Today, Biology is Technology. How Can India Benefit from this Transformation?
Thanks to exponential technologies, biology is technology. How does India stand to benefit from this transformation?
That question was the focus of my recent keynote at the 2023 NASSCOM Leadership & Technology Forum. This hybrid event brought together thousands of Asia’s changemakers to grapple with the challenges and opportunities of building better futures with technology over the next decade.
From the stage in Mumbai, I highlighted just a few of the major ways that climate change is going to negatively impact India in the near future. Droughts, floods, fires, infectious disease, catastrophic weather events—these stressors and more will directly affect India, from individuals to organizations to communities to the nation. While India is not unique in this regard, the world’s most populous country also continues to face widespread poverty and inequality, despite some advances in recent decades.
Biotechnologies therefore stand to greatly benefit India as they become increasingly safe, effective, and accessible. Here are just a few examples of important initiatives gaining traction today:
💡 Regulatory guidelines are being reassessed for gene editing of plants, with the goal of more productive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture
💡 More than 60 bio-incubators around India are supporting entrepreneurship in biotechnology
💡 New analyses are suggesting ways to conserve India’s stunning biodiversity while supporting sustainable development
💡 At the government level, explicit calls are being made for a sustainable and circular Indian bioeconomy that supports industry and socioeconomic development while also protecting the environment—with these goals built into systems and processes from the ground up.
Excitingly, India’s bioeconomy has been projected to double by 2030, to USD $300 billion annually. Healthcare certainly stands to benefit. But so do industries including agriculture, energy, construction, and textiles. That list is only going to get longer as innovators combine biotechnologies with other exponential technologies for convergent applications.
Digital infrastructure is key for the development, deployment, iteration, and secure maintenance of these new products and services. That’s why I was thrilled at the opportunity to join the Leadership & Technology Forum in Mumbai—to encourage Asia’s tech leaders to broaden their vision to include biotechnologies.
Building the future is a daunting task. The world needs leaders—across industries—who are excited to think big. The best part of my job is meeting those changemakers around the globe!
Do you or your organization want to help build the best possible future? Check out my website to learn more about ways we can work together. Or send me a message, and let’s talk!
About Tiffany
Dr. Tiffany Vora speaks, writes, and advises on how to harness technology to build the best possible future(s). She is an expert in biotech, health, & innovation.
For a full list of topics and ways to collaborate, visit Tiffany’s Work Together webpage.
Donate = Impact
After a 19-day voyage to Antarctica aboard The Island Sky in November 2023, Tiffany has many remarkable stories to share & a wealth of insights to catalyze a sustainable future.
You can support her ongoing journey by making a contribution through her donation page. Your support will spread positive impact around the world, empower Tiffany to protect time for impact-focused projects, and support logistical costs for pro bono events with students & nonprofits.