Dr Renu Swarup, is the Former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. Having served in Department of Biotechnology for over 30 years, she was also the Chairperson of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), She also held the Additional Charge of Secretary Department of Science &Technology for a short period .
A PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding, She did her Post Doctoral Research at The John Innes Centre, Norwich UK, Dr. Renu Swarup has been instrumental in the planning and implementation of some major National programmes. As a Science Manager issues related to policy planning and implementation were a part of her assignment. She was actively engaged in the formulation of National Biotechnology Vision and Strategy in 2001, 2007 and 2015and 2021.She was also a member of the Task Force on Women in Science constituted by the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister.
As the Secretary of Government of India, Department of Biotechnology, she led a Network of 16 Autonomous Research Institutes, 2 Public Sector Undertaking and a R&D Network of more than 5000 projects across more than 100 research institutes, Universities and Laboratories. In the recent COVID Pandemic situation she led the COVID Vaccine ,Diagnostic and Genome sequencing Mission. The Public Sector BIRAC, for which she was the founding Managing Director and then Chairperson, has supported more than 5000 Startups and over 75 Incubators
A Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (NASI) India, A Life Member of Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) and a Member of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), she was awarded the “BioSpectrum Person of the Year Award” in 2012. “National Entrepreneurship Awards 2017”, TiE Women Enabler Award 2018, “Dr. P. Sheel Memorial Award” 2018 by NASI and the TWAS Regional Office Prize on Science Diplomacy in 2018. She has been awarded the Agriculture Research Leadership Award 2019, Smt. Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel VASVIK Award for Women Scientific & Chemical science & Technology 2020-21,Life Time Achievement Award for Biotech Policy maker—2021 by Golden Jubilee Women Biotech Park .She was also recognised as Business world women 2019 & 2020. She is also a recipient of Y B Chavan National Award 2021 for Public service .She received the Dr B S Bajaj Memorial FABA Excellence Award-2023 .
She is currently the Vice Chair of the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) Copenhagen ,Denmark and also a Member of the National Start up Advisory Council, Govt of India .She is also the Scientific Expert on the Advisory Boards of the International Pandemic Preparedness, Govt of UK ; G7 Global Health Multistakeholder Group and the Chair of the Govt of India Expert Group on Preparedness for Future Pandemics .
