CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

What CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants does

CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP) is one of 38 constituent laboratories of India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), operating since 1959 (renamed 1978) from a Lucknow headquarters and four regional research centres in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pantnagar and Purara. The institute conducts multidisciplinary R&D across phytochemistry, plant biotechnology, plant breeding and genetic resource conservation, bioprospection and product development, crop production and protection, technology dissemination, and computational biology, supported by an NABL-accredited Chemical Central Facility, a 50-instrument Biological Central Facility, GMP-certified solid-liquid extraction units, and a National Gene Bank that conserves 2,500+ germplasm resources of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). It has developed 150+ commercial varieties of 48 MAPs, holds approximately 500 granted patents across 10+ jurisdictions, and has been granted WHO recognition for indigenous artemisinin production.

The institute's commercial activities span technology licensing (80+ herbal formulations and agrotechnologies transferred to 35+ MSMEs/startups, generating more than Rs 480 lakh in External Cash Flow), paid training and skill development programs (Rs 12,000-30,000 internships, plus specialised HPLC, GC-MS, bioinformatics and pre-clinical safety courses), NABL-accredited quality testing and contract research services, sales of quality planting material from its 25-hectare research farm, engineering design and turn-key distillation unit projects, and a one-year Technology Business Incubation Centre pilot plant facility (including a Women Entrepreneurship Facility at BKT, Lucknow). Customer segments include small, marginal and tribal farmers (5,000+ in Andhra Pradesh alone), entrepreneurs and MSMEs/startups, pharma/AYUSH/cosmetics industries, government departments and NGOs (NMPB, DBT, SERB, BIRAC, ICAR, UNDP, state medicinal plant authorities), academic and PhD cohorts via AcSIR and JNU, and international collaborators spanning Canada, France, the UK and IORA member countries.

The institute operates as a publicly funded R&D platform under India's Ministry of Science and Technology, with the Prime Minister as CSIR President, a Research Council chaired by Dr. Himanshu Pathak (ICAR), and a reconstituted Management Council for 2026-2027. Recent leadership transitions include Zabeer Ahmed assuming additional charge as Director in February 2026, succeeding Dr. Prabodh Kumar Trivedi, who received the National Science Award 2025 (Science Team Award) on behalf of the CSIR-Aroma Mission. The institute is not a publicly listed company; it has no equity, no ticker, and is funded through CSIR's budgetary allocations, government grants, and External Cash Flow.

Name

CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Legal name

CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP) [CSIR-Kendriya Ausadhiya evam Sugandh Paudha Sansthan]

Website

https://cimap.res.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CSIR-CIMAP is a publicly funded Indian government research institute under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), conducting multidisciplinary R&D on medicinal and aromatic plants across phytochemistry, biotechnology, plant breeding and computational biology, and licensing 80+ herbal formulations and varieties to farmers, MSMEs and industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lucknow

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing and Commercialization: Licensing of 80+ herbal formulations and agrotechnologies to 35+ MSMEs/startups; has generated more than Rs 480 lakh in External Cash Flow. Includes CIM-Megh (kalmegh-based immunity booster) and other herbal formulations.
2. Consultancy and Contract Research: Consultancy services and contract research for industries, entrepreneurs, NGOs, shrine boards, government departments, and universities; preparation of land survey and techno-economic feasibility reports for MAP cultivation and processing.
3. Quality Testing Services: Quality testing of medicinal and aromatic plants and related products; analytical services for phytochemicals and essential oils; NABL-accredited testing facility.
4. Training and Skill Development Programs: Paid training programs including internship for postgraduate students at Rs 12,000 (3 months or less), Rs 20,000 (6 months), Rs 30,000 (1 year); specialized training in HPLC, GC-MS, essential oil processing, herbal drug development, pre-clinical safety evaluation, bioinformatics, entrepreneurship development.
5. Quality Planting Material (QPM) Sales: Sale of quality planting material (seeds and plants) of various MAPs to farmers and public at affordable prices from CSIR-CIMAP Research Farm (25 hectares).
6. Distillation Unit Engineering and Turn-key Projects: Engineering design and drawing of distillation units; turn-key projects for better distillation units; technology transfer for incense stick and aromatic cone making from proposed flowers.
7. Technology Business Incubation Centre - Pilot Plant Facility: One-year pilot plant facility for new entrepreneurs/startups entering herbal formulation; operates Women Entrepreneurship Facility at BKT, Lucknow.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CSIR-CIMAP is a government multidisciplinary R&D institute that conducts research on medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) across phytochemistry, plant biotechnology, plant breeding, bioprospection, crop production, and computational biology. It develops and licenses 80+ herbal formulations and agrotechnologies to MSMEs/startups, supplies quality planting material to farmers, provides contract research and analytical/quality testing services, offers PhD and skill development training, and runs a Technology Business Incubation Centre.

