A new Centre for Alternate Protein Research has been inaugurated in India at Aspire-BioNest, the University of Hyderabad’s life sciences bioincubator, with support from Cytiva under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

The centre was inaugurated by Manoj Kumar R Panicker, general manager South Asia at Cytiva, alongside Aspire and Cytiva leaders and startup founders.

The facility will focus on sustainable food production, supporting scalable protein alternatives such as plant-based, microbial and biotechnology-driven platforms. Cytiva’s backing aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 12 and 13).

By combining Aspire-BioNest’s incubation ecosystem with the University of Hyderabad’s research expertise, the centre aims to foster deep-tech startups, improve resource efficiency and drive societal impact.

Manoj Kumar R Panicker said: “This centre is a testament to Cytiva’s belief in the power of collaboration to drive innovation for societal good. We are happy to partner with Aspire-BioNest to support research that is both scientifically promising and socially relevant.”

Aspire-BioNest was established in 2018 through a joint initiative of BIRAC and the University of Hyderabad. It has supported 75 deep-tech startups to date, with more than 30 currently incubated across biopharma, agritech, medtech and sustainability.

The incubator already hosts alternate protein startups such as Biome Innovations, Proleri Technologies, and Arthro, making it a natural home for the new centre.

Through this collaboration, Cytiva and Aspire-BioNest aim to strengthen India’s bioeconomy and position Hyderabad as a global hub for sustainable food technologies.