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What is BioFoundry?
A foundry is a specialized industrial facility that converts designs into scalable, repeatable products using standardized processes and shared infrastructure. It is an integrated, automated, high-throughput ecosystem that designs, builds, tests, and iteratively improves biological systems using robotics, computational tools, and standardized biological workflows.
The Full BioFoundry Tool Stack has four interdependent layers:
  1. Digital Design Tools: AI models for sequence design and optimization, Quantum or classical molecular simulations, Pathway and network modelling, In silico safety and manufacturability screening
  1. Genetic Engineering Tools: Vector and chassis design libraries, Long DNA synthesis (kb–Mb scale), Modular DNA assembly systems, Genome editing and rewriting platforms, Standardized regulatory parts (promoters, terminators, switches). These are the “compilers” of biology—they translate digital designs into physical biological code.
  1. Automation and Robotics: Liquid handling and microfluidics, High-throughput transformation and expression, Automated culturing and fermentation, Integrated analytics and QC
  1. Measurement and Learning Tools: Omics pipelines (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics), Biosensors and high-throughput assays, AI-driven data interpretation and feedback
Evolution of the Bioresearch and Innovation Ecosystem
By industrializing the biological design and implementation process, BioFoundries convert biology from a slow, artisanal science into a scalable engineering approach supporting diverse applications
Scope of the Global Quantum BioFoundry
Vision
To establish a Global Quantum BioFoundry as a trusted, world-class ecosystem that integrates quantum computing, artificial intelligence, biological standards, biotechnology, engineering and biomanufacturing to rapidly design, validate, and deliver scalable biological solutions for social impact
Objectives
The overall objective is to provide an ecosystem that delivers 'quantum-in-biology' and 'quantum-for-biology', supported by AI, and validation platforms
1. Access to Biology, AI, and Quantum Bridge
  1. Enable rapid, automation-driven discovery by integrating quantum computing, AI, automation, and wet-lab experimentation into a continuous innovation loop, significantly reducing the time, cost, and failure rates of biological design and development.
  1. Create a globally accessible platform that lowers barriers to entry for governments, industry, startups, and research institutions by providing shared access to advanced computational and experimental capabilities.
  1. Support the development of next-generation therapeutics, diagnostics, enzymes, materials, and climate-relevant biological solutions that enhance global health security, environmental sustainability, and supply-chain robustness.
2. Access to an Agile innovation ecosystem
  1. Embed ethics, biosafety, and biosecurity into the core architecture of the BioFoundry through security-by-design, transparent governance, and responsible openness, ensuring trust and international confidence.
  1. Advance inclusive innovation by prioritizing access to tools, platforms, standards, and skills, thereby avoiding technological concentration and supporting balanced global development.
3. Support for Entrepreneurship and Scalable Growth
  1. Accelerate commercialization through structured pathways, including licensing, co-development, startup formation, and so on, enabling industry to translate scientific advances into scalable economic and societal impact.
4. Providing accelerators for Global Visibility
  1. Contribute to the development of international standards, interoperability frameworks, and governance norms for quantum-enabled biotechnology, supporting predictable, trusted, and collaborative global innovation ecosystems.
  1. Serve as a Platform for Science Diplomacy Act as a neutral, credible hub for international collaboration, joint missions, and capacity-building—strengthening scientific cooperation and fostering constructive engagement across geopolitical boundaries.
Strategic Foundational Group
The Global Quantum BioFoundry initiative has been shaped by a distinguished group of experts representing diverse domains of excellence. This collaborative leadership brings together quantum technology specialists, biotechnology innovators, engineering leaders, and industry pioneers to ensure comprehensive strategic guidance.
Quantum Technology
L Venkat Subramaniam, Quantum India
Sesha Raghunathan, IBM
Sai Shankar, Qclairvoyance
Quantum-AI Computing
Sridhar CV, TCS,
Rajgopal Srinivasan, TCS
Santosh G, NovaQ
Jnan Yalla, IQ Leap & RGUKT
Sanjay Chittore Quantum AI Global
Krishna Kishore Dhara, Bourntec
N D Raghuram, Jocil Ltd.
Riyaz Syed, Centella AI
Government & Foundations
Andhra Government, Amaravati
Ratan Tata Innovation Hub, Amaravati
Academia
Dr Amarendra K. Sandra,
Registrar, RGUKT
Dr U Pavani, Coordinator,
Quantum Innovation Cell, RGUKT
Dr. P Shyam, Dean, EITP, RGUKT
Mr. K Nikhil Teja, Quantum Innovation Cell, RGUKT
Chemistry & Materials
Anthony Addlagatta, CSIR, IICT
Praveen Kumar, BARC Mumbai
M. Venkateswara Rao, IIChE
Biological Standards & Factory
Pawan K Dhar, CVJ Centre Kochi
Biomedical Engineering
Aarat Kalra, IIT Delhi & AIIMS New Delhi
Hospitals & Pharma
Venu babu Gairuboina,
Blue Jet Healthcare
Swaroop V, Rhizen Pharmaceuticals
Bioinformatics
Agri Industry
Enzyme Industry
Startups
Santosh G, NovaQ
Bioethics and Security
IP and Commercialisation
Automation
Systems Biology
Pawan K Dhar
Synthetic Biology
Pawan K Dhar
Biotechnology
The Global Quantum BioFoundry is not merely as a national project, but as a platform for global collaboration and collective leadership in shaping the future of biological innovation—one that is innovative, responsible, and shared
Establishing the Next Gen Technology Ecosystem
The merging of quantum technology and biology also addresses two major challenges in science and industry. First, classical computing is approaching the physical limits of Moore’s Law, as transistor sizes get smaller. Second, the life sciences operate under “Eroom’s Law” (Moore’s Law spelled backwards), which states that the cost of developing new medicines roughly doubles every 9 years. Despite advancements in biotechnology, drug discovery remains slow and often too expensive. Combining quantum mechanics and biological engineering offers a way to overcome both issues simultaneously. By using quantum computing and AI in biology, we can accelerate discovery and reduce costs, effectively reversing Eroom’s law. This fusion of technologies represents one of the most important economic opportunities of the 21st century, with the potential to transform industries from pharmaceuticals to materials science.
