Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh and UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Jonathan Reynolds co-chaired the 8th India-UK Science and Innovation Council (SIC) meeting in New Delhi on 12 October 2026. The two ministers jointly inaugurated the BRIC-CDFD-Oxford Nanopore Technologies India Genomics Centre of Excellence, a facility anchored at the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics in Hyderabad. The meeting also confirmed a fresh £3 million Indian investment in the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, set against a bilateral research portfolio worth more than £450 million since 2008.
What Was Announced at the 8th India-UK Science and Innovation Council Meeting?
The 8th India-UK Science and Innovation Council meeting produced a new genomics centre of excellence, a renewed neutron science partnership, and a decision to elevate the council itself to match the two countries’ growing science ambitions. The council is the apex bilateral body that reviews cooperation under the India-UK research framework and is co-chaired by the science ministers of both countries.
The Indian delegation included Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Sood, Department of Science and Technology (DST) Secretary Prof. Umesh Waghmare, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Secretary Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala, Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Chief Executive Officer Dr Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, and Technology Development Board Secretary Dr Rajesh Pathak. The UK side was led by Reynolds and included British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron, Deputy High Commissioner Ben Mellor, Interim Permanent Secretary Amanda Brooks, Trade Commissioner Harjinder Kang, and International Director Rhys Bowen.
Beyond the genomics centre, the council welcomed a UK-India Biomanufacturing Partnership between the UK’s Centre for Process Innovation and BRIC, aimed at scaling laboratory discoveries into manufacturing. It also launched a UK-India Technology Translation Partnership with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, which will connect UK Catapults with Indian science and technology clusters. A separate thematic analysis for the UK-India Research and Innovation Corridor identified seven shared themes and five priority opportunities.
The discussions covered artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cyber-physical systems, cybersecurity, space science, civil nuclear energy, advanced materials, semiconductors, telecommunications, and net-zero technologies. India briefed the UK side on its nuclear sector reforms under the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, and the two countries explored cooperation on small modular reactors and nuclear medicine.
What Is the BRIC-CDFD-ONT India Genomics Centre of Excellence?
The BRIC-CDFD-ONT India Genomics Centre of Excellence is a research and training hub that pairs India’s forensic and medical genomics expertise with Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ long-read sequencing platforms. It is hosted by BRIC-CDFD in Hyderabad and was formally inaugurated in New Delhi during the council meeting.
The centre rests on a collaboration between Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), its Hyderabad institute CDFD, and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), a UK-based sequencing company founded in 2005 and listed on the London Stock Exchange. The partnership builds on letters of intent signed in April 2025 and was flagged in the India-UK Joint Statement of October 2025.
Its stated research priorities are rare genetic diseases, cancer, and infectious disease surveillance. The centre will also work on newborn screening for maternal and child health, oral cancer genomics, antimicrobial resistance surveillance, and point-of-care diagnostics that can bring testing closer to patients.
BRIC-CDFD Director Prof. Ullas Kolthur-Seetharam said the collaboration would focus on training, capacity building, and translating genomic findings into practical health applications. ONT Chief Financial Officer Nick Keher described India as a long-term partner in genomics and health innovation.
The centre is designed to connect research institutions, industry, and innovation ecosystems in both countries. Its mandate includes technology transfer and commercialisation, so that sequencing tools developed through joint research reach Indian laboratories and clinics rather than remaining confined to a single campus.
What Is CDFD and Why Is DNA Fingerprinting Its Core Mandate?
CDFD is an autonomous research institute of the Department of Biotechnology, established in 1996 and based in Hyderabad. It provides forensic, wildlife, and plant DNA fingerprinting services, diagnoses genetic disorders, and conducts basic research in genetics and molecular biology. It now functions as an institute of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council.
The centre was conceptualised by Dr Lalji Singh, a pioneer of DNA fingerprinting in India, and began operations at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology before moving to its own campus. Its mandate covers civil cases such as paternity disputes and the exchange of newborns in hospitals, criminal investigation support, and training for police, forensic scientists, lawyers, and the judiciary.
