The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), has extended financial support to Hyderabad-based K. N. Biosciences (India) Private Limited for the commercialisation of an indigenous technology to produce C-Phycocyanin, a high-value natural blue pigment derived from Spirulina.

The project, titled "Production of C-Phycocyanin using Spirulina sp. as a Cell Factory," aims to reduce India's reliance on imported natural colourants while strengthening the country's biotechnology-based sustainable manufacturing capabilities.

The technology was developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati using an indigenous Spirulinastrain (NCIM 5143) and has been transferred to the company through a formal technology transfer agreement for commercial-scale production.

C-Phycocyanin is widely used as a natural ingredient in the food, nutraceutical, agriculture, aquaculture, poultry feed and biostimulant industries. Growing global demand for clean-label and naturally derived ingredients is expected to create significant commercial opportunities for the indigenous technology.

The production process combines an optimised cultivation system with a green, solvent-free extraction and purification technology that enables efficient recovery of high-purity food-grade and analytical-grade C-Phycocyanin. 

Compared to conventional extraction methods, the indigenous process minimises chemical use while reducing environmental impact and production complexity.

The final product is a stable, water-soluble blue pigment that has been benchmarked against international commercial standards.

The project is expected to establish commercial-scale C-Phycocyanin production in India, creating an indigenous value chain for natural pigments and specialty bioproducts while supporting import substitution and strengthening the country's bio-manufacturing ecosystem.

Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, TDB, said, "India's bioeconomy presents immense opportunities to transform indigenous research into globally competitive products. Technologies such as this demonstrate how scientific innovation can create sustainable alternatives to imported specialty ingredients while promoting green manufacturing and value-added biotechnology.”

“TDB remains committed to supporting commercialization of such indigenous technologies that strengthen India's self-reliance and global leadership in the bio-based economy,” added Pathak.

The leadership of K. N. Biosciences said TDB's support will enable the company to establish commercial-scale manufacturing facilities and accelerate the market deployment of indigenous C-Phycocyanin, helping build a robust domestic ecosystem for natural bio-based products while addressing growing demand in India and overseas.