Product overview

CSIR-CIMAP is a government research institute (one of 38 labs under India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) that operates a multi-divisional R&D platform rather than a single software product. The platform spans six scientific divisions — Phytochemistry, Bioprospection & Product Development, Plant Biotechnology, Crop Production & Protection, Plant Breeding & Genetic Resource Conservation, and Technology Dissemination & Computational Biology — supported by central facilities (Biological Central Facility, Chemical Central Facility) and four regional research centres (Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pantnagar, Purara). Its commercial output includes a portfolio of herbal products (Skin Gel, Acne Preventive Face Wash, CIMAP PAUSHAK, Clean Germ, Face Scrub, Geranium Active Anti-dandruff Shampoo, Hankool Hand Disinfectant, Relaxomap Pain Relieving Oil, Saksham Anand Anti Inflammatory Pain Relieving Oil, Sim-Megh, Aloroma Gel), patented high-yielding plant varieties (CIM-Khusinolika, CIM-KHUS 40, CIM-Arogya, Mayuri, Kushal, Nima, Ganga, CIM-Indus, CIM-Sushil, CIM-Shreshtha, CIM-Shikhar, CIM-Atal, CIM-Akshay, CIM-Sukhda, Sujeata, Kaveri, Nirmal, Dhaval, Krishna), flagship programs (CSIR-Aroma Mission, National Gene Bank, Phytochemical Mission), the CSIR-Aroma Android mobile application for farmers, distillation units, training programs (AcSIR PhD, JNU PhD, Skill Development Programs, PALCT, AIAT, EOPT, Bioinformatics SDP), and a Technology Business Incubation Centre. The institute licenses more than 80 herbal formulations to 35+ MSMEs/start-ups, generating over Rs. 480 lakh in ECF.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSIR-Aroma Mission: Flagship programme of CSIR-CIMAP on aromatic plants; received the National Science Award 2025.
• CSIR-Aroma Mobile App

Products and services

• CSIR-Aroma Android Mobile Application
• Skin Gel
• Acne Preventive Face Wash
• CIMAP PAUSHAK
• Clean Germ
• Face Scrub
• Geranium Active Herbal Anti-dandruff Shampoo
• Hankool Hand Disinfectant
• Relaxomap Pain Relieving Oil
• Saksham Anand Anti Inflammatory Pain Relieving Oil
• Sim-Megh (Kalmegh-based Immunity Booster)
• Aloroma Gel
• Technology Licensing of Herbal Formulations and Agrotechnologies
• Consultancy and Contract Research Services
• Quality Testing and Analytical Services
• Skill Development Training Programs
• Quality Planting Material (QPM) Sales
• Distillation Unit Engineering and Turn-key Projects
• Technology Business Incubation Centre (Pilot Plant Facility)
• PhD Research Programs (AcSIR and JNU)
• Patented Plant Variety - CIM-Arogya (Artemisia annua)
• Patented Plant Variety - CIMAP-Khusinolika (Vetiver)
• Patented Plant Variety - CIM-KHUS 40 (Vetiver)
• Patented Plant Variety - Mayuri (Psyllium)
• Patented Plant Variety - Kushal (Mint)
• Patented Plant Variety - Nima (Lemongrass)
• Patented Plant Variety - Ganga (Mint)
• Patented Plant Variety - CIM-Indus (Mint)
• Patented Plant Variety - CIM-Sukhda (Ocimum basilicum)
• Patented Plant Variety - CIM-Atal (Lemongrass)
• Patented Plant Variety - Sujeata (Poppy, latex-free)

Quantifiable outcome

• 5000+ farmers in Andhra Pradesh cultivate CIMAP varieties across 9500+ hectares
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

