Overview
- Union minister Jitendra Singh launched the BIRAC‑BioNEST Incubation Centre at CSIR‑CFTRI in Mysuru on Friday during the institute’s platinum jubilee events.
- The facility, part of BIRAC’s national program for early‑stage biotech, offers shared labs for advanced research, scale‑up and efficacy studies in food bioprocessing so teams can prove and refine products before market entry.
- CFTRI detailed commercialization progress with 26 supported startups and 12 patents, and four technology‑transfer MoUs were signed during the jubilee valedictory.
- The minister urged researchers to reach Gen Z through short videos and QR‑code content and to form a dedicated social media team to boost uptake of ready‑to‑eat and nutrition‑focused foods.
- The visit included a ground‑breaking for an RKVY‑funded hostel at the M. G. Halli campus, which CFTRI expects to open within a year to house trainees such as farmers and self‑help groups.