UPSIDA partners with IIT-BHU to boost pharma hub in UP

In a major push to develop Uttar Pradesh as a pharmaceutical hub, the UP State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi.

The collaboration is aimed at strengthening the state’s pharmaceutical sector by creating a skilled workforce and fostering industrial growth.

The agreement focuses on leveraging the expertise of the Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology (DoPET) at IIT(BHU), a premier institution known for producing industry-ready graduates.

As per a release issued on Wednesday, “The MoU was signed by Mayur Maheshwari, IAS, CEO of UPSIDA, and Prof Rajesh Kumar, dean, research & development, IIT (BHU), marking a beginning of a long-term collaboration that will drive employment, innovation, and industrial progress.”

The collaboration will play a crucial role in facilitating the establishment of pharmaceutical industries in the state’s pharma parks while ensuring the availability of skilled manpower, training, research, and placement support. The parks are currently being developed by UPSIDA in Lalitpur, Bundelkhand.

Both institutions believe that DoPET students are ideally suited to fulfill the talent requirements of the industries setting up base in the region. This alignment is expected to boost employment opportunities for the state’s youth and enhance industrial productivity.

The government of Uttar Pradesh has committed to developing pharma parks across the state to attract national and international pharmaceutical firms. “The UP government is committed to establishing pharma parks across the state to attract national and international pharmaceutical companies, promote innovation, and create employment,” the release stated.

The pharma cluster in Lalitpur spans 1,472 acres and covers five villages — Saidpur (426 acres), Gadoli Khurd (249 acres), Largan (239 acres), Karauda (116 acres), and Rampur (441 acres).

To promote local hiring, UPSIDA will offer incentives to pharmaceutical companies that recruit graduates from DoPET. “UPSIDA will encourage and incentivize pharma park companies to hire DoPET students. Special campus placement drives and recruitment initiatives will be organized,” the release added.

IIT(BHU) will support these efforts by identifying qualified candidates and providing structured placement assistance. “IIT(BHU) will provide placement support and help identify suitable candidates. A joint committee will be formed to strategize and implement the placement process. UPSIDA will explore incentives, including tax benefits, for companies that hire DoPET students,” the statement said.

The initiative is projected to create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities, offering youth in the region career growth pathways and industrial exposure closer to home.