CDFD’s laboratory of DNA fingerprinting services regularly handles cases referred by courts and law enforcement agencies. Its plant DNA fingerprinting unit has been used to verify Basmati rice samples and other crop varieties, an application with direct trade and export value. The centre also signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2014 for access to CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System used for profile matching.
Its National Genomics Core, set up with DBT support, provides end-to-end sequencing services to academia, startups, and industry. The core sequenced more than 11,000 SARS-CoV-2 whole genomes under the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), which made it a working node in India’s pandemic surveillance network.
What Is DNA Fingerprinting?
DNA fingerprinting, also called DNA profiling, identifies an individual from the pattern of repetitive sequences in their DNA. It was developed by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester in September 1984 after he detected highly variable minisatellite regions, known as variable number tandem repeats, in human DNA.
The technique exploits a simple fact: humans share more than 99.9 percent of their DNA, but the remaining fraction contains repetitive regions that vary greatly in length between individuals. Early profiling used multi-locus VNTR probes and Southern blotting. Modern forensic laboratories mostly use short tandem repeats (STRs), which are shorter, more sensitive, and suitable for degraded crime-scene samples.
Because a child inherits half of these repeat patterns from each parent, DNA fingerprinting can establish paternity and maternity, resolve immigration disputes, identify missing persons, and match suspects to biological evidence. It is also used in wildlife forensics, seed and crop authentication, and the study of genetic diversity. Identical twins are the only exception, as they share the same DNA profile.
How Does Nanopore Sequencing Work?
Nanopore sequencing reads DNA and RNA by measuring changes in electrical current as a single molecule passes through a tiny protein pore. Each base produces a characteristic current signature, which software converts into a sequence. The method reads native, unamplified molecules in real time and can handle very long fragments.
Thousands of nanopores sit in an electrically resistant membrane inside a flow cell, the consumable used by a sequencing device. During library preparation, a motor protein attaches to each nucleic acid molecule and controls how fast it moves through the pore. As the molecule threads through, sensors record the current, and basecalling algorithms translate the signal into letters of the genetic code.
The approach has several practical consequences. Read length is limited mainly by the length of the DNA or RNA sample, and ONT has demonstrated reads longer than four megabases. Native molecules can also be read without amplification, so chemical modifications such as methylation remain visible. Results emerge in real time as well, which suits outbreak response and clinical settings where speed matters.
Oxford Nanopore released its first commercial device, the MinION, in 2014. The company’s platforms now range from pocket-sized devices to high-throughput systems, and its technology is used in pathogen surveillance, antimicrobial resistance testing, rare disease diagnosis, and structural variant detection.
Nanopore Sequencing vs Illumina: Key Differences
| Feature | Nanopore sequencing | Illumina sequencing |
|---|---|---|
| Read length | Limited mainly by sample length; reads above 4 Mb demonstrated | Typically 50 to 300 bases |
| Detection method | Changes in ionic current through a protein pore | Fluorescent signals during sequencing by synthesis |
| Native molecules | Reads native DNA and RNA without amplification; detects base modifications | Usually requires amplification; methylation needs separate treatment |
| Best suited for | Structural variants, repetitive regions, real-time and field use | High-throughput, high-accuracy short-read sequencing |
| Main limitation | Higher cost per base and historically higher raw error rate | Weak at long repeats and large structural variants |
The two technologies are often complementary rather than competing. Short reads deliver high per-base accuracy and scale, while long reads resolve repetitive stretches and large rearrangements that short reads collapse or miss. Several clinical microbiology studies find that combining both gives the most complete genome assembly.
The Wider India-UK Science and Technology Framework
The genomics centre sits inside a much larger bilateral research architecture. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Government of India have jointly invested more than £450 million since 2008, supporting over 290 projects and 1,665 publications. Joint publications have increased by 238 percent since 2013 and are cited 120 percent above the global average.
