Herbalife International India Pvt. Ltd., in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), celebrated the launch of the Herbalife-IIT Madras Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology. The first dedicated facility for translational research and innovation in plant cell fermentation, the center is expected to serve as a hub for innovation and research and development as the two entities work to strengthen India’s capabilities in sustainable biomanufacturing and the development of next-generation plant-derived health and wellness products.
Through the scalable production of herbal biomass and the development of enriched herbal extracts and high-value phytochemicals, the center will serve to connect lab discoveries and commercial uses.
“IIT Madras’ partnership with Herbalife and the establishment of Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation is an exemplar of how industry and academia can work together to build enduring assets for the nation,” said Professor Ashwin Mahalingam, IIT Madras Dean, Alumni and Corporate Relations. “With the high-end research facilities at the Centre, we are now confident to push the boundaries of plant cell bioprocessing to translate into solutions for societal impact. We believe this center will not only strengthen India’s self-reliance in sustainable bio-manufacturing, but also create new opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and global leadership in next-generation plant-derived products.”
The center will seek to promote technology transfer and entrepreneurship, as well as build skilled workers, by integrating advanced upstream cultivation systems with state-of-the-art downstream processing and metabolomics platforms, and endeavor to create entrepreneurial spinoffs as it works to position India as a global leader in commercial plant cell fermentation and environmentally sustainable biomanufacturing.
“The establishment of the Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology represents an important investment in building scientific capabilities for the future,” said Mr. Ajay Khanna, Herbalife India Managing Director. “Through this initiative, we aim to create opportunities for researchers, students, and innovators to explore new applications of plant-based technologies and contribute to advancements in nutrition science. We believe the Centre will serve as a catalyst for knowledge exchange, talent development, and research-driven innovation, helping bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and practical industry applications.”
