Introduction
Bangalore's biotechnology sector has rapidly evolved into a key pillar of India's bioeconomy. Often called the "Silicon Valley of India," the city now marries its IT prowess with cutting-edge life sciences, giving rise to a thriving cluster of biotech companies in Bangalore. Karnataka's capital is home to industry pioneers and innovative startups alike – from Asia's first methane-to-protein startup to India's largest genomic sequencing lab. These firms benefit from strong academic institutions (like IISc and NCBS), government-supported biotech parks, and a deep talent pool. As a result, Bangalore contributes significantly to India's booming biotech industry, valued at over $92 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $150 billion by 2025. Equally important, many local ventures leverage digital R&D tools (such as Scispot's Lab Operating System) to streamline workflows and accelerate innovation. In this article, we highlight the top 8 biotech companies in Bangalore – including both homegrown ventures and global players with major R&D centers – and examine how they are shaping the future of biotech.
Top 8 Biotech Companies in Bangalore
String Bio
String Bio is an industrial biotech company turning greenhouse gases into value-added products. Founded in 2013, String Bio leverages synthetic biology to convert methane into protein and other high-value materials, addressing sustainability and climate change by creating a carbon-negative manufacturing platform. Its proprietary String Integrated Methane Platform (SIMP) uses engineered microbes to produce animal feed proteins, agricultural biostimulants, and specialty ingredients using a fraction of the resources required by traditional methods. The company has developed a strong IP-protected platform that enables production of high quality ingredients using methane. String Bio focuses on manufacturing raw materials for Animal Nutrition, Agriculture, Human Nutrition and Personal Care sectors that are derived using a sustainable and traceable process. Backed by major investors like Woodside Energy (Australia) and Dare Ventures (the VC arm of Coromandel International), String Bio has secured significant funding to support its growth. By converting waste methane into useful products, String Bio exemplifies the best biotech companies in Bangalore that marry cutting-edge science with environmental impact.
Cambrian Bioworks
Cambrian Bioworks builds products and applications for the Diagnostics and life sciences sectors. Founded in 2020, this startup develops integrated platforms for genomic testing and molecular diagnostics, bringing precision medicine tools to more labs. Cambrian's solutions are used in various areas including diagnostic devices and diagnostic reagents, combining wet-lab chemistry with robotics and smart engineering. The company's engineering prowess enables it to develop automated systems that streamline laboratory workflows and improve efficiency. Based in Peenya industrial area in Bangalore, Cambrian Bioworks has positioned itself as an innovative player in the biotech space with expertise in areas like bioprocessing, liquid handling systems, automation, and fluidics devices. With its focus on building practical solutions for diagnostic laboratories, Cambrian Bioworks stands out among the top biotech companies in Bangalore, enabling labs to adopt automation for faster, more reliable diagnostics.
Azooka Labs
Azooka Labs is a niche biotech startup focused on safe fluorescence dyes and genomic reagents. Founded in 2016 at the Indian Institute of Science, Azooka set out to eliminate the carcinogenic chemicals traditionally used in DNA labs. The company focuses on redefining genomic workflow kits through sustainable manufacturing, offering a wide range of DNA and RNA sample collection kits, as well as sample processing and Eco-fluor based quantification kits. Azooka is positioning itself as a viable alternative to genomics solutions currently dominated by US-based companies. Its products emphasize non-toxic, food-grade ingredients, addressing a long-standing safety concern in molecular biology workflows. With locations at the Indian Institute of Science Road and Peenya Industrial Estate, Azooka has established itself in Bangalore's biotech ecosystem. This homegrown venture – a biotech company in Bangalore redefining lab safety – exemplifies the city's unique blend of biotech and materials science entrepreneurship.
Mestastop Solutions
Mestastop Solutions is a deep-science startup addressing one of the biggest challenges in oncology: cancer metastasis. Based at the Bangalore BioInnovation Centre, Mestastop focuses exclusively on metastasis – the spread of tumor cells to distant organs, which is responsible for 90% of cancer deaths. The company has developed proprietary platforms to model and measure metastasis in ways never done before. Its METAssay®, METSCAN®, and METVivo® platforms are designed to address metastasis drug discovery and predictive diagnostics. These platforms have been validated in prospective and retrospective clinical studies and presented in international conferences, with PCT applications pending approval. By integrating wet-lab biology with AI-driven analysis, Mestastop can distinguish metastasis-specific vulnerabilities and screen for drug candidates that target the spread of cancer rather than just the primary tumor. The company recently collaborated with Bangalore BioInnovation Centre to integrate the "Drosophila Technology Platform" into its proprietary platforms for cancer metastasis drug screening. With its singular mission to "stop metastasis" and a suite of first-in-class research tools, Mestastop Solutions is putting Bangalore on the map for cutting-edge cancer research.
Biocon Ltd.
No discussion of Bangalore biotech is complete without Biocon, India's largest and most iconic biotech company. Founded in 1978 by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Biocon began as an industrial enzymes firm and has grown into a global biopharmaceutical powerhouse. The company specializes in affordable biologics – developing and manufacturing recombinant insulin, biosimilar antibodies, and novel therapeutics for diabetes, cancer, autoimmune conditions and more. From its sprawling campus in Bangalore, Biocon manufactures generic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that are sold in approximately 120 countries, including the United States and Europe. It also manufactures novel biologics as well as biosimilar insulins and antibodies, which are sold in India as branded formulations. Some of Biocon's key brands in India include INSUGEN (rh-insulin), BASALOG (Glargine), BIOMAb EGFR (Nimotuzumab), and CANMAb (Trastuzumab). Today, Biocon operates in over 120 countries and continues to expand its global footprint. By prioritizing innovation with a purpose – developing breakthrough drugs that are also affordable – Biocon has cemented its place among the top biotech companies in Bangalore and indeed the world.
