Accessing Molecular Advancements in Research and Technology for Health) aims to bridge critical gaps in forensic DNA profiling and molecular diagnostics. By providing certified training, it will create an industry-ready workforce to support indigenous medical technologies.

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Simultaneously, the iDeaNA Incubator is already proving to be a powerhouse for deep-tech startups. Within a short period, it has onboarded 12 startups, generated over 30 high-skilled jobs and facilitated Rs 15 crore in funding and five market-ready products.

The Union Minister also chaired a brainstorming session on ‘Bench to Bedside’ solutions for rare disorders, emphasizing the need to translate lab research into affordable therapies. Startups showcased innovative products ranging from gut-healing sweeteners to advanced biomaterials for skincare.

These initiatives are central to India’s BioE3 Policy, which seeks to integrate biotechnology with the economy and environment. By fostering high-performance biomanufacturing, the hub aims to translate laboratory breakthroughs into affordable, ‘bench-to-bedside’ therapies for rare disorders, a press release from CDFD said on Friday.