Hyderabad has been chosen by Bristol Myers Squibb, one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical firms, to establish its Science, Technology and Innovation Centre, further bolstering the city’s position as a life sciences hub. With an investment of $100 million (approximately Rs 820 crore) and the creation of 1,500 jobs, the Centre is expected to be operational by the end of the third quarter of this year, as part of the company’s efforts to enhance its drug development, IT and digital innovation capabilities.
At the MoU ceremony held on Thursday, IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao expressed his pleasure in welcoming Bristol-Myers Squibb to Hyderabad’s dynamic ecosystem. “It is a matter of pride that BMS, a world-leading and highly innovative biopharmaceutical firm, has chosen Hyderabad,” he said, adding that the partnership with BMS is strategic and the Centre will provide a significant opportunity for local talent to engage in impactful work. He also noted that the company selected Hyderabad based on its infrastructure and resources.
During the MoU ceremony, IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao expressed his delight at welcoming Bristol-Myers Squibb to Hyderabad, highlighting the city’s vibrant ecosystem for the life sciences industry. He praised the strategic partnership and expressed confidence that the company’s new centre would provide a great opportunity for local talent to engage in impactful work. The Minister also showcased the infrastructure, resources and manpower available in Hyderabad and encouraged the company to consider setting up a manufacturing unit in Telangana’s upcoming Pharma City. He emphasized that the Pharma City had received environmental clearances for the entire cluster, saving companies about 18 months of the normal clearance process for greenfield projects.
Rama Rao stated that the State had set a target to double the life sciences value from $50 billion to $100 billion by 2030, but with the momentum in the sector, the schedule has been advanced to 2028, and the target could be reached even earlier than that. The exact location for the proposed Science, Technology and Innovation Centre by Bristol Meyers in Hyderabad, their first centre in India, is yet to be finalised. BMS Hyderabad site will focus on cutting-edge R&D and digital activities, expanding their global footprint and drawing on the scientific and technological talent in the region.
Dr Samit Hirawat, Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Global Drug Development at BMS, said, “The Hyderabad site is a long-term strategic investment for BMS, and we look forward to commencing operations later this year. We are excited about the opportunity to diversify our company globally. This will position us to further accelerate our drug development, bolster our digital innovation capabilities, and advance BMS’s mission to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients.” IT and Industries Principal Secretary Jayesh Ranjan and Telangana Life Sciences CEO Shakthi M Nagappan were also present at the MoU ceremony. Rama Rao suggested that Bristol Meyers also consider setting up a manufacturing unit in Telangana’s Pharma City, which has environmental clearances for the entire cluster, which would save companies around 18 months typically required for greenfield companies to obtain the necessary approvals.
