IIT Madras and Herbalife launch CoE on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology

IIT Madras and Herbalife International India Pvt Ltd have inaugurated Herbalife-IIT Madras Centre of Excellence on plant cell fermentation technology. 

It is interesting to note that this CoE is said to be India's first dedicated facility for transactional research and innovation in plant cell fermentation.

Launch

This landmark initiative, launched on 22 June 2026 is said to mark a significant step towards strengthening India's capabilities in sustainable biomanufacturing and developing next-generation plant-derived health and wellness products.

National hub

The Herbalife–IIT Madras CoE is envisioned as a national hub for sustainable innovation, R&D and translational research in plant cell fermentation technology.

The Centre aims to enable sustainable and scalable production of herbal biomass, develop enriched herbal extracts and high-value phytochemicals, and bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and industrial applications, say sources from IIT Madras.

Integration

By integrating advanced upstream cultivation systems with state-of-the-art downstream processing and metabolomics platforms, the Centre seeks to promote technology transfer, foster innovation and entrepreneurship, and build skilled manpower in this emerging domain.

Industry partnerships

Through industry partnerships, blue-sky research, training programmes and entrepreneurial spin-offs, the initiative aspires to position India prominently on the global map of commercial plant cell fermentation while contributing to the national visions of BioE3, Atmanirbhar Bharat and environmentally sustainable bio-manufacturing.

The partnership

Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras spoke about the partnership with Herbalife.

IIT Madras partnership with Herbalife and the establishment of Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation is an exemplar of how industry and academia can work together to build enduring assets for the nation, said Prof Ashwin Mahalingam.

With the high-end research facilities at the Centre, we are now confident of pushing the boundaries of plant cell bioprocessing to translate into solutions for societal impact, he said. 

We believe this center will not only strengthen India's self-reliance in sustainable bio-manufacturing, but also create new opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and global leadership in next-generation plant-derived products, said Prof Ashwin of IIT Madras.

Transformative step

The establishment of the Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence represents a transformative step towards positioning India as a global hub for commercial plant cell fermentation, said Prof Smita Srivastava, Head, Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology. 

By combining cutting-edge science with translational research and strong industry partnerships, we aim to accelerate innovation, nurture talent, and develop sustainable technologies that will shape the future of plant-derived health and wellness products, said Prof Smita.

Embodying our vision of taking discoveries from laboratory to pilot scale and ultimately to societal and industrial impact, the Centre will foster academia-industry collaborations, capacity building, and entrepreneurship, while contributing meaningfully to the nation's BioE3 and Atmanirbhar Bharat missions and strengthening India's leadership in this emerging domain, said Prof Smita.

Scientific capabilities

The establishment of the Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology represents an important investment in building scientific capabilities for the future, said Ajay Khanna, Managing Director, Herbalife India.

Through this initiative, we aim to create opportunities for researchers, students, and innovators to explore new applications of plant-based technologies and contribute to advancements in nutrition science, said Ajay Khanna.

We believe the Centre will serve as a catalyst for knowledge exchange, talent development, and research-driven innovation, helping bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and practical industry applications, he said.

Panel discussion

Panel discussion formed a key highlight during the inaugural programme. 

This brought together leading industry experts, scientists, technology innovators and regulatory leaders from India and abroad to deliberate on the future of commercial plant cell fermentation and the evolving regulatory landscape for plant cell fermentation technology-derived natural products.

The discussions provided valuable insights into emerging global opportunities, technological advancements, regulatory frameworks, and pathways for translating plant cell fermentation-based innovations into commercially viable and sustainable products.

The deliberations are expected to foster collaborations among academia, industry and policymakers, and help shape India's roadmap for becoming a global leader in plant cell fermentation and next-generation herbal products.

Collaborations

The Centre is expected to catalyse national and international academia-industry collaborations, facilitate intellectual property generation and technology transfer, nurture start-ups, and reduce import dependence through environmentally sustainable production systems.

The center is equipped  with customized plant cell bioreactors, advanced analytical platforms and pilot-scale processing facilities, the CoE will serve researchers, students, entrepreneurs and industry professionals seeking to develop the next generation of plant-derived ingredients and health and wellness products through plant cell fermentation.