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Karnataka has urged the Centre to establish a National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in the state, citing its strong pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem, skilled workforce, and robust research infrastructure.
The state has firmly asserted that going by its large number of pharmacy colleges, it should be a natural choice to host the premier institute and further accelerate capacity in drug research, innovation, and manpower development.
Such a move would strengthen advanced drug research and industry–academia collaboration while boosting the state’s role as a life sciences hub, said Karnataka industries and commerce minister, MB Patil in his communication to the Union health and family welfare minister J P Nadda.
Currently, India has seven NIPERs, set up as Institutes of National Importance to advance pharmaceutical education and research, with locations in Mohali (S.A.S. Nagar), Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Hajipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Raebareli. These autonomous bodies, under the ministry of chemicals & fertilizers, offer specialized postgraduate and doctoral programmes in various pharmaceutical fields.
Patil pointed out that the state is at the forefront of science and pharmaceutical research. It is also one among the top destinations for contract research and manufacturing, catering to the stringent global customer requirements. He assured that to this end the Karnataka government would promptly provide the necessary land, infrastructure support and opportunities for collaboration.
Further, a statement from the minister’s office has said that the Union government had earlier identified Karnataka as a potential location for the institute, but the proposal was not taken forward. He called on the Centre to reconsider the plan, pointing to the state’s deep pool of scientific research institutions and a thriving biotechnology and life sciences industry.
Highlighting Karnataka’s leadership in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and healthcare services, Patil noted that Bengaluru alone is home to over 400 biotechnology companies.
"The state is also home to globally recognised research institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platform (C-CAMP), Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) and the Jawaharlal Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JCASR), the Minister said, adding that the innovation in the sector is actively supported through the state government’s bio-innovation centre and a progressive biotechnology policy.
Also, the state had recently organised the 74th edition of the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress from December 19-21, 2025 at the BIEC which attracted leading Indian and global experts to share knowledge expertise and scout for collaborations.
With nearly 60 per cent of the country’s biotechnology companies based in Karnataka, the state accounts for about 12 per cent of India’s total pharmaceutical exports, the statement noted.
Karnataka also has a robust ecosystem for clinical research, medical device manufacturing, and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production. Taking all these factors into consideration, the minister urged the union government to sanction a NIPER for Karnataka.
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