As a researcher, scientist, entrepreneur, and business leader, Dr. Majeed pioneered the development of standardized herbal extracts from India’s Ayurvedic plants and created a global market for them. He founded and, for 36 years, led the Sami-Sabinsa Group as it became a leading multinational health & life sciences company.
Realizing the potential of India’s Ayurvedic system of medicine, Dr. Majeed anticipated an underdeveloped market opportunity to provide Ayurveda-based products to the developed world. He focused on combining the ancient knowledge of Ayurveda with modern science and developed evidence-based plant products through innovation, standardization, and value-addition at every step.
In 1991, Dr. Majeed set up Sami Labs Limited, a cutting-edge research and manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, India. Today, Sami, a division of Sami-Sabinsa Group Limited alongside Sabinsa, operates eleven manufacturing facilities and employs over 1,400 people, including over 120 senior scientists who dig deeply into the mechanisms of action and physiological effects of herbs, then share that knowledge through publication in peer-reviewed journals. Specialized research and product development are conducted across Phytochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Tissue Culture, and Plant Biotechnology. Today, the Sami-Sabinsa Group commercially markets over 120 standardized botanical extracts in 17 countries. Many of these are patented: Dr. Majeed was granted over 500 U.S. and international patents.
Over 36 years, the Sami-Sabinsa Group has expanded its operations in the U.S. and India, and established full-fledged operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, UAE, and Vietnam, in addition to satellite offices in France, Hungary, Spain, Taiwan and the UK.
Dr. Majeed believed that a good supplement begins with quality ingredients sustainably supplied. He directed his team to identify small and marginal farmers in Salem and surrounding districts in the state of Tamil Nadu, India to cultivate key Ayurvedic herbs. Beginning in 2006, Dr. Majeed provided training, planting materials, and ongoing support to these farmers as well as their communities. Committed to fair trade practices, the company contracts call for paying a guaranteed price even if crop fails due to weather extremes, and pays more for a harvest when market prices dictate.
Dr. Majeed’s scientific literature contributions include more than 200 peer-reviewed research papers, including four book chapters in leading scientific journals. He has authored or co-authored 15 books describing the history and benefits of multiple herbal extracts and the research into their beneficial compounds.
Dr. Majeed’s philanthropic endeavors via the Dr. Majeed Foundation, launched 20 years ago, were notable. To give children and women the opportunity to play a vital role in the socio-economic growth of the world, the Foundation facilitates a support base for children from poor families in India for their education, irrespective of their caste, creed, or religion and women shelters. Among other charitable programs, the Foundation made significant financial contributions to State and Central Government aid programs, and funded and organized food deliveries to underserved communities in India during the Covid pandemic, and natural disasters.
Tekno Scienze is proud and grateful for the longstanding collaboration with Dr. Majeed as Founder and Chairman of Sabinsa Group. Tekno Scienze hopes that individuals such as Dr. Majeed will continue to inspire young researchers worldwide.
