Karnataka’s bioeconomy hits $39bn, sector grows 26.5% in 2 years: Report

Among the various segments in the biotech sector, pharma firms contributed to around 40 per cent of the value of the bioeconomy, at 16.44 billion dollars. Led by fermentation-based industries, biofuels, enzymes and sustainable materials, industrial biotechnology is the fastest-growing segment, with its current value at 11.46 billion dollars, the report said. It also pegged the number of biotech startups in the state at 1,451, of which 218 new startups were added in 2025 alone.

“Despite steady progress, a few structural and operational priorities remain critical for achieving the next level of growth in Karnataka’s bio-based economy,” the report said, suggesting scaling up manufacturing to improve the bioeconomy. “While biomanufacturing infrastructure is expanding, the transition from pilot-scale operations to large-scale production facilities for biologics, biosimilars, and biomaterials remains a priority. Additional investment and industry partnerships will be essential to close this capacity gap,” it said.

Industry demand for trained professionals in biomanufacturing, good manufacturing practices, and regulatory compliance “continues to exceed supply”, the report noted, while calling for enhanced collaboration between academia and industry to bridge the gap.