Tata Chemicals Limited (TCL) on Tuesday said it partnered with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to launch TERI Centre of Excellence on Biochemicals that aims to develop cost-effective, innovative technologies for platform and specialty biochemicals from renewable first- and second-generation feedstocks. “India’s chemical industry is undergoing a transformative shift, from fossil-based production to sustainable biomanufacturing. The inauguration of the Centre of Excellence on Biochemicals is a step towards harnessing the power of biotechnology being explored for solutions of the future . The CoE will serve as a crucible for cutting-edge research, scalable technologies and skilled talent - paving the way for India to lead the global transition to green chemistry,” Tata Chemicals Managing Director and CEO R Mukundan said in a Statement.
The Centre’s initial research focus is on the low-cost, demonstration-scale production of 2,3-Butanediol, a versatile platform chemical with wide applications in plastics, polymers, pharmaceuticals, paints, food additives, rubber, and as a precursor for bio-jet fuel. “This Centre is more than a research facility, it is a biomanufacturing hub designed to bridge the gap between lab-scale innovation and commercial-scale production. By building expertise, infrastructure, and partnerships, we are laying the foundation for India’s leadership in sustainable biochemical production, aligned with the Government of India’s Bio-E ³ policy,” TERI Director General Dr Vibha Dhawan said.