India Pharma Sector Shifts Focus to Innovation-Driven Growth, Experts Say
New Delhi— India’s pharmaceutical industry, long anchored in strong manufacturing capabilities, is entering a new phase that will require greater investment, deeper collaboration, and an innovation-led approach to secure global leadership in advanced therapeutics, experts said on Tuesday.
The assessment came at the conclusion of the two-day India Pharma 2026, organised by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in association with FICCI and Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, which brought together more than 800 delegates and over 60 speakers across 10 sessions in New Delhi.
Officials and industry leaders said the sector’s next growth phase will be driven by three key enablers — funding, infrastructure, and speed — and stressed the need for coordinated action between government, industry, and academia.
Satyaprakash TL, Joint Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals, said discussions consistently highlighted the importance of aligning these priorities to strengthen India’s global competitiveness in the evolving pharmaceutical landscape.
Speakers also underlined the importance of expanding access to diversified funding sources to support sustained innovation. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, outlined a mixed funding model combining grants for academic and non-profit research with capital-based support for private-sector innovation.
The discussions also highlighted emerging financing mechanisms such as venture capital, private equity, blended finance, and public-private partnerships as critical tools for accelerating pharmaceutical growth.
In a plenary session focused on India’s long-term roadmap, participants called for a shift from incremental progress to bold, innovation-driven transformation. Winselow Tucker, Co-Chair of the FICCI Pharma Committee and senior executive at Eli Lilly and Company India, said the sector’s transformation will require a clear strategy supported by phased milestones.
Experts concluded that while India has built a strong pharmaceutical base, its next leap will depend on sustained innovation, stronger ecosystem integration, and strategic investment across the value chain. (Source: IANS)