That portfolio has grown from a modest start. Joint investment stood at roughly £1 million in 2008 and crossed £400 million by the early 2020s. The current phase is built on four overlapping agreements.
| Framework | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| India-UK Research and Innovation Memorandum of Understanding | 2023 | Connects government agencies, universities, research bodies, startups, and industry for long-term research collaboration |
| UK-India Technology Security Initiative | 2024 | Coordinates work on critical and emerging technologies such as AI, quantum, semiconductors, telecom, and biotechnology |
| India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement | 2025 | Trade agreement that also supports industrial and research collaboration |
| India-UK Vision 2035 | 2025 | Long-term roadmap covering growth, technology, defence, climate, and education |
The India-UK Vision 2035, endorsed by the two prime ministers in London on 24 July 2025, describes the relationship as a BRISK partnership built on Business, Research, Innovation, Science and technology, and Knowledge. It commits both countries to annual review by India’s External Affairs Minister and the UK’s Foreign Secretary.
UK Research and Innovation is the UK’s national funding agency, created in April 2018 by merging seven research councils with Research England and Innovate UK. It invests more than £9 billion of public money each year and is headquartered at Polaris House in Swindon. Its India office operates from the British High Commission in New Delhi.
The council also agreed to explore links between Russell Group universities and India’s Technology Innovation Hubs, and a partnership with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation to connect research with investment and scale-up. The new InnoXchange Programme will connect startups, incubators, and accelerators in both countries.
The ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Partnership
India will invest a further £3 million over five years in the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, extending a partnership that began more than four decades ago. The funding will expand access for Indian researchers, support early-career scientists, and strengthen work in advanced materials, physical sciences, and multidisciplinary research.
The ISIS Neutron and Muon Source is a world-leading centre for research in the physical and life sciences, located at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, part of UKRI, and runs a suite of 35 neutron and muon instruments used by more than 500 researchers.
The new Implementation Arrangement was signed during the council meeting by ISIS and the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), which acts on behalf of India’s Department of Science and Technology. JNCASR is an autonomous institution under DST, based in Bengaluru, and holds deemed university status.
The second phase starts on 1 November 2027 and runs for five years. It follows the first ISIS-JNCASR partnership, which supported Indian access from 2017 to 2023. During that period, the number of Indian users at ISIS rose substantially, with researchers arriving from across Indian states.
India’s connection to ISIS goes back to 1983, when it became the facility’s first international partner. Indian scientists contributed to the construction of the IRIS spectrometer, an instrument used for studying molecular and magnetic dynamics, through the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
What Is Neutron Scattering Used For?
Neutron scattering probes the structure and motion of atoms and molecules by firing neutrons at a sample and measuring how they scatter. It is used to study batteries, hydrogen storage, magnets, polymers, proteins, and other materials where X-rays struggle to reach light atoms or penetrate thick samples.
Because neutrons carry no electric charge, they interact with atomic nuclei rather than electron clouds. This makes them sensitive to hydrogen, a key element in water, fuels, and biological molecules. Muons, heavier cousins of electrons, provide complementary magnetic and chemical information.
The practical applications are closely tied to India’s energy and health priorities. Neutron studies support the development of better battery materials, hydrogen systems, superconductors, and drug delivery structures. For a country scaling up clean energy storage and advanced manufacturing, access to a facility of this kind is a research infrastructure advantage, not a symbolic exchange.
Why the Genomics Centre Matters for India
India’s genetic diversity is enormous, but its reference data has historically been thin. Most commercial genetic tests are built on European and American reference genomes, which means variants common in Indian populations can be missed or misclassified. A centre that sequences Indian samples on advanced platforms helps close that gap.
The GenomeIndia Project is the anchor of this effort. Approved in January 2020 and coordinated by 20 institutions, it sequenced the whole genomes of 10,000 individuals from 83 population groups and built a biobank of 20,000 samples. The data, covering more than 135 million genetic variants, was dedicated to researchers on 9 January 2025 and is archived at the Indian Biological Data Centre in Faridabad, with access governed by the Framework for Exchange of Data Protocols (FeED) and the BIOTECH-PRIDE guidelines.