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

• Bharatiya Ayurveda Sansthan (Indian Ayurveda Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2026Memorandum of Understanding signed on 22 May 2026 for collaborative research and development in Ayurveda and medicinal plants.
• Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011PhD program collaboration; AcSIR PhD in Biological Sciences and Chemical Sciences at CSIR-CIMAP. Programs run twice yearly (January and August). 55 students awarded PhD since 2011, 115 students currently enrolled. AcSIR leverages CSIR's state-of-the-art infrastructure and unique human resources to bridge the gap between academia and applications.
• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007CSIR-CIMAP-JNU PhD program in Life Sciences. 83 students awarded PhD since 2007, 70 students currently enrolled. Programs run twice yearly (January and August).
• National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished collaboration and MoU with CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Bengaluru for research in plant specialized metabolism and metabolic engineering.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished collaboration and MoU with CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Bengaluru for research in plant specialized metabolism and metabolic engineering.
• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished collaboration and MoU with CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Bengaluru for agricultural research on MAPs.
• University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot (UHS-Bagalkot)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished collaboration and MoU with CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Bengaluru for horticultural research on MAPs.
• Karnataka Medicinal Plants Authority (KAMPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished collaboration and MoU with CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Bengaluru for medicinal plants research and conservation.
• University of British Columbia, CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration and MoU with CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Bengaluru for research on medicinal and aromatic plants.
• University of Tours, FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration and MoU with CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Bengaluru for research on medicinal and aromatic plants.
• University of Strasbourg, FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration and MoU with CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Bengaluru for research on medicinal and aromatic plants.
• De Montfort University, UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration and MoU with CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Bengaluru for research on medicinal and aromatic plants.
• Mount Carmel College, BengaluruminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished collaboration and MoU with CSIR-CIMAP Research Centre Bengaluru for academic and research collaboration.
• G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, PantnagarflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNear Pantnagar Research Centre; enables collaborative research work and outreach to farming communities through KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra). The university is the nearest major academic institution supporting CSIR-CIMAP's northern regional research activities.
• ICS-UNIDO and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognized as a coordination centre for research and training on medicinal plants among 21 member countries by ICS-UNIDO and IORA. International recognition for coordinating MAP research and training programs.
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Parent OrganizationflagshipOthersCSIR-CIMAP is one of 38 constituent laboratories of CSIR, Government of India, under the Ministry of Science and Technology. CSIR provides funding, governance, and strategic direction. CSIR-HQ also coordinates various flagship programs (Aroma Mission, Phytopharmaceutical Mission, Namami Gange, Agridrone, Indian Biodiversity Information Network).
• Government of Andhra Pradesh (Anantapur District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with farmers and government in Anantapur district (one of India's driest regions) for Ashwagandha cultivation promotion; >5000 farmers and 9500+ hectares; market linkages established.
• AcSIR (Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research) - CSIR constituent academyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSIR's own academy; functions as hub-and-spokes model with hubs in Delhi-NCR and spokes in 37 CSIR laboratories. Provides PhD degree in science and technology.

Scale indicators23 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute): India-based R&D organization working on plant-based biotechnology, biofuels, and bio-based chemicals — adjacent to CIMAP's HMF-from-cellulose and biomass valorisation work, but with a broader sustainability mandate.

Broad incumbents

• ICAR - National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR): India's national bureau for plant genetic resource management and conservation; CIMAP's National Gene Bank and 2,500+ germplasm collection directly align with NBPGR's mandate on ex-situ conservation.
• CSIR - Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI): Lucknow-based CSIR lab focused on drug discovery and development across multiple therapeutic areas; provides a broader pharmaceutical R&D umbrella that CIMAP's phytochemistry and bioprospection divisions feed into.

Others

• The Himalaya Drug Company: Major herbal and AYUSH product company with in-house R&D that develops and commercializes plant-based pharmaceuticals, personal care, and wellness products — a private-sector peer to CIMAP-licensed formulations.
• National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB): Government of India body under the Ministry of AYUSH that funds and coordinates medicinal plant R&D, conservation, and cultivation; functions as a major financial partner and policy counterpart for CIMAP's programs.
• Dabur Research Foundation: Private R&D arm of Dabur India, a major AYUSH/herbal FMCG player; commercializes herbal formulations at scale and represents the private-sector counterpart that licenses and markets MAP-derived products.

Direct peers

• CSIR - Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM): CSIR lab in Jammu focused on medicinal plants, natural product drug discovery, and herbal formulations; operates its own PhD program and has a similar mandate in MAP R&D, biotechnology, and bioprospection.
• CSIR - National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI): Lucknow-based CSIR lab conducting botanical, plant genetic resource, and phytochemical research; shares a geographic footprint with CIMAP and operates in closely overlapping plant science and bioprospection domains.
• ICAR - Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR): ICAR's dedicated R&D directorate on medicinal and aromatic plants based in Anand, Gujarat; develops agrotechnologies, varieties, and post-harvest processing for MAPs — a near-direct functional peer to CIMAP.
• CSIR - Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT): A sister CSIR constituent lab based in Palampur that conducts research on Himalayan bioresources, including medicinal and aromatic plants, plant biotechnology, and phytochemistry — directly comparable to CIMAP's mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cimap
• Facebookfacebook.com/cimapcsir
• Instagraminstagram.com/csircimap
• Xx.com/DirectorCimap
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cimap-csir

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants