Secretary for Department of Biotechnology Ministry of Science & Technology and Chairperson, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council

Dr. Renu Swarup is presently Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, having served in Department of Biotechnology for nearly 29 years. She was appointed a Secretary to Government of India on 10th April, 2018. She also holds the position of Chairperson, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Public Sector Company incorporated by the Government to nurture and promote innovation research in the Biotech Enterprise with special focus on Start-ups and SMEs.

A PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding, Dr.RenuSwarup completed her Post Doctoral at The John Innes Centre, Norwich UK, under Commonwealth Scholarship and returned to India to take up the assignment of a Science Manager in the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, GoI, in 1989. As a Science Manager issues related to policy planning and implementation were a part of her assignment. She was actively engaged in formulation of the Biotechnology Vision in 2001, National Biotechnology Development Strategy in 2007 and Strategy II, 2015-20 as the Member Secretary of the Expert Committee.

Dr. Renu Swarup has also been closely involved in Programmes and activities related to Bioresource development and utilization, Energy Sciences and Women & Science. She was also a member of the Task Force on Women in Science constituted by the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister.

She has earlier held charge as Managing Director, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Public Sector Company incorporated by the Government of India till she took over the charge of Chairperson, BIRAC and Secretary, DBT. Through Biotechnology translational research and industry academia partnerships she has supported more than 1000 Startups and Entrepreneurs, and nearly 500 small companies for innovation research and product development.

A Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (NASI) India.She is also a Member of Governing Body of National Institutes, Universities and Centers. A Life Member of Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) and a Member of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), she was awarded the “BioSpectrum Person of the Year Award” in 2012. She also received the “National Entrepreneurship Awards 2017” - Special Jury recognition Award for Government Mentor from Ministry of Skill Development. She was awarded TiEWomENABLER Award 2018. She was also awarded the prestigious “Dr. P. Sheel Memorial Lecture Award” 2018 by NASI and the TWAS Regional Office Prize on Science Diplomacy in 2018