Smart proteins are on Karnataka’s radar
Last year, the Government of Karnataka released its Biotechnology Policy 2024–2029, outlining a comprehensive set of fiscal incentives, infrastructure support, and research backing for emerging biotech sectors. Our recent GFIdeas India webinar, featuring Parnika Pavanram and Dr. Yashaswini Balaraju, offered a detailed look at how this policy is set to transform the smart protein sector and why it presents a host of opportunities for startups and companies ready to engage.
This policy is one of the few that explicitly calls out smart protein as a priority area, sending a really promising signal for the industry. “Karnataka currently accounts for one-fifth of India’s bioeconomy, and as an outcome of this policy, by 2030, we hope to reach a one-third share,” remarked Parnika.
The policy, comprising six pillars, includes a comprehensive suite of financial incentives: 100% reimbursement of stamp duty, reduced registration charges, preferential land allotments, and interest subsidies—all designed to attract investment and encourage R&D. More importantly, there’s a push for streamlined approvals to simplify the administrative complexities that often wear down small, fast-moving startups.
“In fact, this is an outcome of some of the discussions that we have had with GFI India and even now the discussions are ongoing with large industry partners who are willing to invest some amount and also act as a technology support partner for establishing biomanufacturing facilities here in the state, which can be used as a facility available for startups.”
Parnika pavanram
Infrastructure bottlenecks, from access to food-grade labs and pilot production units to fermentation tanks, remain pressing challenges. However, the policy attempts to actively address these through public-private partnerships, infrastructure support, and capacity-building initiatives. As Parnika emphasised, these are not insurmountable hurdles but opportunities for collaboration between government, industry, and academia to build a robust, future-ready ecosystem.
The entrepreneurial lens
While the policy sets the stage, day-to-day realities often look different. That’s where Dr. Yashaswini Balaraju came in. A consultant in the fermentation-derived proteins space and co-founder of Mycovation, her work over the past few years has focused on mycelium technology and smart proteins—particularly fermentation-based products. She candidly reflected on the hurdles startups face, expressing how scaling from lab to pilot is still a major pain point, and the infrastructure needed to bridge that gap—from biosafety-certified facilities to food-grade biomanufacturing—is limited.
Acknowledging the increasing momentum of smart proteins, Dr. Balaraju emphasised that targeted programs—like infrastructure access, market entry facilitation, and regulatory support—will be critical to help innovators translate science into impact.
Scaling up smart protein
What emerged from the conversation was the resounding belief that the smart protein sector is indeed maturing. Karnataka’s progressive stance offers a model that could inspire state- and national-level strategies for smart protein development, demonstrating how fiscal incentives, regulatory clarity, and infrastructure support can work hand in hand. Now that Karnataka has put its weight behind smart protein, it’s up to startups, scientists, and policymakers to turn this intent into collaboration and growth.