Indian industrial biotech company Praj Industries has launched an Advanced Precision Fermentation Lab at its Praj Matrix R&D centre in Pune, India, alongside a formal research partnership with BRIC-NCCS (Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council – National Centre for Cell Science).
The facility is designed to support high-capacity, AI-enabled fermentation processes across sectors, including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, biofuels, and beverages, with a stated focus on reducing scale-up risks and improving process reliability.
Academia meets industry
The lab launch was accompanied by a Memorandum of Understanding between Praj and BRIC-NCCS, signed in the presence of Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary of India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT). The collaboration will cover bioprocessing capability development, biomolecule and microbial strain discovery, and training opportunities for PhD researchers through internships and joint research programmes.
BRIC-NCCS brings expertise in microbial research, genomics, and cell culture repositories, which Praj intends to combine with its own process development and manufacturing infrastructure.
Dr. Gokhale explained, “India’s bioeconomy growth will be driven by strong academia-industry linkages and a skilled scientific workforce. Such initiatives and collaborations align well with DBT’s vision of fostering translational research and building capacity in biotechnology. They will play a vital role in accelerating innovation and strengthening India’s bio-based economy.”
Aligned with national bioeconomy policy
The lab and partnership are positioned within India’s BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) initiative, a national policy framework steered by the DBT to build a competitive domestic biomanufacturing sector. Precision fermentation has become a focal technology in several national bioeconomy strategies globally, with governments in the EU, US, and Singapore having invested heavily in domestic infrastructure in recent years.
Praj’s wholly owned subsidiary, Praj HiPurity Systems, which specialises in precision fermenters and ultra-pure water systems for pharmaceutical and biotech clients, will also benefit from the new facility.
Praj Matrix currently employs more than 90 scientists across multiple specialist laboratories and holds over 300 national and international patents.
Fermentation infrastructure expansion
Praj Industries has historically focused on biofuels, renewable chemicals, and water treatment technologies. The new precision fermentation lab represents an expansion of its capabilities into food and ingredients applications, a sector drawing increasing infrastructure investment as demand for fermentation-derived proteins and functional ingredients grows.
Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman of Praj Industries, commented, “The Advanced Precision Fermentation Lab at Praj Matrix represents a significant leap in our innovation journey. It brings together biology, engineering, and digital technologies to create scalable, low-carbon solutions. Combined with our collaboration with BRIC-NCCS, it will play a key role in building talent and accelerating the transition from discovery to commercial biomanufacturing.”