Genomic medicine has direct public health uses. Newborn screening can catch treatable metabolic and genetic disorders before symptoms appear. Rare disease diagnosis can end years of inconclusive testing for families. Cancer genomics can guide therapy choices, and pathogen sequencing can track antimicrobial resistance and outbreaks.
The economic stakes are equally large. India’s bioeconomy grew from about $10 billion in 2014 to more than $130 billion by 2024, according to government estimates. The Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment (BioE3) Policy, approved in August 2024, aims to accelerate high-performance biomanufacturing across the country. BRIC, registered as a society in November 2023, consolidated 13 DBT autonomous institutions under one governing body to reduce duplication and improve translation.
The Regulatory Gap in Forensic DNA
India still lacks a dedicated national law for forensic DNA data. The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019 proposed a DNA Regulatory Board, accreditation for laboratories, and national and regional DNA data banks. It was examined by a parliamentary standing committee, which submitted its report in February 2021, and the bill was withdrawn in July 2023.
As a result, CDFD and other laboratories operate within a patchwork of court judgments, executive guidelines, and institutional protocols. A national framework would need to balance investigative use with privacy, consent, and the risk of misuse, especially for communities that are already over-represented in criminal justice systems. The genomics centre’s clinical and research work does not resolve that legal question, but it makes the technical capacity behind DNA evidence more visible.
Cost and skills remain practical constraints. Whole genome sequencing is becoming cheaper, yet clinical interpretation, genetic counselling, and follow-up care are still limited outside major cities. A centre of excellence can train technicians and clinicians, but equitable access will depend on district-level laboratory networks and public funding.
The Road Ahead for India-UK Science Cooperation
The immediate task is delivery. The ISIS phase begins in November 2027, the biomanufacturing partnership has a five-year framework to negotiate, and the technology translation partnership must turn laboratory work into products, patents, and pilots. The council’s decision to elevate its own status signals that both governments want the relationship to survive changes in leadership and funding cycles.
India’s research profile has changed sharply over the past decade. The country moved from 81st place in the Global Innovation Index in 2015 to 38th in 2025, and its science budget now supports missions in quantum, cyber-physical systems, geospatial mapping, deep oceans, and biomanufacturing. Those missions give UK partners a larger set of collaboration points than the older education and mobility programmes did.
For the UK, India offers scale, clinical samples, and a growing pool of researchers. For India, the UK offers access to instruments, standards, and commercial pathways that are difficult to build alone. The genomics centre and the ISIS partnership reflect that division of strengths.
The unresolved questions are familiar. Joint funding can produce publications without producing affordable products. Data sharing raises privacy concerns. Researcher mobility depends on visas. And the gap between a centre of excellence in Hyderabad and a primary health centre in a distant district remains wide. The next council meeting will be judged less on new announcements and more on whether these commitments reach laboratories, clinics, and manufacturers.
Key Takeaways
- The 8th India-UK Science and Innovation Council meeting was held in New Delhi on 12 October 2026, co-chaired by Dr Jitendra Singh and Jonathan Reynolds.
- The BRIC-CDFD-ONT India Genomics Centre of Excellence was inaugurated to advance research on rare diseases, cancer, and infectious disease surveillance, with the centre hosted at CDFD in Hyderabad.
- UKRI and India have jointly invested more than £450 million since 2008, supporting over 290 projects and 1,665 publications.
- India announced an additional £3 million over five years for Phase 2 of the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source partnership, which begins on 1 November 2027.
- CDFD, established in 1996 under the Department of Biotechnology, handles forensic DNA fingerprinting and hosts a National Genomics Core that sequenced more than 11,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes.
- The GenomeIndia Project sequenced 10,000 genomes from 83 population groups, and its data was dedicated to researchers on 9 January 2025.
