THSTI Hosts Successful SYNCHN 2024 Industry Meet to Foster Academia-Industry Collaborations in Biotechnology

The focus of SYNCHN 2024 was to foster and strengthen academia-industry collaborations, with a particular emphasis on THSTI's role in advancing biomanufacturing.

The Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), an institute under the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India, hosted a successful industry meet, SYNCHN 2024 (Synergy in Science Built Through Elements of Collaboration for High-Quality Data & Expertise in NCR Biotech Cluster), on July 14th, 2024, at its campus. This event brought together stakeholders from the biotechnology industry, including representatives from startups, established companies, and policymakers. The focus of SYNCHN 2024 was to foster and strengthen academia-industry collaborations, with a particular emphasis on THSTI's role in advancing biomanufacturing.

Prof. Vinod K. Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. He commended the leadership of THSTI and DBT for their initiative in hosting SYNCHN 2024 and expressed the government's strong support for academia-industry collaborations, deeming them essential for India's progress. Emphasizing the urgency of such partnerships, Prof. Paul called for 100-day missions to drive bio-innovation and establish India as a global supply chain leader, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Prof. Nirmal K. Ganguly, former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), was the Guest of Honor. In his address, Prof. Ganguly highlighted the critical importance of collaboration between academic and industrial sectors in medical biotechnology. He praised THSTI for its efforts in bringing together stakeholders from diverse areas with a shared focus on bio-innovation and biomanufacturing.

Prof. Ganesan Karthikeyan, Executive Director of THSTI, shared the vision behind SYNCHN 2024 and the significance of industry partnerships in advancing translational research. He emphasized THSTI's commitment to leveraging its research expertise and cutting-edge facilities to empower industry partners and further translational research efforts. Prof. Karthikeyan also expressed his gratitude to DBT for their support in facilitating SYNCHN 2024.

Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Director General of BRIC and Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, appreciated THSTI's efforts in hosting SYNCHN 2024 by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders. He highlighted the importance of academia-industry collaboration for bio-innovation and said that the NCR Biotech Cluster is well-equipped to meet industry demands.

During the industry meet, representatives from the industry and startups shared their insights on the perspectives of academic-industry collaborations and appreciated THSTI's initiative to bring together various stakeholders. Key industry speakers included representatives from the Serum Institute of India, Panacea Biotech, Miltenyi Biotech, and Indian Immunologicals Limited.

SYNCHN 2024 featured focused parallel breakout sessions, fostering one-on-one interactions between industry representatives and THSTI's principal investigators. Delegates also toured THSTI's research laboratories and facilities during their interactions at THSTI.

Industry representatives interacted with young researchers at THSTI, providing valuable insights into industry expectations for doctoral graduates.