The Division of Biotechnology was founded in 2001-2002 as a new MITS academic unit, with the mission of defining and establishing a new discipline fusing life sciences with engineering. The goal of this biotechnology discipline is to advance fundamental understanding of how biological systems operate and to develop effective biology-based technologies for applications across a wide spectrum of societal needs including breakthroughs in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, in design of novel materials, devices, and processes, and in enhancing environmental health.

The department of Biotechnology concentrates on the multidisciplinary fields of applied area of biotechnology including Biocatalysis, Metabolic Engineering & Fermentation Technology, Environmental Biotechnology and Bioprocess Technology as well as the exciting developments in the area of Life Science & Technology - in particular, genomics and metabolomics. The department provides an inspiring environment where scientific work and education goes hand in hand with interactions with society. The department has been started with an aim of enhancing knowledge base and development of skilled human resources in Biotechnology, for societal development. Here at MITS, we are particularly interested in Plant Genomics, Molecular Modeling, Bioethanol from cellulosic wastes, Microbial diversity, Biofretilizers for sustainable agriculture.

MITS is the model Biotechnology Institution in Orissa and it has already been recognized by Biospectrum & BCIL for its quality education. MITS entered in to a MOU the British Company D1 Oils PLC, London (UK) together with the condition of placement opportunities for the students of MITS. Subsequently, a memorandum of agreement was made in collaboration with AVRDC, Geneva, Italy to establish a centre of excellence in Pulses Biotechnology.Currently we are running various P.G. & U.G. programmes like B.Sc. Biotechnology, B.Sc. Food Technology, M.Sc. Biotechnology, M.Sc. Industrial Biotechnology, M.Sc. Microbiology, B.Tech. Biotechnology, M.Tech. Biotechnology. Our both U.G. & P.G. Courses are approved by AICTE , affiliated to B.P.U.T. Rourkela, & Berhampur University.