ICGEB

What ICGEB does

ICGEB (International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology) is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1983 under UNIDO and autonomous since 1994, operating as a Centre of excellence for research, training, and technology transfer in Life Sciences and Biotechnology. It maintains laboratories in Trieste (Italy), New Delhi (India), and Cape Town (South Africa), alongside 40 affiliated laboratories worldwide, with 45+ research groups organised across five macro-areas: Infectious Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, Medical Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology, and Plant Biology and Biotechnology. The organisation is governed by 66–69 Member States and operates with UN Common System alignment, ratified in Italy by Law 15 March 1986, n. 103.

The core product offering is a portfolio of fellowship programmes (Arturo Falaschi, SMART, EMPOWER, WE-STAR), competitive research grants (CRP Grants, South African HDI Programme), meetings and courses, technology transfer services, and dedicated editorial support. Major infrastructure includes a BSL3 laboratory, the newly dedicated DST-ICGEB Bio-foundry in India (part of the National Biofoundry Network), and validated diagnostic pipelines such as the EXPANDIA RT-LAMP platform tested across 11 countries on 4,200 samples with up to 90% sensitivity. Active project portfolio spans B-INOC (microbial bioinoculants for Africa), BioAccess BiH (biologics capacity in Bosnia and Herzegovina), IDEOLOGIST (AI-based microbiome solutions), CEDRIC (root microbiome biodiversity), GENESIS (arboviral persistence), BIO-GUARD (biosecurity with UNODA), and miRAlveRgen (microRNA and alveolar regeneration).

ICGEB's revenue model is built on annual Member State contributions (approximately 65% of the budget, with Italy as the largest contributor through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation), supplemented by project-specific funding from government bodies, private companies, and philanthropic foundations (e.g., Zayed International Foundation for the Environment), and individual donations including Italy's 5x1000 tax programme. Course fees are nominal and tiered (€200–€400) for students, postdocs, and industry participants, with fee waivers for nationals of ICGEB Member States. Go-to-market is community- and event-driven, reaching scientists through 32,000+ newsletter subscribers, awareness workshops in Member States, and annual governance forums.

Name

ICGEB

Legal name

International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Website

https://icgeb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

ICGEB is an intergovernmental organisation providing research, training, and technology transfer in Life Sciences and Biotechnology to 66–69 Member States, operating laboratories in Trieste, New Delhi, and Cape Town with 45+ research groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotechnology Research and Training Services

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

Keywords

• Biotechnology research
• Scientific training programs
• Research fellowships
• Technology transfer services
• Life sciences grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Trieste

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member State Contributions: As an intergovernmental organization, ICGEB receives approximately 65% of its budget from Member State contributions. The Italian Government contributes through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as the host country.
2. Project Funding: ICGEB receives funding for specific projects from financial entities, governmental bodies, and private companies. Example includes funding for diagnostic systems development projects in Africa.
3. 5x1000 Donations (Italy): Italian taxpayers can donate their 5x1000 to ICGEB by entering code 90031700322 on their tax return under 'Scientific Research and University'.
4. General Donations: ICGEB accepts donations from individuals and organizations worldwide to support scientific research and young researchers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ICGEB is an intergovernmental organisation providing research, training, and technology transfer in life sciences and biotechnology. Its core offerings include competitive fellowships (Arturo Falaschi, SMART, EMPOWER, SAWBP), Collaborative Research Programme (CRP) grants, scientific meetings and courses, technology transfer support to industry, editorial services for publication, and specialised infrastructure like the BSL3 laboratory and DST-ICGEB Bio-foundry. Services are delivered to researchers, institutions, and governments across 66–69 member states.

