Miltenyi Biotec India and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) have signed a strategic Letter of Intent (LOI) at the BIO International Convention 2025, in Boston.

The LOI outlines a multi-pronged collaboration aimed at propelling India’s capabilities in Cell and Gene therapy (CGT) by capacity building, advancing clinical research and solving unmet medical needs by local manufacturing of Cell Therapies.

Through this partnership, Miltenyi Biotec and BIRAC aim to build national capabilities and upskill scientific talent by implementing structured training and capacity-building programs for clinicians, researchers, and technicians in CGT manufacturing, analytics, and quality control.

It will also expand translational research efforts through co-development of academic and multi-centre studies, focusing on next-generation therapies to solve India’s unmet medical needs in malignancies, autoimmune diseases and rare diseases.

The partnership aims to establish Point-of-Care (PoC) CAR-T centres across India using automated manufacturing platforms such as Miltenyi’s CliniMACS Prodigy system, enabling cost-effective and scalable access to personalised CGT treatments.

The initiative will also promote targeted cell therapy research and support local innovation through the identification and mentoring of Indian startups. This aligns with the Make in India mission by enhancing domestic production of critical and manufacturing components, and by supporting the development of national CGT Centres of Excellence.

Commenting on the development, Priya Kapoor-Hingorani, Managing Director of Miltenyi Biotec India, said, “The potential of India draws us. Our partnership with BIRAC focuses on updating and upskilling scientists to strengthen the country’s scientific capabilities and infrastructure. Together, we’re exploring how to address current unmet needs in medical science, particularly in areas like autoimmune and rare diseases by enhancing access through innovative mechanisms such as point-of-care CAR-T and graft engineering.”

Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, BIRAC, said, “The government is signing this Letter of Intent with a multinational company renowned for its expertise in cell and gene therapy. India aspires to become a global leader in this space and achieving that goal requires a strong foundation of skilled manpower. Miltenyi has committed to supporting this vision by contributing to training and capacity building.”

The partnership represents a transformative moment for India’s CGT ecosystem, combining global technological expertise with public-sector commitment to build a sustainable infrastructure that benefits patients, empowers Indian innovators, and positions the country as a global hub for next-generation therapeutics.