AbstractAn analysis of research and commercialisation related to the hybridoma technique in India and internationally shows that the gap between India and the advanced countries is not large at the research level, but Indian attempts at commercialisation lag behind quite a bit. This is due to: lack of enterprise and interaction between research organisations and industry; lack of complementary capabilities; access to kits from developed countries; and government policies which do not create a congenial atmosphere for Indian companies to invest in ancillary industries related to the manufacture of diagnostic kits. The constraints responsible for the existing weaknesses and shortfall are identified and certain policy prescriptions to create better and stronger capabilities for the utilisation of the hybridoma technique in India are suggested.