The Department of Biotechnology at Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla was established in the year 1995 with financial support from Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi and the State Government. The Department is presently running M.Sc. (Two years), M.Phil. (One year) and Ph.D. programs in Biotechnology and Microbiology. The Department admits 30 (Thirty) students under M.Sc. Biotechnology Program every year through an All India level Graduate Aptitude Test - Biotechnology (GAT-B), conducted by the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) on behalf of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The department also admits 30 candidates for the M.Sc. Microbiology course under Self-financing scheme since July 2007. The Department has created a special niche in academics and research at national and international level because of strong academic and research programs. The highly trained Faculty of Biotechnology has excelled in various fields of Biotechnology and Microbiology by attracting major grants from national funding agencies and has immensely contributed in creating and maintaining high quality infrastructure. The Department has identified ‘Industrial enzymes and processes' as the thrust area with the following major objectives:
• Exploration and conservation of microbial diversity of Himachal Pradesh.
• Enzyme and fermentation technology.
• Isolation and characterization of extremophiles for novel enzymes/products
• Screening and evaluation of active principle(s) of medicinal plants.
• Ready to work manpower for Biotechnology -based Industries, R&D Institutes
• Promotion of Entrepreneurial skills in multidisciplinary areas of Biotechnology for innovative and R&D and Business activities.
Based on the past progress and performance of the Department in-terms of infrastructure for Teaching, Research, R&D and Entrepreneurial/Business Activities in Biotechnology, it has been rated as B++ by the DBT.