Syngene International
Syngene International is a leading contract research and manufacturing organization (CRMO) that has made Bangalore a destination for global pharma R&D outsourcing. Launched in 1993 as a subsidiary of Biocon, Syngene provides integrated discovery, development, and production services to clients worldwide – essentially acting as an extension of the R&D wings of companies like Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, Baxter, and Merck KGaA. From its headquarters in Bangalore, Syngene operates state-of-the-art laboratories spanning medicinal chemistry, biologics process development, pre-clinical toxicology, clinical trial management, and commercial-scale manufacturing. A hallmark of Syngene's model is its Dedicated R&D Centers for clients like Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, and Baxter International. Overall, Syngene now employs over 5,000 scientists and support personnel across its facilities in Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Mangaluru. In recent years, the company has also ventured into biologics manufacturing with new GMP biologics plants. By providing an end-to-end platform for drug discovery and development, Syngene has put Bangalore on the global map for contract research excellence, exemplifying why multinational companies view biotech companies in Bangalore as crucial partners in their innovation pipeline.
Strand Life Sciences
Strand Life Sciences is a pioneer of India's bioinformatics and precision medicine industry. Founded in 2000 by a group of computer scientists from the Indian Institute of Science, Strand initially made its name developing software for analyzing genomic data – at a time when biotech and IT rarely intersected in India. Its algorithms for DNA microarray analysis and next-gen sequencing were used by researchers worldwide, establishing Bangalore's early reputation in computational biology. In the past decade, Strand transformed into an integrated genomic diagnostics company, opening its own CAP-accredited labs to offer clinical genomic testing. The company's strength lies in combining high-throughput lab techniques with in-house data analytics, providing comprehensive solutions for genomic analysis. Recognizing Strand's strategic value, Reliance Industries acquired a controlling stake in the company in 2021 through its subsidiary Reliance Strategic Business Ventures. This acquisition provides Strand with capital and a platform to scale nationally. Now part of the Reliance group, Strand is expanding its reach – setting up new genomic testing centers and linking its software into broader healthcare platforms. Its journey from a software startup to a clinical genomics leader mirrors Bangalore's own evolution into a multidisciplinary biotech hub, solidifying its status among the top biotech companies in Bangalore.
MedGenome
MedGenome is at the forefront of genomics-based diagnostics and drug discovery in Bangalore. The company operates a significant next-generation sequencing lab that offers a wide range of genetic tests covering various diseases. From oncology panels that guide targeted cancer therapies to prenatal screens and tests for specific disorders, MedGenome has brought advanced molecular diagnostics to routine clinical care in India. On the commercial side, MedGenome provides genomics services to pharma and biotech clients globally, with its database of genetic variants and phenotype data serving as a valuable resource for biomarker discovery and population genomics studies. The company's analytics team uses AI and big data to draw insights that can inform drug target discovery and clinical trial design, making it a valuable partner for precision medicine initiatives. MedGenome has attracted significant funding from venture investors over the years, fueling its growth into new markets and technologies. As a leader in genomic medicine, MedGenome reinforces Bangalore's reputation for housing the top biotech companies in Bangalore at the cutting edge of science.
The Digital Edge in Bangalore's Biotech Ecosystem
One common thread among Bangalore's biotech leaders is their embrace of digital tools and data-driven workflows. In a city famed for IT, even lab-centric companies readily adopt software to boost R&D productivity. Many of these firms utilize modern lab management platforms – for instance, Scispot's cloud-based LabOS – to harmonize their research data, automate repetitive processes, and maintain compliance. Such platforms allow startups like Cambrian to manage complex experimental workflows with ease, and enable larger companies like Syngene to coordinate thousands of research activities while ensuring quality control. By integrating AI and data analytics (often via partnerships with providers like Scispot), Bangalore's biotech ecosystem effectively blends wet-lab experimentation with informatics. This tech-driven approach has been crucial in accelerating discoveries, reducing errors, and fostering collaborations across the globe. It's no surprise that in Bangalore – where tech and biotech literally share the same neighborhoods – digital lab solutions are considered an essential part of scaling up innovation.
Conclusion
From methane-fed bioreactors to genome sequencing centers, the diversity and depth of Bangalore's biotech industry are remarkable. The top 8 biotech companies in Bangalore profiled here showcase the city's trajectory from a domestic industry player to a global biotech powerhouse. Equally, they highlight an ecosystem where startups thrive alongside established giants, academia and industry intersect, and software complements wet lab science. Looking ahead, Bangalore's biotech community is poised for even greater impact on global health and sustainability – backed by a supportive government, increasing venture capital, and the city's innate strengths in technology and innovation. Crucially, as these companies grow, their continued adoption of smart lab platforms and AI (through partners like Scispot) will help maintain agility and efficiency. With its unique confluence of talent and technology, Bangalore is set to remain a crucible of biotech breakthroughs, driving solutions not just for India but for the world.
