Dr. Renu Swarup

Former Secretary,  Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India

Dr Renu Swarup, is the Former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. Having served in Department of Biotechnology for over 30 years, she  was also the  Chairperson of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC),  She  also held the Additional Charge of  Secretary Department of Science &Technology for a short period .

A PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding, She  did her Post Doctoral Research at The John Innes Centre, Norwich UK, Dr. Renu Swarup has been instrumental in the planning and implementation of some major National programmes. As a Science Manager issues related to policy planning and implementation were a part of her assignment. She was actively engaged in the formulation of National Biotechnology Vision and Strategy in 2001, 2007 and 2015and 2021.She  was also a member of the Task Force on Women in Science constituted by the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister.

As the Secretary of Government of India, Department of Biotechnology, she led  a Network of 16 Autonomous Research Institutes, 2 Public Sector Undertaking and a R&D Network of more than 5000 projects across more than 100 research institutes, Universities and Laboratories. In the recent COVID Pandemic situation she  led the COVID Vaccine ,Diagnostic and Genome sequencing Mission. The Public Sector BIRAC, for which she was  the founding Managing Director and then  Chairperson, has supported more than 5000  Startups and over 60 Incubators

A Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (NASI) India, 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. “National Entrepreneurship Awards 2017”, TiE Women Enabler Award 2018, “Dr. P. Sheel Memorial Award” 2018 by NASI and the TWAS Regional Office Prize on Science Diplomacy in 2018. She has been awarded the Agriculture Research Leadership Award 2019, Smt. Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel VASVIK Award for Women Scientific & Chemical science & Technology  2020-21,Life Time Achievement Award for Biotech Policy maker—2021 by Golden Jubilee Women Biotech Park .She was also awarded the Y BChavan National Award 2021 for her National contribution .She was also recognised as Business world women 2019 & 2020