The C-CAMP-GoK Agri Centre of Excellence (CoE) has announced a strategic collaboration with Bayer Science and Innovation Private Limited to accelerate support for early-stage agri-tech startups and entrepreneurs.

The partnership, launched under the C-CAMP Agri CoE programme supported by the Government of Karnataka’s Department of IT, BT & S&T and Department of Agriculture (KSDA), will foster innovation in agriculture through knowledge sharing, mentorship, pilot deployment, and strategic engagement.

The agreement is aimed at strengthening innovation pathways in agriculture while aligning with sustainability, food security, climate resilience, and crop productivity goals of both partners.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, Director-CEO of C-CAMP, said, “Since its launch in 2019, the C-CAMP Agri CoE has supported over 100 deep-science and deep-tech based solutions with the potential to transform Indian agriculture. These innovations go beyond practice changes to focus on commercial viability, scalability, and mass adoption. With Bayer, a global leader in agriculture and life sciences, we aim to enhance industry engagement in innovation and accelerate the go-to-market process in the complex agri ecosystem.”

Echoing this vision, Dr. Anik Luke Dhanaraj, Bayer Science Fellow and Principal CI Analyst | SCIPI LifeHub, Bayer Science and Innovation remarked, “Bayer’s LifeHubs are committed to leveraging open innovation from across the ecosystem to create solutions for farmers worldwide. At our LifeHub in Bangalore, we look forward to working closely with C-CAMP to address challenges faced by smallholder farmers in India and beyond. Together, we will also host initiatives to promote science, innovation, and collaborative partnerships in agriculture.”

The MoU outlines several key objectives, including identification and support of startups, hands-on mentorship, pilot deployments with Bayer’s advanced R&D infrastructure, market access, and co-development opportunities for select technologies. It further establishes a framework to explore potential investment, licensing, and technology transfer partnerships, ensuring a smooth journey from idea to product for emerging agri-tech innovations.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in creating a robust ecosystem for agricultural innovation in India, reinforcing the shared commitment of C-CAMP and Bayer to empower startups and redefine the future of farming through science and technology.