The global pharmaceutical industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by stricter regulations, the need for real-time safety monitoring, and increasing scientific complexity. As drug development becomes more data-intensive and documentation-heavy, pharma companies worldwide are relying on specialised ancillary services—medical writing, pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs, clinical data management, biostatistics, and clinical trial operations—to maintain compliance and accelerate product pipelines. This shift has created a massive opportunity for high-skill knowledge hubs, and Punjab is rapidly emerging as one of India’s most compelling destinations for these services

Punjab’s greatest strength lies in its exceptionally strong talent ecosystem. The state is home to some of India’s top scientific and medical institutions—NIPER, IISER, Panjab University, Thapar Institute, and PGIMER—all producing thousands of highly trained graduates in life sciences, pharmacy, biotechnology, data sciences, and clinical research. This academic concentration gives companies access to a steady, scalable, and industry-ready talent pool, while ensuring long-term sustainability for large global operations. The availability of both scientific and analytical skills makes Punjab uniquely suited for specialised functions such as medical writing, regulatory documentation, safety analytics, and protocol development.

Additionally, Punjab benefits from its strategic proximity to the Derabassi- Baddi–Poanta Sahib–Selaqui (Dehradun) belt, one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing clusters. Hundreds of formulation, API and nutraceutical units operate within a short radius of the state, enabling immediate access to clients and partners. This geographical advantage significantly reduces business development cycles for CROs, KPOs, regulatory consulting firms, and medical communication companies. For ancillary service providers seeking to partner with manufacturing units, auditors, or QA/QC teams, Punjab offers unmatched logistical convenience and market access.

The state’s growing hospital and healthcare infrastructure further strengthens its position as a hub for clinical research and real-world evidence studies. With multispecialty hospitals, specialised care centres, and major institutions like PGIMER Chandigarh, Punjab offers a strong foundation for patient recruitment, investigator-led studies, bioavailability/bioequivalence research, and epidemiological work. This clinical environment allows CROs and biotech firms to collaborate closely with clinicians, researchers, and scientists, creating an integrated ecosystem where innovation, data generation, and validation can happen seamlessly.

What sets Punjab apart from traditional metros, however, is its clear cost and efficiency advantage. Operating in Mohali is significantly more economical than cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Hyderabad. Salaries for equivalent talent are competitive, attrition rates are far lower, and office rentals are more affordable. This combination reduces operational risk while increasing profitability and workforce stability—factors that are crucial for long-term CRO and KPO projects that require consistent, specialised teams. Companies can scale faster, with better employee retention and higher productivity.

Punjab’s expanding R&D environment also makes it ideal for knowledge-driven activities. With a dense concentration of scientific institutions, biotech researchers, medical professionals, and engineering talent, the state fosters natural collaboration for protocol development, method validation, biomarker research, and digital health innovation. The ecosystem encourages partnerships between academia and industry, enabling access to niche expertise and advanced laboratories. As digital transformation sweeps across the global pharma sector, Punjab’s growing pool of data scientists, statisticians, and software engineers also supports emerging segments like health informatics, AI-driven drug discovery, and regulatory tech (RegTech).

Perhaps the strongest endorsement of Punjab’s potential comes from Parexel International, one of the world’s largest clinical research organizations. Parexel has established a large and successful operational base in Mohali, employing many pharmaceutical professionals across multiple high-skill domains. Their presence is a clear validation that Punjab can support complex, globally integrated clinical research and regulatory functions. It also signals to investors that the state offers the right blend of talent, infrastructure, and operating efficiency required for largescale CRO/KPO operations.

With its unique combination of skilled manpower, proximity to a major pharma manufacturing hub, strong healthcare infrastructure, competitive costs, and an emerging high-tech research ecosystem, Punjab is fast becoming a preferred destination for pharma ancillary service investments. The state offers companies the ability to scale with stability, collaborate with worldclass institutions, and tap into one of India’s most promising scientific talent pools. For investors looking to build the future of regulatory services, clinical research, and pharma knowledge operations, Punjab offers not just an opportunity, but a strategic advantage.