The Embassy of Belgium and the Honorary Consul General of Belgium in Hyderabad, G.V. Prasad, in collaboration with members of the Belgian Life Sciences cluster and Telangana Life Sciences, organised the Indo-Belgian Life Sciences Conference in Hyderabad. Over 200 participants, including researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from India and Belgium, convened to address global healthcare challenges and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Discussions at the conference covered vaccine trials, highlighting India’s unique and large birth cohort as ideal for research. The significance of AI-driven tools and upstream development in life sciences was emphasised. Medical device industry growth, MedTech parks, and frugal innovations such as medical isotopes were identified as areas of focus. In biotech, the need for clear regulations, public or philanthropic funding, and effective academia-industry collaboration was underscored. The participants prioritised infrastructure, skills, and partnerships to strengthen the sector.
His Excellency Didier Vanderhasselt, Ambassador of Belgium to India, emphasised the potential of partnerships between the two nations. “Belgium’s expertise in life sciences, combined with India’s manufacturing capabilities, can transform global healthcare, ensuring both innovation and wider accessibility,” he said. He described Belgium as a hub for research institutions, a leading exporter of pharmaceuticals in Europe, and a key destination for clinical trials. Vanderhasselt highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration, likening it to the repetitive nature of vaccine doses for long-term impact.
G.V. Prasad, Honorary Consul of Belgium and Co-Chairman and MD of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, noted the benefits of combining Belgium’s advanced R&D with India’s scalability. “This partnership combines Belgium’s advanced R&D with India’s ability to scale, enabling the creation of affordable and sustainable healthcare innovations,” he said. He highlighted India’s exploration of new innovation frontiers and Belgium’s role in providing expertise and access to clinical specimens.
Telangana’s role in global healthcare was a recurring theme. D. Sridhar Babu, Minister for IT, Electronics and Communications, Industries, and Commerce, welcomed participants to Hyderabad, praising the state’s contributions to healthcare innovation. Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, and Shakthi Nagappan, Director of Life Sciences, detailed Telangana’s advancements in life sciences, digital health, and support for startups and incubators.
Prominent speakers, including experts from Bharat Biotech, the Serum Institute of India, and the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, discussed strategies for collaboration. Their insights emphasised India and Belgium’s roles as key players in life sciences and the potential for cooperation to drive healthcare innovation globally.
H.E. Jeroen Cooreman, Director General for Bilateral Affairs, Belgian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, closed the event by thanking participants and stressing the need for sustained collaboration to address global healthcare challenges. He expressed optimism for future partnerships between India and Belgium, marking the conference as the beginning of broader cooperative efforts in life sciences.