The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Henry Royce Institute at The University of Manchester (Royce) have signed a Letter of intent (Loi) for a major new agreement to collaborate on cutting-edge research in 3D bioprinting, biofabrication and materials science. The partnership is a step forward in uniting UK and Indian scientific strengths under the UK-India Technology Security Initiative to accelerate innovation in healthcare, precision medicine and sustainable bio-manufacturing.
The collaboration brings together world-leading expertise in bioprinting, biomaterials, engineering biology and advanced manufacturing. Over the coming years, IISc and Royce will work jointly to develop new biomaterials, organotypic models, medical implants and translational technologies that support next-generation healthcare solutions. Clinical adoption and commercialisation of bioprinting technologies sits at the heart of the agreement.
Advancing Biofabrication and Translational Healthcare Technologies
The agreement will foster collaborative research in areas such as biofabrication, materials design for tissue engineering, in-vitro modelling and medical translation. Both institutions will jointly identify opportunities for innovation, industrial and clinical engagement and technology transfer.
A key initiative emerging from the partnership is the UK–India Bioprinting and Engineering Biology Summit (BioSculpt 2025), which is being held at IISc Bengaluru from 26–28 November 2025 under the UK-India Technology Security Initiative. The summit will convene leading researchers, industry partners and policymakers to explore opportunities across bioprinting, biomaterials, microfluidics, and tissue engineering. Royce representatives will co-lead technical sessions focused on material design for bioprinting, in-vitro model development and pathways for clinical and industrial translation.
The initiative is being jointly led by experts from both institutions:
- Dr Marco Domingos, Royce Technology Platform Lead for Bioprinting, is a recognised authority in tissue engineering and biofabrication.
- Dr Sandra Vranic, Technology Platform Lead for Dynamic Stimulus, Bioreactors and Microfluidics at UoM, brings deep expertise in nanomaterials–cell interactions and advanced in-vitro systems.
- Prof Kaushik Chatterjee, Professor and Chair of Bioengineering at IISc, is a leading expert in biomaterials and 3D bioprinting.
- Dr Medhavi Vishwakarma, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at IISc, brings expertise in developing organoids to probe cell behaviour in developmental processes and diseases.
Together, the cross-country teams plan to leverage both institutions’ strengths in bioreactors, microfluidics, state-of-the-art cell culture and biomedical imaging.
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said:
“Bioprinting is an incredibly exciting field. Being able to build biological systems, and eventually even entire organs, in the lab won’t just help make medical research easier. It could form an important part of the UK Government’s work, rolling out alternatives to animal testing and ultimately ending it wherever possible.
“This partnership is proof of the heights we can aim for, when the UK and India’s innovators work together.”
Dr Marco Domingos said:
“The launch of this partnership is a new chapter for UK-India cooperation in bioprinting, engineering biology and translational healthcare. Through our shared research and talent exchange, IISc and Royce aim to accelerate breakthroughs that will shape the future of bio-manufacturing, medical innovation and engineered tissues.”
Professor Dave Knowles, CEO of the Henry Royce Institute, highlighted the strategic importance of this collaboration:
“This partnership opens pathways for researchers and students at both Royce and IISc to collaborate. Internationalisation is essential to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of emerging technologies, which require multidisciplinary collaboration to succeed.”
He added that the partnership aligns closely with Royce’s broader internationalisation goals and its mission to support next-generation talent and innovation in the materials science community.
Prof G Rangarajan, Director of IISc, said:
“We look forward to working with our partners in the UK to develop cutting-edge solutions to pressing clinical challenges. This initiative aligns well with our focus on bridging the gap between basic scientific research and clinical needs through the upcoming medical school and hospital on the IISc campus.”
Prof Kaushik Chatterjee said:
“We are excited to partner with leading UK organisations such as Royce to accelerate translational research. We look forward to utilizing emerging technologies such as 3D bioprinting to develop novel approaches to repair and regenerate tissues and organs while accelerating drug discovery.”
Strengthening Global Research Connectivity
Royce has emphasised that this collaboration represents a major stride in building global partnerships that transform materials science into real-world healthcare impact. Bioprinting sits at the intersection of biomaterials, advanced manufacturing and life sciences, key areas in which the UK has internationally recognised research excellence.
A Three-Phase Roadmap
The partnership will progress through a structured three-phase programme:
Phase 1 (2025)
The two institutions will establish a virtual UK-India Bioprinting Hub, providing a platform for coordination, knowledge exchange and strategic planning. Reciprocal visits, researcher exchanges, and thematic workshops will help identify shared priorities and shape a long-term research agenda.
Phase 2 (2025–2026)
Joint R&D projects, training programmes and talent-development initiatives will be launched with support from co-funding mechanisms in the UK and India. These activities aim to strengthen capacity building and accelerate research translation across both countries.
Phase 3 (2026)
The partners will explore the possibility for the establishment of a physical joint bioprinting facility, designed to address critical innovation gaps and promote sustainable industrial growth in engineering biology and bio-manufacturing.
Supporting UK-India Strategic Priorities under TSI
The collaboration aligns directly with government ambitions under the Technology Security Initiative (TSI), which promotes trusted research partnerships in key technologies such as engineering biology and 3D bioprinting. These themes were strongly reinforced in the UK-India Joint Statement (October 2025) which referenced the IISc-Royce partnership as a model for future cooperation. Royce’s expertise will ensure the materials foundations for the work are reliable and scalable, as well as being a cornerstone of the UK’s contribution to engineering biology.
Earlier this year, a Royce delegation visited India as part of the development of the National Materials Innovation Strategy. The visit set the stage for deeper collaboration on the defining materials technologies of the coming decade.
