Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO and Director of India’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) explains how they enable innovations, using the power of science and technology to solve critical societal problems. From empowering early-stage startups in agri and environment to catalyzing national health initiatives, they are redefining how life sciences innovation can scale for global impact.

Building India’s Life Sciences Powerhouse

With over 500 supported startups and a footprint touching 50 million lives, C-CAMP brings deep-tech expertise, infrastructure, and policy alignment to the ANDE network.

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) has emerged as one of India’s most significant life sciences and deep-tech innovation hubs. Backed by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, C-CAMP is driving transformative change across health, agriculture, and environmental sectors—nurturing a bio-innovation ecosystem that delivers not just promise, but measurable impact.

Over the past decade, C-CAMP has funded, incubated, and advanced more than 500 startups, collectively raising over US$550 million in capital and achieving a combined valuation of approximately $1.6 billion. Their impact goes beyond financial metrics—over 100 life sciences products have reached the market, 230+ patents have been filed, and more than 50 million people have benefited from their supported technologies.

C-CAMP has had an impressive impact over the years. How would you describe the role C-CAMP plays in India’s innovation ecosystem?

C-CAMP was created with a mission to strengthen innovation in life sciences by removing the barriers that early-stage scientists and entrepreneurs face. We’re not just a conventional incubator—we’re an enabler and catalyst. Our approach combines deep science with scalable business thinking, and that’s how we’ve supported over 500 startups across healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sectors.

We provide them with funding, expert mentorship, access to advanced technology platforms, and critical infrastructure. This ecosystem has allowed these innovators to collectively raise over $550 million and reach a valuation of around $1.6 billion. But more importantly, their innovations have touched the lives of over 50 million people.

What are the core pillars of support that C-CAMP provides to early-stage ventures?

Our model is built around three main pillars:

• Nurturing Innovations – We provide seed funding, incubation, and targeted acceleration programs. We also support IP protection and tech transfer, helping researchers turn ideas into market-ready products.
• Developing Technologies – Through our Discovery to Innovation Accelerator, we help transform cutting-edge academic research into technologies that industry can adopt. We ensure scientific value aligns with real-world applicability.
• Technology Platforms – Our state-of-the-art facilities offer entrepreneurs and researchers access to high-end instrumentation—such as mass spectrometry, microscopy, and genomics—along with the expertise to use them effectively.
  

Together, these elements allow scientists and entrepreneurs to move from discovery to delivery.

 C-CAMP seems deeply involved in public-sector collaboration. What recent initiatives reflect this?

We’ve been proud to partner with various government bodies on initiatives that scale innovation for public good.

For example, we recently launched the C-CAMP–AHT Centre of Excellence for Sustainability & Climate Action in partnership with Ashraya Hastha Trust. This is part of our Bio for Climate Program, which focuses on biotech solutions to pressing climate challenges.

We’re also working with the Government of Tamil Nadu to strengthen the state’s public health system. These are not just pilots—they’re platforms for long-term collaboration where philanthropy, government, and innovation come together to deliver health solutions at scale.

Additionally, under Karnataka’s WEscalate initiative, we’ve launched WE-BIO to support and scale women-led life sciences startups—a crucial step toward making the innovation ecosystem more inclusive.

 What’s next for C-CAMP? What opportunities are you seeking within the ANDE network?

We’re at a pivotal point in our journey. Our immediate goal is to expand our reach—both in terms of geographies and partnerships. The ANDE network offers a great platform for this. We’re particularly looking to engage with:

• Global funders interested in supporting life sciences innovation with proven models of public-private collaboration.
• Impact-focused partners who can help us translate science into scalable social outcomes.
• Experts in measurement and evaluation, so we can better articulate our impact story.

We’re also keen to co-create initiatives that integrate climate resilience, digital health, diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance, and agri-tech—spaces where we already have strong traction.

 And what does C-CAMP bring to the table for ANDE members?

We offer access to one of India’s most robust and proven deep-tech innovation ecosystems. ANDE members can tap into our infrastructure, scientific mentorship, and policy connections to accelerate their own missions.

We also have experience in managing large-scale public funding and philanthropic programs, which could be highly valuable for international collaborations. Whether it’s co-developing new solutions, entering the Indian market, or scaling innovations globally—we believe our platform can help amplify everyone’s impact.