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India emerges as global hub of Global Capability Centers for life sciences: Report

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  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, September 2nd 2025 at 6:52 GMT by Daily
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India’s Rapid Rise as a Global Life‑Sciences Capability Hub

India’s life‑sciences sector is no longer just a regional powerhouse – it is fast becoming the world’s go‑to destination for global capability centers (GCCs). A recent industry report, released by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), shows that the country now hosts more than 30 % of the world’s life‑science GCCs and is projected to overtake the United States and the United Kingdom as the top region for outsourcing scientific, regulatory, and commercial services by 2026.

1. Why the shift to India?

Cost Efficiency and Talent Concentration
India’s pharma talent pool—estimated at 1.5 million skilled professionals—offers a mix of academic rigor and industry experience that is hard to match elsewhere. The average cost of a life‑science researcher in India is 45 % lower than in the U.S. and 30 % lower than in Europe, yet the quality of training remains comparable, thanks to world‑class institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), and the University of Hyderabad.

Regulatory Alignment and Intellectual Property Protection
The Indian regulatory framework, led by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), is increasingly aligning with the FDA and EMA guidelines. This alignment, coupled with strong intellectual‑property laws and the growing number of IP‑friendly technology parks, has made India a comfortable environment for companies that need to safeguard proprietary data.

Infrastructure and Ecosystem Growth
India’s pharma parks—such as the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), the BioTech Valley in Chennai, and the Pune Science Hub—provide world‑class facilities and a ready ecosystem of suppliers, contract research organisations (CROs), and contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs). The government’s “Make in India” initiative, coupled with state‑level incentives, has accelerated the development of these hubs.

2. Key Players and Case Studies

Roche
Roche has established a GCC in Bengaluru that handles both analytical services and early‑phase research. According to Roche’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Anil Gupta, “India’s talent base allows us to run phase‑I safety trials more efficiently while maintaining stringent quality controls.”

Pfizer
Pfizer’s India hub, located in Hyderabad, provides regulatory affairs support and manages clinical trial logistics for both domestic and global programmes. The site’s success is largely attributed to the collaborative partnership with the Hyderabad Life‑Sciences Consortium, which offers access to state‑of‑the‑art imaging facilities and a shared biobank.

Novartis
Novartis’ capability centre in Mumbai focuses on pharmacokinetics (PK) modelling and data analytics. The centre’s data‑driven approach has cut down modelling time by 35 % compared with traditional methods, accelerating the pipeline of new molecular entities.

Serum Institute of India
While the Serum Institute is traditionally known for vaccine manufacturing, it has recently opened a GCC for biologics development, leveraging its vast experience in GMP facilities and its partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

3. Numbers That Speak

These figures, derived from the CII/FICCI report, underscore India’s rapid ascent and the accelerating momentum in the life‑science domain.

4. Challenges on the Horizon

Talent Shortages in Specialized Areas
While India has a broad base of general scientists, niche fields such as synthetic biology, bioinformatics, and advanced imaging still suffer from a shortage of highly specialised talent. The report recommends that both industry and academia invest in up‑skilling programmes and industry‑aligned curricula.

Data Governance and Cybersecurity
As more GCCs handle sensitive clinical data, India must strengthen its data‑privacy laws and cyber‑security infrastructure. Companies are already adopting ISO 27001 and GDPR‑aligned practices to reassure partners.

Regulatory Bottlenecks
Although regulatory alignment has improved, the CDSCO’s review timelines can still be unpredictable, especially for novel biologics. The report suggests the creation of fast‑track pathways similar to the FDA’s “Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy” (RMAT) designation.

5. Looking Forward

The CII/FICCI report projects that by 2026 India will host 35 % of global life‑science GCCs, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12 % in new capability‑center openings. The country’s strategic location, bilingual workforce, and growing emphasis on data analytics position it as a prime partner for global pharma, biotech, and diagnostics companies.

Industry leaders are already taking note. The upcoming Life‑Science Leaders Forum, slated for November 2025 in Bengaluru, will convene senior executives from companies like Johnson & Johnson, GSK, and Amgen to discuss collaborative research pathways and new GCC investment opportunities in India.

Take‑away

India’s ascendance as a global life‑science capability hub is not a fluke but a carefully orchestrated convergence of cost advantage, talent depth, regulatory maturity, and infrastructure development. For multinational companies looking to accelerate research, reduce development timelines, and tap into a skilled workforce, India is no longer an alternative—it’s the preferred destination.