India’s Strategic Quantum BioFoundry Initiative
For India, establishing leadership in this emerging intersection of quantum biology is not just a scientific goal but also a strategic imperative. India currently holds a crucial position in the global bioeconomy as a top producer of vaccines and generic pharmaceuticals. The country has a large pool of digital talent and engineering expertise, as seen in the information technology sector and space and defense programs. However, India has yet to fully harness precision bio-design and translational capabilities for global impact. The GQB is poised to become a hub for future economic growth and strategic influence. In this context, the emerging “Amaravati Quantum Valley” in Andhra Pradesh represents India’s bold effort to shift from a cost-effective manufacturing hub to a global leader in delivering compute-intensive outcomes.
Four Pillars of Leadership
(i) Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing: a crucial foundation in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and biotech manufacturing capable of quickly expanding discoveries to industrial production.
(ii) Digital and Automation: A strong multidisciplinary team of software engineers, data scientists, and computational specialists focused on digital workflows, automation, AI-driven analytics, and quantum-enabled computing to support data-intensive biological and chemical research.
(iii) Mission-Mode Track Record: a history of successfully completing ambitious, complex projects (e.g., the Aadhaar national digital ID program and low-cost space missions) by mobilizing government, academia, and industry in “mission mode.”
(iv) Responsible Global Leadership: a reputation for leading in equitable and responsible innovation – from pharmaceutical access to climate action – positioning India to spearhead international efforts that balance scientific progress with ethical and security considerations.
A National Platform with Global Alignment
India’s Quantum BioFoundry initiative aligns with and is supported by national policy frameworks, ensuring it has the necessary momentum and resources. It complements the new BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment, approved in 2024), which aims to double the country’s bioeconomy by 2030 through sustainable biomanufacturing. By aligning with these missions, the Amaravati BioFoundry will accelerate the development of quantum-powered biological components and processes for global use.
The geopolitical stakes are high. Just as control over oil or semiconductor technology conferred strategic power in earlier times, the coming decades may be defined by mastery of advanced biotech and production pipelines. Quantum-AI-powered BioFoundries will be crucial to economic and strategic competition; countries that excel in designing and manufacturing new biological products on demand will shape global markets and standards. The Amaravati GQB is India’s response to this urgent need—an investment in sovereign deep-tech infrastructure that also benefits the global community by increasing diversity and capacity within the world’s bio innovation ecosystem.
The Hub-and-Spoke Model
Headquartered in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh the Global Quantum BioFoundry is designed as a worldwide collaborative network utilizing a hub-and-spoke model. The central facility (the Amaravati hub) will connect with numerous “spoke” laboratories at universities, industry R&D centers, and startups across India and internationally. This distributed network enables researchers and companies worldwide to access the BioFoundry’s resources – from quantum computing time to robotic wet-lab systems – accelerating their projects and delivering solutions at an unprecedented pace. The Amaravati initiative also aspires to serve as a global exemplar of innovative governance. Its hub-and-spoke network will operate within frameworks that judiciously balance transparency and security, thereby ensuring that research findings and benefits are shareable internationally without jeopardizing safety or intellectual property rights.
Infrastructure to Accelerate Innovation
The core of the Amaravati Global Quantum BioFoundry will feature a remarkable integration of hardware and software—a physical and digital infrastructure meticulously designed to shorten timelines for biological innovation. The Amaravati Quantum Valley intends to accommodate IBM Quantum computing systems, which will be directly connected to industrial-scale automated laboratories and advanced engineering facilities. By closely integrating computational capabilities with high-throughput experimentation, the BioFoundry will enable rapid iteration through design-build-test cycles that traditionally require months or years for biotechnology firms. Consequently, the design-build-test process for new bio-based products will become significantly faster and more predictable. Such acceleration not only facilitates a quicker time-to-market for innovations but also enhances the capacity to explore more ideas, enabling the testing of hypotheses that would be impractical with manual methods.
Governance and Strategic Autonomy
To ensure the success of this ambitious initiative, the Global Quantum BioFoundry is being organized under a “Triple Helix” governance model that brings together government, industry, and academia in a dynamic partnership. A steering council, with representatives from all three sectors, will oversee BioFoundry’s programs, ensuring flexibility and alignment with national priorities. A core principle guiding this effort is strategic autonomy—the idea that India and, participating nations should develop critical technological capabilities independently. In practice, this means building indigenous expertise in quantum hardware and software, biotechnology, and automation.
A Call to Action for Building a Shared Future
We call on forward-thinking governments, industry leaders, and researchers worldwide to engage with this initiative. Whether through collaborative research, investment, or policy support, such engagement will amplify the BioFoundry’s impact and ensure that the benefits of quantum-enabled biotechnology are shared widely. The future will belong to those who collaborate in innovation. The imperative to act is immediate – to adopt this quantum computing revolution and to steer it in accordance with our utmost principles of equity, sustainability, and security. Let us craft a collective, global future in which quantum-enabled biotechnology benefits humanity, and let India’s Quantum BioFoundry serve as a catalyst and partner in this endeavour.