Guwahati: IIT Guwahati has taken a significant step toward advancing sustainable biotechnology solutions with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with K.N. Bioscience (India) Pvt. Ltd. for the large-scale commercialisation of C-Phycocyanin production from Spirulina biomass.
The MoU was signed on Tuesday by Prof. Rohit Sinha, Dean of Research & Development at IIT Guwahati, and Sudha Reddy, Founder and Managing Director of K.N. Bioscience, in the presence of Prof. Debasish Das, the lead scientist behind the innovative technology.
This collaboration aims to address the high production costs and inefficiencies in the extraction of C-Phycocyanin, a natural blue pigment derived from Spirulina, which has vast applications across industries, including as a food colorant, nutraceutical compound, fluorescent marker, and cosmetic ingredient.
Despite its potential, the widespread use of C-Phycocyanin has been limited by the high costs of production and purification.
IIT Guwahati’s breakthrough technology streamlines the entire process—from cultivation to purification—making it more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and faster compared to traditional methods.
The technology improves Spirulina biomass yield and enhances phycocyanin concentration in Spirulina filaments, while the purification process eliminates the need for harmful solvents, resulting in a greener, more sustainable process.
This achievement has led to an almost total intracellular yield of C-Phycocyanin, purified to analytical purity in a single step.
Prof. Debasish Das, the lead scientist of the project, emphasised that the new technology would enable industries to shift from synthetic to natural, sustainable additives, making high-purity C-Phycocyanin more affordable and accessible.
This is the first time an indigenously developed phycocyanin technology is being transferred to an Indian company, marking a key milestone for India’s biotechnology sector.
This collaboration between IIT Guwahati and K.N. Bioscience not only opens new doors for Indian companies in the field of high-value microalgal products but also strengthens India’s position in the global biotechnology market.
Sudha Reddy, Managing Director of K.N. Bioscience, highlighted the technology’s low-cost, scalable, and environmentally sustainable features, which will have a lasting impact on various industries.
IIT Guwahati continues to be at the forefront of microalgal biotechnology, with this MoU setting a precedent for successful academia-industry collaborations.
The partnership aligns with India’s bioeconomy and biomanufacturing goals, fostering job creation and promoting eco-friendly biotechnological advancements.
With a patent granted for the downstream process and successful trials at various scales, this technology is now on the brink of commercial viability, as indicated by its Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6.
