Once known primarily for its tech talent, Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, is making headlines as a global center for life sciences, standing shoulder to shoulder with Bengaluru. The city’s speedy rise is due to its contributions in pharmaceutical manufacturing, vaccine production, and biotechnology innovation. Telangana now takes a leading role not only in India but also in the world with its world-class research facilities.

Hyderabad’s Vaccine and Pharma Dominance

National & Global Significance

Today, Telangana makes up 20% of exported drugs and 33% of India’s total pharmaceuticals. Even more striking, it contributes to around one-third of all vaccines made across the globe, making it a crucial player in public health worldwide.
The industry’s fast expansion has not gone unnoticed. Hyderabad now sits among Asia-Pacific’s major life sciences hubs, sharing a status with Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, and Greater Tokyo. CBRE’s 2025 Global Life Sciences Atlas recently confirmed that Telangana is an emerging hub for life sciences.

Growth and Investment

The life sciences sector here is expanding much faster than the national rate, with growth of 23% as opposed to 14% for the whole country. From 2020 to 2024, more than $1.49 billion was invested in the state. Life sciences companies took on about 5.8 million square feet of office space in India in 2024, which was 56% more than they leased the previous year. Additionally, Hyderabad accounts for a significant share of this.

Hyderabad is set to become a major contributor to the global development of more than 35 million square feet of life sciences-focused real estate.

Genome Valley: India’s Life Sciences Flagship

Genome Valley continues to be a major part of India’s life sciences industry, based in Hyderabad, acting as a center for research and development in life sciences and clean manufacturing. It offers top-tier infrastructure like special economic zones (SEZs), industrial parks, and first-class labs. There are about 500 companies and 18,000 professionals working in this network, led by global firms like DuPont, Lonza, Sandoz, and United States Pharmacopeia.

The Genome Valley project was established in the following phases:

1. TGIIC started Phase I (2004): Started by Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TGIIC), which is responsible for developing industrial infrastructure. It featured the ICICI Knowledge Park (IKP) on a 200-acre plot with modern labs and incubators.
2. Phase II (2009): 90 more acres were acquired, with spaces designated for SEZs and non-SEZs.
3. Phase III (2012): The project’s boundary was set 11 km away from Phase II, at Karkapatla. It included 100 additional acres in the SEZ (20 plots) and 509 acres in the non-SEZ (70 plots).

Global Firms Betting Big on Hyderabad

A surge in the presence of international firms in Hyderabad can be seen, such as:
In Madhapur, Amgen (USA) launched its largest global center at $200 million, occupying over 5.24 lakh sq. ft. and serving more than 3,000 employees.
MSD (Merck & Co.) established a new technology center employing 2,700, with its focus on diabetes, oncology, and vaccine solutions, and seeks to expand further.

Important investments also include:

• Miltenyi Biotec: Setting up a cell and gene therapy facility.

• Agilisium: Introducing a life sciences innovation lab.

• Meishi Pharma: Building its second R&D facility.

• ALS: Building a biopharma testing laboratory.

Infrastructure, Jobs & Government Initiatives

Many construction projects are driving the sector’s progress. Some projects include:

• Green Pharma City: With a massive Rs 5,445 crore investment from 11 leading firms, it is expected to generate 9,800+ employment opportunities.

• The Hyderabad Pharma City: Recognised as the most extensive integrated centre for pharmaceutical production.

• Medical Devices Park: Strengthens Telangana’s med-tech capabilities, positioning the state as a life sciences manufacturing global hub for healthcare innovation.

• Life Sciences Policy 2023–2028: Creates new incentives, encourages cooperation with private firms, and builds ready-to-use infrastructure to back the industry’s growth.

Life Sciences University: On a mission to encourage academic progress and improved research skills.

Strategic Collaborations & Global Partnerships

Collaborations with global organizations are helping Hyderabad rise in the international arena:

• The University of Queensland is helping it bring AI solutions to healthcare.

• In partnership with the World Economic Forum, Telangana has been named India’s first Digital Health Activator Hub.

• Health Innovation Manchester and T-Hub plan to join forces to back startups in digital health and MedTech.

• The establishment of the Innovative Pharmaceutical Services Organisation (IPSO) aims to streamline regulatory frameworks.

Hyderabad as a Global Benchmark

Together with effective administration, affordable employees, and a well-integrated environment, Hyderabad is expected to remain a top player in the global life sciences field. Hyderabad’s healthcare and biotechnology sectors are right up there with Bengaluru’s, and the city is luring Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in greater numbers.

The city supports the entire life sciences industry by using both modern and traditional techniques, highlighting its ambitions to lead in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors.

Hyderabad’s transformation from a back-office city to a global biotech powerhouse is not just a regional success story—it’s a model for emerging economies worldwide.

References:

1. CBRE. “Global Life Sciences Atlas Market Profiles: Hyderabad, India.” CBRE Insights. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.cbre.com/insights/local-response/global-life-sciences-atlas-market-profiles-hyderabad-india.

2. CBRE India. “Hyderabad Emerges as One of the Top Global Centres of Life Sciences Manufacturing Activity.” CBRE India, May 4, 2023. https://www.cbre.co.in/press-releases/hyderabad-emerges-as-one-of-the-top-global-centres-of-life-sciences-manufacturing-activity.

3. AIMResearch. “How Hyderabad Is Turning into a Hub for Life Science GCCs.” Best Firms by AIMResearch, January 17, 2024. https://bestfirm.aimresearch.co/how-hyderabad-is-turning-into-a-hub-for-life-science-gccs/.

4. Government of Telangana. “Genome Valley.” Telangana Life Sciences. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://lifesciences.telangana.gov.in/life-sciences-grid/clusters/genome-valley/.

5. Government of Telangana. “Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC).” Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.tgiic.telangana.gov.in/.

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