The CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, has strengthened its role as a national food innovation hub with the launch of its BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre, a move aimed at accelerating startup-led growth, advanced food technologies and industry partnerships.

The development came during the institute’s 75th foundation celebrations, where Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh briefly underscored the importance of taking science from the laboratory to society through stronger startup support, technology transfer and public-private collaboration.

The new BioNEST facility offers state-of-the-art incubation suites and shared research infrastructure for startups in food biotechnology, bioprocessing and specialised nutrition, helping them scale innovations from proof-of-concept to market-ready products.

As of March 2026, CFTRI’s BioNEST ecosystem has supported 26 startups, including physical and hybrid incubatees as well as graduated ventures. These startups have collectively filed 12 patents, reflecting the institute’s growing emphasis on innovation-led entrepreneurship and commercial science. 

The innovation portfolio spans nutraceuticals, precision fermentation, probiotics, postbiotics, CRISPR-enabled food technologies and botanical solutions, highlighting CFTRI’s strategic focus on next-generation food and health-linked research areas. Further reinforcing its industry engagement model, the institute also signed four MoUs and launched two in-house developed products, demonstrating the depth of its technology commercialisation pipeline and collaborations with industrial partners. 

Celebrating 75 years of scientific contribution, CFTRI also released multiple publications chronicling its research journey and technology impact, while showcasing its startup ecosystem, licensed technologies and food product innovations through a dedicated exhibition.

With over 450 technologies developed and transferred to thousands of licensees, the latest expansion of its incubation ecosystem positions CFTRI as a leading institute driving India’s future in food processing, functional nutrition and science-led entrepreneurship.