Product overview

ICGEB (International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology) is an intergovernmental organisation operating as a Centre of excellence for Research, Training and Technology Transfer in Life Sciences and Biotechnology. The organisation operates a unified platform with three interconnected components: (1) Core Research and Training Programmes including the Arturo Falaschi Fellowship Programme, CRP Grants, and Special HDI Programmes; (2) Research Projects spanning agriculture, health, and industrial biotechnology such as B-INOC, BioAccess BiH, IDEOLOGIST, and EXPANDIA; and (3) Supporting Services including Technology Transfer, Editorial Services, and Awareness Workshops. ICGEB maintains laboratories in Trieste (Italy), New Delhi (India), and Cape Town (South Africa), with over 45 research groups advancing work in infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, medical biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, and plant biology. The organisation also hosts the DST-ICGEB Bio-foundry in India as part of the National Biofoundry Network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ICGEB Arturo Falaschi Fellowship Programme: Fellowship program supporting young scientists globally
• EMPOWER Fellowship
• EXPANDIA
• CRP Research Grants

Products and services

• Arturo Falaschi Fellowship Programme Multidisciplinary postgraduate fellowship programme providing advanced biotechnology training in ICGEB laboratories for young scientists from Member States, supporting scientific capacity-building worldwide.
• CRP (Collaborative Research Programme) Grants Competitive research grants stimulating collaborative research in Member States, facilitating creation of research facilities, training young scientists, and developing research programmes. Annual prizes awarded to top projects combining high-quality research with training and international collaboration.
• ICGEB Arturo Falaschi SMART Fellowship Fellowship enabling international mobility of researchers, providing advanced training at host institutions to support conservation and improvement of genetic resources.
• EMPOWER Fellowship South-South cooperation fellowship for women scientists from Least Developed Countries, jointly launched with UNOSSC and funded by Zayed International Foundation for the Environment, providing training, mentorships, and peer learning opportunities.
• South African Women in Biotechnology (SAWBP) Programme Programme broadening participation in biotechnology fellowships for South African women scientists, promoting international mobility and professional development.
• Special Programme with South African Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs) Partnership programme with South African Department of Science and Innovation providing collaborative research grants, meetings and courses funding, and junior and senior fellowship schemes for eligible HDI researchers.
• ICGEB Meetings and Courses Funding and support for scientific events, workshops, and practical training courses in Life Sciences, human healthcare, industrial and agricultural biotechnology, and the bio-economy, including travel grants and sponsorship opportunities.
• Technology Transfer Services Products and training services facilitating technology transfer to industry for ICGEB Member States, including the Biotechnology Development Unit offering training for vaccine manufacturing in collaboration with DCVMN International.
• Editorial Services Unique editorial service among international organisations supporting scientists and institutes from Member States in publishing scientific papers, particularly assisting scientists from countries where English is not a native language.
• DST-ICGEB Bio-foundry India's first public-funded biofoundry dedicated to advancing biotechnology research and innovation, part of the National Biofoundry Network integrating six key institutions.
• ICGEB Awareness Workshops Information and advisory workshops providing guidance on ICGEB activities including grants, fellowships, meetings and courses, conducted by the Director-General and Scientific Coordinators in member states.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,200 samples tested with up to 90% sensitivity in multi-country RT-LAMP diagnostic validation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Sirona Biochem CorpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2023Research collaboration for antiviral library screening. ICGEB's Laboratory of Molecular Virology in Trieste screened 20 compounds produced at Sirona's subsidiary TFChem as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2. Six compounds showed antiviral activity. Collaboration extended to test additional new molecules.
• New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022MoU for summer internship programme allowing NYUAD students access to ICGEB research labs. Second cohort of eleven students from Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Slovakia and UAE undertook summer internships in 2023. Potential areas include joint research and faculty capacity-building activities.
• New England Biolabs (NEB)coreTechnology or IntegrationEXPANDIA project coordinated by ICGEB in partnership with New England Biolabs successfully validated RT-LAMP technology as a cost-effective diagnostic alternative to PCR for COVID-19 testing in low-resource settings. Clinical trials across multiple African nations tested approximately 4,200 samples achieving sensitivity rates of up to 90%.
• United Nations Office for South South Cooperation (UNOSSC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint EMPOWER Fellowship programme supporting capacity development of young women scientists from developing countries, particularly from LDCs. Five young women scientists from Bangladesh, Colombia, DR Congo, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe were selected as pilot cohort, hosted at ICGEB Labs in India and South Africa in 2022. Funded by Zayed International Foundation for the Environment.
• South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial Programme to support capacity development in South African Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs). Provides collaborative research grants, meetings and courses funding, and junior and senior fellowship schemes for eligible HDI researchers.
• IFOM (FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative COVID-19 research with IFOM in Milan studying DNA damage mechanisms induced by SARS-CoV-2. ICGEB virologists led by Alessandro Marcello worked alongside IFOM scientists in this Nature Cell Biology publication.
• Area Science ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICGEB's Italian headquarters has been located within Area Science Park since 1987, providing access to a premier scientific research campus environment.
• Nature Publishing GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerICGEB research featured in high-impact Nature journals including Nature Methods (Reclone article), Nature Africa, Nature India, and Nature. Press coverage through Nature publications enhances global scientific visibility.
• South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiotechnology Development Unit at ICGEB Trieste ran tech training courses for CSIR scientists, supporting capacity building in South African biotech research.
• United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICGEB partners with UNODA Biological Weapons Convention to host Training Course on 'Pathogen Detection and Biosecurity' at ICGEB Cape Town, supported by the Government of Norway.
• Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICGEB Cape Town Biopesticides and Plant Systems Biology Groups welcomed a delegation from JAAS, China, to explore research partnerships.
• CropLife Africa Middle EastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICGEB partnered with CropLife Africa Middle East and World BioProtection Forum to convene a three-day conference on Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Pesticide Residue Mitigation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL): EMBL is an intergovernmental research organisation in molecular life sciences with member states across Europe and beyond, operating distributed laboratories across multiple countries — directly comparable to ICGEB's three-continent laboratory model and research-training mandate.
• CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research): CGIAR is a global research partnership funded by governments and foundations, running international research centres focused on agricultural development — closely comparable to ICGEB in its multilateral funding model, developing-country focus, and grant-driven research portfolio.
• TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences): TWAS is a UN-affiliated intergovernmental organisation based in Trieste that promotes scientific capacity-building in developing countries — directly comparable in mission, location, and emphasis on fellowship/research support for Global South scientists.
• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): IIASA is an international scientific institute based in Laxenburg, Austria, funded by member countries, conducting interdisciplinary research on global problems — comparable to ICGEB in its intergovernmental funding model and cross-border scientific mission.

