Singapore-based cultured seafood firm Umami Bioworks has partnered with two Indian firms in a bid to boost R&D and reach commercial-scale production.

The start-up has partnered with India’s IKP Knowledge Park – the companies will work together to establish an incubator designed to accelerate Umami Bioworks’ cultured seafood platform.

Under the collaboration, Umami Bioworks will team up with IKP’s newly established Centre for Smart Protein and Sustainable Material Innovation in Bengaluru, India. The centre is expected to serve as a hub for researchers, entrepreneurs and industry stakeholders to support R&D innovation, collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The centre is designed to operate 24 hours a day and is expected to support up to 20 fermentation, plant-based and cell-based meat and seafood start-ups.

Umami Bioworks founder and CEO Mihir Pershad said: “We are glad to be partnering with IKP Knowledge Park to establish our presence in India to fuel the next stage of our growth journey. As a growing biomanufacturing powerhouse, India is a great location for our engineering and tech transfer teams. IKP brings excellent facilities and knowledge of the local ecosystem.”

Deepanwita Chattopadhyay, chairman and CEO, IKP Knowledge Park, commented: “We are excited about the novel technology platform that they bring to our community of entrepreneurs and founders in their pursuit of growth in the smart protein sector. This collaboration will not only accelerate Umami's growth in India but will also propel the smart protein ecosystem that we are building in the country.”

The Centre for Smart Protein and Sustainable Material Innovation was established in May this year and was born out of an MoU between IKP Knowledge Park and the Good Food Institute India.

Aiyanna Belliappa, senior innovation and entrepreneurship specialist at the Good Food Institute India, added: “This landmark partnership between Umami Bioworks and IKP’s newly launched centre is a prime example of how India’s booming biotech industry and growing smart protein ecosystem are attracting global players. We are grateful to Umami Bioworks for recognising India’s scientific prowess and talent capabilities in the cultivated meat sector.”

Additionally, Umami Bioworks is set to collaborate with the Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai, India, to set up an R&D facility at the university’s campus.

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