Healthcare
Herbalife and IIT Madras Launch India's First Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), in collaboration with Herbalife International India Pvt. Ltd., has inaugurated the Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology on 22nd June 2026, which is India's first dedicated facility for translational research and innovation in plant cell fermentation.
About this update from Herbalife Ltd.
Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence aims to position India as a global leader in sustainable biomanufacturing and next-generation plant-derived health and wellness products CHENNAI, India, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) , in collaboration with Herbalife International India Pvt. Ltd., has inaugurated the Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology on 22nd June 2026, which is India's first dedicated facility for translational research and innovation in plant cell fermentation. This landmark initiative marks a significant step towards strengthening India's capabilities in sustainable biomanufacturing and developing next-generation plant-derived health and wellness products. The Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence 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. 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. 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 inauguration ceremony was graced by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR & Secretary, DSIR , and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras , as Chief Guests; Shri Virendra R. Tiwari, Chairperson, National Biodiversity Authority , as Guest of Honour; along with Mr. Ajay Khanna, Managing Director, Herbalife International India Pvt. Ltd.; Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras; and Prof. Smita Srivastava, Head, Herbalife–IIT Madras Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology. Speaking on the partnership with Herbalife, Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean – Alumni and Corporate Relations, IIT Madras, said, "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. With the high-end research facilities at the Centre, we are now confident to push the boundaries of plant cell bioprocessing to translate into solutions for societal impact. 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."