Emerging players

• International Vaccine Institute (IVI): IVI is an international organisation dedicated to developing and introducing new and improved vaccines for developing countries — closely comparable to ICGEB in mission (life-sciences capacity building in developing countries), intergovernmental membership model, and technology-transfer orientation.
• Institut Pasteur: Institut Pasteur is a privately-founded, internationally-networked biomedical research organisation with a global network of institutes focused on infectious disease — comparable to ICGEB in its biological-research focus, BSL3 operations, and developing-country partnerships, though structurally distinct as a non-governmental foundation.

Broad incumbents

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): IAEA is a large, established UN-affiliated intergovernmental organisation based in Vienna that delivers technical cooperation programmes to member states — comparable in intergovernmental structure and capacity-building mandate, though with a much larger scale and nuclear-focused scope.
• World Health Organization (WHO): WHO is a UN specialised agency funding and coordinating global health research and capacity building — comparable to ICGEB in intergovernmental health-research focus and pandemic-preparedness work, but operating at a much larger scale and broader mandate.
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): OECD is an intergovernmental organisation of 38 member countries funding policy research and statistical work — broadly comparable to ICGEB in intergovernmental structure, though operating at much larger scale with a policy/economic rather than life-sciences mandate.
• UNESCO: UNESCO is a UN specialised agency that funds science, education, and capacity-building programmes, including the Life Sciences, with a multilateral member-state governance structure broadly comparable to ICGEB's IGO framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icgeb
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjOrEZCyW80SYXEQaNAuerg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICGEBOfficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icgeb
• Instagraminstagram.com/icgeb_official

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ICGEB