By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : August 18, 2026 2:16 pm
The state has has more than 20 dedicated life sciences incubators supporting over 1,000 startups, alongside research capabilities, global capability centres, manufacturing infrastructure and a deep talent pool
India’s pharmaceutical industry is entering a defining phase as it targets a USD 130 billion market by 2030, with industry leaders calling for a stronger focus on innovation, research, advanced manufacturing and global regulatory excellence.
The message emerged at the Pharma Leadership Exchange, the official launch and precursor event for the 19th edition of CPHI & PMEC India 2026, held in Hyderabad.
The event brought together pharma leaders, CXOs and stakeholders from across India’s pharmaceutical and life sciences ecosystem to discuss the next phase of growth for the industry.
A key theme at the event was the need for India to move beyond its traditional volume-driven model and build capabilities across CDMO and CRDMO services, digital transformation, biologics, biosimilars, advanced therapies and stringent quality compliance.
Telangana emerged as a major focus of the discussions, with the state positioning itself as a hub for the next generation of pharmaceutical and life sciences innovation.
Sarvesh Singh, CEO, Lifesciences & Pharma, Government of Telangana, said the state has already established itself as a pharmaceutical manufacturing powerhouse and global vaccine hub, but its ambition now extends to moving up the value chain.
He highlighted areas including biologics, biosimilars, cell and gene therapies and the convergence of biology, chemistry and technology. According to Singh, Telangana has more than 20 dedicated life sciences incubators supporting over 1,000 startups, alongside research capabilities, global capability centres, manufacturing infrastructure and a deep talent pool.
Under its Next-Gen Life Sciences Policy 2026–2030, Telangana aims to attract USD 25 billion in investments and create more than five lakh jobs over the next five years.
The state is also looking to integrate AI, data science and other advanced technologies into research, innovation and sustainable manufacturing. Singh pointed to partnerships across the US, Europe, Japan, South Korea and China, as well as the Green Skills Centre of Excellence established with Microsoft and 1M1B, as part of Telangana’s efforts to develop a technology-driven and sustainability-focused life sciences ecosystem.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of strengthening India’s API and bulk drug ecosystem, particularly by reducing dependence on imported key starting materials and intermediates.
M. Roja Rani, Executive Director, Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association of India (BDMAI), said India has established strong manufacturing capabilities in bulk drugs and APIs, but the next three to five years will require greater investment in R&D, new technologies and additional API capacity.
She stressed that government initiatives such as the PLI scheme and bulk drug parks could play an important role, while faster implementation, infrastructure availability and greater support for MSME manufacturers would further strengthen India’s position in global pharmaceutical supply chains.
The industry is also adapting to the implementation of Revised Schedule M, which mandates enhanced Good Manufacturing Practices across manufacturers.
Pushpa Vijayaraghavan, Director, Healthcare & Lifesciences Advisory, Sathguru Management Consultants, highlighted the need to preserve India’s generics base while accelerating API backward integration, scaling biologics and biosimilars and increasing investment in innovation.
She also pointed to the Government’s Rs. 1 lakh crore RDI fund as a potential enabler for de-risking innovation. According to Vijayaraghavan, quality, regulatory reform and sustainability will also become increasingly important, particularly greener API manufacturing, energy efficiency and sustainable packaging.
The growth of the global CRDMO sector was another major theme at the event. With the industry projected to reach as much as USD 22 billion by 2030, speakers emphasised closer collaboration between pharmaceutical manufacturers, drug developers, CDMOs, ingredient suppliers, packaging companies and technology providers.
Chakravarthi AVPS, Chairman, Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs, Telangana & Andhra Pradesh, said India’s next phase of growth must extend beyond cost competitiveness to include sustainable technology, complex delivery systems, traceability and globally benchmarked quality.
He said compliance has become the baseline, while innovation, advanced and sustainable packaging, technology and traceability will increasingly determine competitiveness in global markets.
Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, said India’s strengths in science, talent and manufacturing are increasingly translating into opportunities across research, development and contract services. He noted that realising the CRDMO opportunity would depend on the industry’s ability to advance quality, technology, capabilities and global collaboration.
Rahul Deshpande, Sr. Group Director, Informa Markets in India, highlighted Hyderabad and Telangana’s strategic importance to India’s pharmaceutical ecosystem, citing the region’s manufacturing capabilities, scientific talent and life sciences infrastructure.
The 19th edition of CPHI & PMEC India 2026 will be held across two venues in November. CPHI India will take place at IICC, Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, from November 23–25, 2026, while PMEC India will be held at IEML, Greater Noida, from November 24–26, 2026.
The event is supported by industry bodies including Pharmexcil, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA)and Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE).